Is my Pillow Right for Me?

A comfortable pillow can help you get a good night’s sleep and feel rested in the morning. It can also provide support for the neck and spine – alleviating or preventing many common forms of back and neck pain.

We often get asked what the best pillow to buy. We suggest selecting a pillow that has the following characteristics:

Keeps the spine in neutral alignment
Your neck has a natural curvature and it is important to maintain this curve when in a resting position. If the height of the pillow is too high, your neck can be bent abnormally forward or to the side, causing muscle strain on the neck and shoulders. This type of position may also restrict your airway, resulting in obstructed breathing and sometimes snoring, which can hinder sleep.  Conversely, if the height of the pillow is too low, your neck muscles can also be strained.

Feels comfortable
A large part of what makes a good pillow is personal preference. If the pillow feels comfortable, it’s likely to help you relax, get a good night’s sleep, and feel well rested in the morning. A pillow’s surface can also be a source of comfort – some people prefer a pillowcase with a cool, smooth feeling (such as cotton), some prefer warmth (such as flannel), etc.

Is adjustable
To help conform to various sleep positions, it is best if your pillow can be adjusted to fit your unique shape, curves and sleeping position. A pillow should mold to one’s individual shape and alleviate any pressure points

Back sleepers:

When lying on your back, a pillow should support the natural curvature of your neck. The height of the pillow should be low enough that, if viewed from the side, your spine is in a natural position. Placing a pillow or two beneath your knees can help reduce the strain on the lower back.

This position is preferred to help the back rest comfortably.

Side Sleepers:

If you are a side sleeper, your pillow should support your head and neck so that your spine maintains a straight and natural horizontal line. There should be no unnatural bending or pressure.

Bending the knees and placing a pillow between the knees prevents them from coming together and keeps the spine in a more neutral position. Without the support between the legs, the upper leg rotates downward, pulling the pelvis, and distorting the natural line of the spine.

Stomach sleepers:

We don’t recommend that you sleep on your stomach, but if this is your go-to sleeping position, your pillow should be relatively flat, or your head should rest directly on the mattress, so that your head and neck aren’t turned unnaturally to either side. In this position, placing another relatively flat pillow underneath your stomach will help your spine keep its natural alignment.

Rest and sleep are your body’s chance to heal. Using the proper pillow can improve the quality of rest, allowing you to wake up more rested but lime most things, over time, most pillows will lose their firmness and no longer provide adequate support. When this happens, it should be replaced pillows will lose their firmness.

Created November 25, 2015 | Category: Back Pain