How should I sleep to avoid neck pain?

If you're dealing with neck discomfort, the best positions for sleep are on your back or side. These are both less stressful on your spine than sleeping on your stomach. It may be difficult to change your sleeping position, since your preferred position is often determined early in life.

How should I sleep to relieve neck pain?

What is the best sleeping position for neck pain? Two sleeping positions are easiest on the neck: on your side or on your back. If you sleep on your back, choose a rounded pillow to support the natural curve of your neck, with a flatter pillow cushioning your head.

Is it better for your neck to sleep without a pillow?

While research is limited, anecdotal reports show that sleeping without a pillow can help reduce neck and back pain for some sleepers. Stomach sleepers are generally best suited for going pillowless, because the lower angle of the neck encourages better spinal alignment in this position.

Should I sleep on the same side as my neck pain?

Side sleepers: Sleeping on the side is another good sleeping position for people with neck pain. Aligning the neck and abdomen regions of the spine can help reduce pressure on the cervical facet joint, stabilizing the neck and allowing it to move freely.

Should shoulders be on pillow when sleeping?

It should only be thick enough to create a straight line from your head and neck down through your spine. Your shoulders should not be on the pillow.

BEST Sleeping Positions For Neck Pain Relief! Tips from a Physical Therapist

What kind of pillow is best for neck pain?

What is the best sleeping position?

Sleeping on your side offers several benefits. It promotes healthy spinal alignment and is the sleep position least likely to result in back pain, especially when supported with pillows.

What is the best sleeping position for posture?

On your back. Sleeping on your back may be one of the best positions for improving your sleeping posture. It promotes better alignment and reduces the pressure on your arms and legs. People with neck or back pain, especially in the lower back, find it to be the most comfortable.

How high should your neck be when sleeping?

Body size and preference are likely to influence pillow size, but usually the pillow should maintain a height of 4 to 6 inches to support the head and neck (and shoulders when lying on the back).

Why does my neck always hurt after sleeping?

How Neck Stiffness Develops During Sleep. Awkward angle. The head or neck might settle at an awkward angle for an extended period of time while sleeping, which can stretch and stress muscles, ligaments, and joints beyond their normal limits.

Can sleeping on your side cause shoulder and neck pain?

Does side sleeping cause shoulder pain? One notable drawback to sleeping on your side is that it can increase your risk of shoulder pain. Whether you're on your left or right side, the corresponding shoulder can collapse into the mattress as well as up toward your neck, creating misalignment and pain the next morning.

Should I sleep with a towel under my neck?

Sleeping without proper support for your neck can place extra stress on your cervical spine's joints, discs, and soft tissues. With the rolled towel in place, your neck is better supported and aligned with the rest of your spine. Just remember to avoid using too large of a towel.

Is it better to sleep with 1 or 2 pillows?

For most people, sleeping without a pillow may make neck pain, back pain, headaches, migraines, and even snoring or other breathing disturbances worse. According to sleep experts, using one to two pillows at most is the best combination for sleeping on your back or your side.

Should your neck be on the pillow?

How to choose and use the best pillow. The rule of thumb for a proper pillow is that it should keep your neck parallel to the mattress, rather than bent down or up. “The most common mistake people make is choosing a pillow that bends your neck forward or to one side,” Dr. Bang says.

Is sleeping naked better for your health?

If sleeping naked helps you receive the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night, then it's worth trying. Research suggests that sleeping naked may potentially positively impact reproductive health, connection with a partner, and self-esteem.

Where do I put my arms when sleeping on my side?

First, make sure that your arms are down by your side. Sleeping with your arms overhead, perhaps around your pillow, can pinch your lower shoulder. Instead, sleep with your arms down by your side.

Is sleeping on your right side bad?

Believe it or not, knowing the best side to sleep on may reduce your acid reflux symptoms. Sleeping on your right side can cause more acid to leak through your esophagus. Sleeping on your stomach or back makes GERD symptoms worse, too. To lower the risk of GERD problems, patients usually sleep best on their left sides.

Can a mattress cause neck pain?

If the mattress is too firm, it will push on your pressure points and cause misalignment. If the bed is too soft, it will allow your body to sink into the bed, causing bad posture while you sleep, which can also result in neck or back pain.

Are memory foam pillows good for neck pain?

A 2020 study discovered that latex and memory foam are the best pillow materials for neck pain. This is because these materials provide neck support, which can improve sleep quality.

Are memory foam pillows good?

Memory foam is generally seen as better for back sleepers, as it offers the best back and neck support that way. The support may be too rigid for side and front sleepers, and front sleepers struggle to breathe through them.

How thick should your pillow be?

The height of the pillow should be neither too high so that it tilts the head too far forward, nor too low that it extends the neck and tilts the head upwards. Generally, the pillow should be around 3 to 6 inches thick to provide adequate support.

Is Side sleeping better than back sleeping?

Neither position is unhealthy. Back sleeping may be the best position to maintain spine alignment. We recommend side sleeping since it offers more health benefits, such as reducing pressure on the heart. Side sleeping can also reduce snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, and acid reflux symptoms.

How high should your sleeping pillow be?

Pillow height should maintain the neutral alignment of the head from the bed (distance between the ear and mattress should be the height of the pillow). Pillow should be firm to avoid side bending of the neck. People who sleep on their stomach can either avoid using any pillow or use a very thin pillow.