How your pillow can affect back pain

The best pillow for back pain will vary from person to person. Using the right pillow for comfort and support will make a significant difference in alleviating or preventing back and neck pain.

Sleep expert Michael Breus, PhD, a clinical psychologist says, “Pillows can not only impact the quality of our sleep, but also how well we rest and recharge.”

The wrong pillow can intensify headaches, neck and back pain, shoulder and arm numbness, discomfort, sneezing, and wheezing. Therefore it is important to know how your pillow can affect these things. The pillow itself won’t be the cause of any of these problems, but a bad one can exacerbate many of the underlying symptoms.

Experts believe people with sleep problems, which can be caused by using the wrong pillow, experience more problems with back pain. Ohio spine specialist Santhosh Thomas says,

 

“Sleep deprivation is known to affect mood and functional ability and negatively impacts the perception of pain.”

 

It can be difficult to part with your favourite pillow but it’s important to find the right pillow for your sleep needs, including your preferred sleeping position. Each sleeping position puts strain on your spine in a different way. The goal of using a pillow is to help keep your head in what is called a ‘neutral alignment’ – meaning your head is sitting squarely on your shoulders without bending back too far or reaching too far forward.

Long body pillows can be effective at relieving the strain from your spine so that it remains in a neutral position throughout the night, no matter how much you turn in your sleep. In addition, the body pillow allows your muscles to relax fully which also increases circulation. Pain and stiffness are greatly alleviated once circulation is improved. The extra support helps increase oxygen flow throughout the body, which also impacts on how quickly you heal.

The type of pillow recommended for an individual sleeper will vary depending on a number of factors such as physical build, sleep position and comfort preferences. The best way to find the right pillow is to find a specialist bedding retailer and talk about your needs and options.

In addition to finding the right pillow to support you while you sleep, there are many other factors that may be contributing to back pain. SleepMaker’s Performance Edit has a range of mattresses for back pain.  The Performance Edit includes SleepMaker mattresses that are designed to offer you exceptional support so you wake up at your best each morning. As the only mattress manufacturer in Australia to offer bespoke spring systems across our entire range, from athletes to busy parents, you can be certain to find the perfect support system for you.

Our Miracoil mattress are a key part of our Essentials Edit and are specially designed with back care in mind, featuring head-to-toe support that helps to achieve good spinal alignment and more support where it’s needed most.