Independent review, please read this first: Mattress Miracle does not sell ObusForme products. We are not an authorized ObusForme retailer, and we have no affiliation, sponsorship, or commercial relationship with ObusForme or its parent company. This page is an independent editorial review, written because Brantford customers ask us about cervical pillows. If you want to buy an ObusForme pillow, purchase it through ObusForme's own website or one of its authorized retailers.
Quick Answer: ObusForme is a Canadian brand known for ergonomic support products, including contoured "wave" cervical pillows with one high side and one low side. The shape aims to fill the gap between your neck and the mattress for back and side sleepers. Mattress Miracle does not carry ObusForme. This is an independent review, and the research on contoured pillows is more mixed than the marketing suggests.
Brad, Owner, 40+ years of experience: "We have been helping Brantford families sleep better since 1997. Every customer gets personal attention, honest advice, and the kind of follow-up service you just do not get from big box stores."
5 min read
We spend thousands on a mattress and then neglect the pillow. In our Brantford showroom, we regularly meet customers whose "mattress pain" turns out to be pillow pain. ObusForme is a well-known Canadian name in ergonomic supports, and people ask us about their cervical pillows often enough that we wrote this honest, independent review.
To be clear up front: Mattress Miracle does not stock or sell ObusForme pillows. We fit customers for the cervical and ergonomic pillows we do carry, and the fitting principles below apply to any contoured pillow, ObusForme included.
Prefer to talk it through in person? Our Brantford store is on West Street.
The Science of Neck Support
A standard fluff pillow collapses under the weight of your head, which weighs roughly 10 to 12 pounds. This can leave your neck bent downward or twisted through the night.
The "Gap" Problem
Lie on your back. Slide your hand behind your neck. You will feel a gap. A cervical pillow is designed to fill this gap with firm support while cradling your head, so the neck muscles are not working all night to hold your head up. That is the theory behind every contoured pillow, ObusForme's included. Whether it helps a given sleeper depends heavily on fit, which we cover below.
What ObusForme Cervical Pillows Offer
Based on ObusForme's published product information, their cervical pillow line includes a few variations:
Standard Memory Foam: Heat-sensitive foam that molds to your shape. Good pressure relief, but memory foam can sleep warm.
Gel-Infused: The same supportive foam with cooling gel intended to help hot sleepers.
Adjustable Height: Some models use removable inserts so the height can be changed.
ObusForme products are sold through the brand's own website and its retail partners, not through Mattress Miracle. If you are in Brantford and want to physically try a contoured pillow before buying one, our showroom carries comparable cervical designs from Somnia and MyWonder that you can test in person.
Finding Your Height
Size matters more than brand. If the pillow is too high, it pushes your chin toward your chest. If too low, your head falls back.
- Back Sleepers: Usually need the lower side of the contour (3-4 inches).
- Side Sleepers: Need the higher side (4-5 inches) to bridge the distance from ear to shoulder.
- Broad Shoulders: Wider shoulders need a thicker pillow to keep the neck straight.
The Adjustment Period
Heads up: The first few nights on any contoured pillow can feel strange.
Your neck muscles carry habits from years of your old setup, and adjusting to a new alignment can cause mild soreness for the first several days. In our experience fitting pillows in the showroom, most people settle in within one to two weeks. If discomfort gets worse instead of better, stop using it and get refitted, and see your doctor or physiotherapist if neck pain persists.
What the Research Actually Says About Contoured Pillows
A Correction, and an Honest Reading of the Evidence
An earlier version of this article claimed that a study found contoured pillows reduced morning neck pain by 43%. That claim was wrong, and we have removed it. The study in question (Gordon et al., Manual Therapy, 2009) tested five pillow types on 106 side sleepers and found no clear advantage for foam contour pillows over regular-shaped pillows. The best performer for waking neck pain, sleep quality, and comfort was a regular-shaped rubber (latex) pillow. A follow-up study by the same team (Journal of Pain Research, 2010) reported similar patterns for cervical stiffness and headache. You can read the abstract on PubMed, and full citations are in the Sources list below.
What does that mean for you? Research suggests shape alone will not fix neck pain. Fit matters: the height and firmness that match your sleep position and shoulder width count for more than whether the pillow has a wave profile. Some sleepers love contoured pillows. Others do better on a well-fitted regular pillow, and the latex options in the research performed notably well. If your neck pain is chronic, talk to your doctor or physiotherapist rather than relying on any pillow to solve it.
Talia Grose, sleep specialist, Mattress Miracle: "When someone comes in convinced they need a contoured pillow, we still measure first. Shoulder width and sleep position decide the height. If a contour shape suits them, great. If a regular profile fits better, that is what we recommend, whether we sell it or not."
Get Fitted for a Pillow at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. We do not sell ObusForme, but we do fit customers for cervical and ergonomic pillows every week. Come try them in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mattress Miracle sell ObusForme pillows?
No. Mattress Miracle is not an ObusForme retailer and has no affiliation with the brand. This article is an independent review. To buy an ObusForme pillow, go through ObusForme's website or an authorized retailer. In our Brantford showroom we fit customers for the cervical and ergonomic pillows we do carry, including Somnia and MyWonder.
Can I wash a memory foam cervical pillow?
You can usually wash the cover, but never the foam itself. Washing memory foam ruins its structure. Air it out occasionally to freshen it, and check the manufacturer's care label for your specific model.
Is a contoured pillow good for stomach sleepers?
Generally, no. The contour is too high and will strain a stomach sleeper's neck. Stomach sleepers need a very flat, thin pillow.
How long do memory foam pillows last?
High-density memory foam lasts about 3-5 years. When it stops bouncing back instantly or starts to yellow significantly, it's time to replace it.
Why does a new foam pillow smell funny at first?
That is "off-gassing" from the fresh foam. It is harmless and dissipates in 24-48 hours. Let it air out without a pillowcase for a day.
Get Fitted in Brantford
Don't guess online. Come to Mattress Miracle at 441 1/2 West Street. We will have you lie down on a mattress similar to yours and test different pillow heights to ensure your spine is straight. The fitting applies no matter which brand of pillow you end up buying.
Sources
- Gordon SJ, Grimmer-Somers K, Trott P. Pillow use: the behaviour of cervical pain, sleep quality, and pillow comfort in side sleepers. Manual Therapy. 2009;14(6):671-678. DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2009.02.006 (Abstract: PMID: 19427257)
- Gordon SJ, Grimmer-Somers KA, Trott PH. Pillow use: the behaviour of cervical stiffness, headache and scapular/arm pain. J Pain Res. 2010;3:137-145. DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S11074
- Erfanian P, Tenzif S, Guerriero RC. Assessing effects of a semi-customized experimental cervical pillow on sympathetic nervous system parameters. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2004;48(1):20-28. PMCID: PMC1840035
- Persson L, Moritz U. Neck support pillows: a comparative study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1998;21(4):237-240. PMID: 9608379
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
We are located at 441½ West Street in downtown Brantford. Free parking available, wheelchair accessible. Our team does not work on commission, so you get honest advice based on your needs.
Mattress Miracle , 441½ West Street, Brantford, ON · (519) 770-0001
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 10am–6pm, Thursday–Friday 10am–7pm, Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm.