Sleep Posture

Yes, your posture is important even when you sleep. Lying on your back or side allows your head, neck and spine to relax into their natural alignment. Stomach sleeping places stress on your spine and is discouraged for back- and neck-pain suffers.

Try placing a pillow under your knees when lying on your back. This will take pressure off your lower back. Back sleeping may lead to snoring and poor sleep quality for your partner. If so, roll onto your side and position your head, neck and shoulders in line with your spine.

Pillow selection can be challenging. The wrong pillow may worsen headaches, neck pain, shoulder and arm numbness and/or discomfort.

Back sleepers need thinner pillows, so their head is not thrown too far forward. And there’s some benefit from the use of cervical pillows with extra loft in the bottom third of the pillow to cradle the neck. Side sleepers need a firmer pillow to fill in the distance between the ear and outside shoulder. Final selection will be influenced by your body size, shape and sleep habits. Most pillows wear out in a couple of years and should be regularly replaced.