How did you feel when you woke up this morning? Did you wake feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep? Or did you wake feeling achey, stiff and sore, or worse, did you wake with a headache?
If you feel that you are not getting the best sleep at night it could be your pillow. As well as providing comfort, the right pillow should provide the necessary support for the neck and spine. Keeping them in the correct alignment helps relieve pressure and counterbalances the points in the body. Pillows should always support the head and neck as well as the shoulders. Often pillows can be too soft and lose their shape and support throughout the night.
Many of us like to sit in bed and read or watch TV before falling asleep. A common mistake people often make is not correctly supporting your head whilst doing this. You should avoid propping yourself up on several pillows as this can force your head to bend too far forward. When reading in bed you should make sure your arms are supported and your head is in a neutral position. However when you lie down to go to sleep the best position is on your back or your side as this ensures the normal slight curve of your neck is not changed. You should avoid sleeping on your stomach as this forces your head to be twisted into an unnatural position, which can then lead to neck or back pain during the night and when you wake up.
At Mudgway Chiropractic we sell a therapeutic neck support pillow. It is made from foam which is designed specifically for pillows. It has two rolled edge heights so that you can choose the side that suits you. The rolled edge supports the head and neck correctly when sleeping on your back or side. You can purchase one of these pillows directly from us. Have a chat to Debbie or Sally if you have any questions.