Sleeping posture to avoid neck pain!

Neck pain is a common problem that almost everyone has experienced at least once in a lifetime. This problem is often caused by poor postures, especially sleeping ones. In this article, we will explain in detail about the three most common sleeping postures: Back, side, and stomach. After finishing this article, you'll be able to tell which one is the best sleep position to avoid neck pain and which ones to stay away from.

Back sleeping

Back sleeping is one of the most common postures that many people choose to sleep in, and it's also one of the best positions to avoid neck pain. According to Harmandeep Singh, MD, an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist at HSS, “If you are constantly waking up with a stiff neck that’s worse in the morning, more likely than not it’s related to your sleeping position and possible underlying cervical spine problems.”

Even though sleeping position is important, sleeping position alone doesn't guarantee you won't feel stiffness and pain in your neck the next morning. You have to combine the right posture with a perfect cervical pillow that provides proper support for your neck during the night. This not only helps avoid neck pain, but it can also help relieve neck pain if you're already experiencing it. 

In summary, the main cause of neck pain is the misalignment of your cervical spine. Combining the right sleeping position with the right pillow helps maintain your body's natural alignment, promotes the natural curvature of your cervical spine, eases stiffness and tension in your neck. As a result, you can sleep better and wake up without neck pain.

Side sleeping

Side sleeping is another great sleeping position to avoid neck and back pain. Frankly, most of us often change our sleeping position while we sleep. Hardly any of us can stay in one sleeping posture throughout the night. So, alternating between back and side sleeping is a good habit to adopt in order to prevent neck pain and improve your health in the long run.

The same thing with back sleeping, side sleeping also needs to be combined with a good neck support pillow to help keep your head, neck, and spine aligned while you sleep. A good pillow is the one that's firm enough to support your head without needing to place your hands underneath the pillow for extra support. In addition, it must be able to keep your head at the same height level with your neck and your spine, so it doesn't strain those areas.

Your pillow plays a very important role whether you're a back or side sleeper. Without the right pillow, you'll be straining your neck muscles no matter what position you're in. So, take your time and find the one that fits you best, as it can either help or harm you.

Stomach sleeping

Stomach sleeping is the number one posture you should avoid at all costs. Most health experts don't recommend sleeping on your stomach because it automatically puts your body out of alignment. The number one thing this posture does is it forces you to turn your head to the sides to breathe. This can strain your neck and cause you to have chronic neck pain.

Moreover, sleeping on your stomach puts pressure on the chest and the stomach itself, causing breathing difficulty. When you're sleeping on your stomach, even the softest pillow can put unnecessary pressure on your spine and upper shoulders. All these effects can prevent you from having a good night's sleep, which leads to more serious health problems in the future.

The good news is if you've already used to sleeping on your stomach, you can change it with the help of a cervical pillow. Some cervical pillows come with a shaped center to help cradle your head and prevent it from turning into a poor sleeping posture. Switching to another sleeping posture can take some time, but with the help of a good neck support pillow, it shouldn't take you very long. In addition, getting rid of a bad sleeping habit is worth the effort, as it can improve your health long-term.

Now you know!

From this article, we believe you have enough information to decide on which sleeping posture to adopt and which one to avoid. Also, take your time to find a cervical pillow with neck rolls that fit your neck perfectly. Combining good sleeping posture and the right pillow is the secret formula that can help free you from neck pain and prevent it from coming back!