We’ve all done it. We’ve woken up with a kink in our neck, or a sore lower back. Sometimes, it seems inevitable. The first thought that comes to your head probably has something to do with how you hurt your back. Rarely do we pin the blame on sleep, but maybe we should.
Sleeping on something wrong can cause you to wake up in a world of hurt. The back is no exception to that. As such, you may be hurting your back doing something you’d never imagine; sleeping in the wrong position.
Lying in Bed is a Big Deal for Your Joints
All of your joints, not just your back, rely heavily on the rest and recuperation that they receive. The best time for them to recover is when we slow down and sleep for the night. However, if you don’t have the right sleeping posture, you’re likely to wake up in more pain than you went to bed with. As such, it’s important for just about everyone to learn how to sleep with better form.
5 Ways to Improve Your Sleeping Posture
Sleeping posture is just as important as your posture when you’re working out. If you’re looking to prevent unwanted back pain, check out these 5 methods of improving your back’s positioning while you sleep.
1. Keep Your Spine in a Natural Position
This may also be referred to as keeping your spine in a neutral position. The spine has a specific shape and curvature that it likes to follow. When you prevent it from being able to take this shape, you cause stress to it. This can cause deep seated pain in the spine, as well as the muscles surrounding it.
2. Sleep on Your Back
One of the best ways to maintain a natural position is by sleeping on your back. This allows it to stretch out and take shape the way that it should. It also distributes your body’s weight across the spine evenly, preventing any unwanted pressure in specific areas.
3. Use the Right Pillow
Not everyone is made the same, and as such, each person needs to use the right pillow while they sleep. When you sleep on your back, your pillow should support your head and your neck, and it should never be under your shoulders. This prevents any unnatural curvature in the upper back, which can cause stress throughout the entire spine.
4. Find the Right Mattress
Like pillows, not all mattresses are made for everyone. Depending on your body, you may need a mattress that allows you to sleep in a different manner. Something too hard may cause a misalignment, and something too soft can do the same thing. Knowing your body and the support it needs is pivotal.
5. Switch Sides if You’re a Side Sleeper
When you sleep on one side more often than the other, you start to cause repeated stress to your spine. This adds up over time, making you more prone to injury and issues. Switch sides every so often to make sure that the pressure on your body is even.
If you’re having issues with your back, it may be from sleep! Reach out to us at North County Pain Relief and schedule an appointment. We can help you make sure that you’re sleeping in the right position!
