Everybody knows that getting enough sleep is important. In fact, you’ve probably read numerous accounts of all sorts of studies that show how important getting enough sleep really is. However, for many people, the quality of sleep they have is often considerably worse than it should be for a variety of different reasons.
Your mattress could be at fault, you could be stressed about your family life or work, or you could just be using the wrong pillow. One thing that many people simply don’t think about when it comes to their quality of sleep though is the position that they sleep in.
That’s because most of us just assume that any position that’s comfortable when our heads hit the pillow is good enough. The truth is that the sleeping position you were most comfortable in as a kid may not be the one that’s best for you.
Over time, the wrong sleeping position can result in serious back pain and really cause problems for you. If you suffer from back pain, keep reading to learn which sleeping position could be best for you and which ones you should avoid at all costs.
If you don’t, back pain could be a major issue for you the rest of your life!
- Sleeping on Your Back
Many doctors and specialists will tell you that sleeping flat on your back is the best thing you can do for yourself if you experience chronic back pain. The reason sleeping on your back can work so well should be obvious ― it works to keep your spine straight and you’ll avoid twisting your neck and spine through the course of the night.
However, many people find it difficult to sleep on their backs if they aren't used to it. For some, particularly those people who sleep on their stomachs, switching to a position where they sleep on their sides for a while may be necessary to make the transition.
If you find it difficult to sleep on your back because of lower back pain you may want to consider a mattress topper that’s a bit firmer. Soft mattresses can work well for people who don’t weigh much, but people over 150 pounds may experience some discomfort and back pain when attempting to sleep on their backs.One of the only bad things about sleeping on your back is that it can make sleep apnea and snoring worse. - Side Sleeping
Sleeping on your side is something that you've probably been doing since you were a little kid if you do it on a regular basis. Unfortunately, sleeping on your side can throw your spine out of alignment and make the next day nearly unbearable if you have chronic back pain.While not sleeping on your side can be very difficult, there are a few things you can do to make side sleeping a bit more comfortable and result in less back pain. The most important is to keep your spine straight and properly aligned, and this can be done by putting a pillow that isn’t too thick between your knees. This will help to keep your spine from dipping.The other major thing that you should do if you regularly sleep on your spine is to make sure you aren’t using a very thick pillow or more than one pillow to rest your head. This could throw the top part of your spine and your neck out of alignment in a serious way; resulting in chronic pain that could last for days. - Stomach Sleeping
Sleeping on your stomach is really the worst position according to many doctors and back pain specialists. The reason sleeping on your stomach is so bad is because it forces your neck to turn one way or another while you sleep, and this turning of the neck is going to greatly throw your spine out of alignment. Over time, this can cause serious neck, shoulder and back problems.If you absolutely must sleep on your stomach, using a pillow that’s made of very soft materials or memory foam that contours to your body specifically is your best bet. However, trying to get out of the habit of sleeping on your stomach will wonders for reducing back pain and isn’t an impossible task.The good thing about sleeping on your stomach is that it will help to reduce snoring and sleep apnea, which could result in a better night’s sleep for you if you have those issues on a regular basis.
