How Do You Sleep

Side, stomach, back? Believe or not, how we sleep can effect our bodies which could lead to some of those aches and pains you may be feeling right now. During the day we all want to have good posture but this is equally important at night as well. Take a look at the sleeping positions to see where you fit and how you can make improvements for a better nights sleep.

Side Sleepers: Probably the most popular position. The spine maintains its natural "S" shape therefore a good posture while you sleep. This does have some disadvanatages. As we drift to sleep, the neck and lower back regions bend toward the matress and cause neck or back pain. This position may also result in lower back strain due to over-rotation of the pelvis. To help the spine keep it's position, a neck support pillow and an additional pillow between your legs (parallel to each other) will help keep proper alignment and prevent excessive rotation of the pelvis.

Back Sleepers: The typical back sleeping position places strain on the lower back and neck. Why? Your upper back and buttocks are in contact with the matress whille the lower back has little to no support. There is a very easy fix for this. A proper neck pillow and an additional support pillow for under your knees. By doing this, it will help reduce the strain on the lower back.

Stomach Sleepers: For adults, this is one of the worst prositons for your spine. The lower back is forced into a flattened position which leads to muscle strain in the lumbar spine. In addition to sleeping on the stomach, the neck is forced to rotate to one side leading to muscle strain. Needless to say, if you are a stomach sleeper try to switch to one of the other sleeping positions. If this is a tough habit to break, place a pillow under the pelvis to raise the lower back and maintain the natural lumbar curve. If you also have neck pain, place a pillow under the shoulder on the side where the head is turned. This will help reduce the degree of the neck rotation