Ergonomic Pillows: The Secret to Neck Pain Relief!

Do ergonomic pillows actually work? This is the question that many people have asked themselves before deciding to purchase one, probably including yourself. So, can an ergonomic pillow help you relieve neck pain, and how does it do so? Let’s figure it out together!

Do Ergonomic Pillows Actually Work?

The short answer is yes, an ergonomic pillow can help maintain the neutral position of your neck at night, enabling you to sleep better and prevent neck pain from showing up in the mornings.

Research has found that certain pillow designs can reduce neck pain, morning stiffness, and neck-related disability. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Clinical Biomechanics looked at 35 studies and found evidence that some types of pillows, particularly rubber pillows, could help reduce neck pain and waking symptoms in people with chronic neck pain. The researchers also noted that the shape and height of a pillow may affect cervical alignment.

This makes sense when you consider how many hours you spend sleeping. If your pillow does not provide enough support, your head and neck may remain in an awkward position for hours at a time. This places heavy tension on your neck and causes you to wake up with neck pain and stiffness. Sleeping on an ergonomic pillow provides more targeted support so your neck can remain in a more comfortable, neutral position while you sleep.

How Does an Ergonomic Pillow Help Your Neck?

One of the biggest differences between a traditional pillow and an ergonomic pillow is how the pillow supports your head and neck.

Most regular pillows are usually made of feathers and are too soft to support the weight of your head and neck for hours every night. They’re designed with a lump in the middle, which pushes your head forward when you sleep, causing tension to build up throughout the night. On the other hand, ergonomic pillows are designed with structured support, helping to maintain the neutral position of your neck the entire time you’re sleeping. You can explore our ergonomic pillows collection to learn more about the differences between the designs and materials of each pillow.

For back sleepers, an ergonomic pillow comes with a neck roll or a wedge extension to help fill the gap between your neck and the mattress, preventing your neck from being flattened and straining your neck muscles. Moreover, the cavity center gently cradles your head and allows it to sit slightly lower than your neck, which keeps your head perfectly in line with your neck and spine. Unlike most pillows that either push your head forward or cause your head to drop toward the mattress.

For side sleepers, an ergonomic pillow helps fill the huge gap between your head and the mattress, maintaining the neutral position of your neck. As a result, you can enjoy deeper rest while preventing yourself from waking up in the middle of the night folding your pillow in half or placing your hand underneath it for extra support.

Choosing Your Pillow Size

Just like everything else, one size doesn’t fit all. It’s important to measure your neck and shoulders before buying your ergonomic pillow so you know exactly what size pillow you need to look for. Follow the steps below to measure your neck and shoulders correctly:

To measure your neck:

1. Stand straight with your head directly on top of your neck, not tilting forward or backward.

2. Measure the length of your neck from the bottom of your head to the top of your shoulders.

To measure your shoulder (One side only):

1. Stand upright with your arms at your sides and look straight ahead.
2. Hold the ruler level with the base of your neck and measure out to the bony prominence of the shoulder.

Finding out the length of your neck helps you know what size neck roll to look for, because different-sized ergonomic pillows come with different-sized neck rolls. In addition, knowing your shoulder width allows you to decide how thick your raised side panels need to be to maintain your body’s perfect alignment when side sleeping.

Don’t take this step lightly, as choosing the right size ergonomic pillow can make or break your mornings. The secret to neck pain relief is maintaining the neutral position of your body during sleep, and the wrong size pillow won’t help you do that. Once your body is no longer in its natural alignment, neck pain can become worse. After finding the right pillow, taking the time to learn how to use an ergonomic pillow correctly is the next important step to help you reap full benefits from your pillow and enjoy better sleep night after night.

Mattress Firmness

Mattress firmness is something that a lot of people overlook, but it plays a crucial role in helping you relieve neck pain and maximizing the benefits of your ergonomic pillow. It doesn’t matter how good your pillow is at supporting you; if you sleep on a mattress that sinks, it’ll throw your entire body off its natural alignment.

So the trick is, if you sleep on a firm mattress that doesn’t cause your body to sag, choose the pillow size that matches your body perfectly. On the other hand, if your mattress isn’t firm, go with an ergonomic pillow that’s one size smaller.

So, Are Ergonomic Pillows Worth It?

Investing in an ergonomic pillow is one of the smartest and most affordable investments that you can make for your neck specifically and for your health in general. An ergonomic pillow can help put your body back into its natural alignment, helping you relieve neck pain before it turns into a chronic condition that may lead to frequent visits to a chiropractor and spending tons of money on medications.

Sleeping on an ergonomic pillow can help you say goodbye to those nights when you keep tossing and turning but can’t ever get a peaceful moment of true rest. Instead, you can sleep soundly and wake up to a refreshed and rejuvenated morning.