Sleep is a sacred time for the body and mind. Our body heals best when we get 7-9 hours every night, not to mention that the mind needs that rest in order to function properly.
Have you also considered that how we sleep can have a huge impact on our musculoskeletal system? Most adults know this on some level because, after a night of sleeping with your neck at the wrong angle, the pain can be intense.
At the same time, trying to change sleeping positions is too hard for so many people, especially those who deal with sleep problems.
However, for people who go to physical therapy and work hard on resolving musculoskeletal pain and stiffness, it’s important to change how we live our lives too. That’s an important part of making sure that physical therapy works well.
Let’s look at the best ways to sleep within the three main positions: on your side, on your back, and on your stomach.
Sleeping on Your Stomach
While so many of us love to sleep on our stomachs, with one knee angled upward, it’s not the best position for spine health. It overextends the spine and causes inward curvature of the lower back.
However, if you really need to sleep on your stomach, we recommend getting rid of your head pillow and adding one under the chest. This will help reduce the curvature and give your torso some support.
Sleeping on Your Back
This isn’t the best position for circulation and to prevent sleep apnea. People who snore loudly are also advised to sleep on their side to fix the issue. However, sleeping on your back does keep the spine and hips neutral.
We advise adding a cylindrical pillow under your knees as well as under your lower back. This will take the pressure off of your lower back, which is a sensitive area, and provide added support to it.
Sleeping on Your Side
Many physical therapists feel that this is the best way to sleep. The side position maintains the spine’s natural curve and aligns the hips properly. You should place a small pillow at your neck’s base so that your head is in the right position, as well as one between your knees to give your hips some support.
Pregnant women especially are encouraged to sleep on their side since it creates better circulation to the heart. They can also place a small cylindrical pillow under their waist for some extra comfort.
These guidelines are pretty basic but can transform the way you feel in the morning. Get more advice from our physical therapists in Augusta, GA. All you have to do is make an appointment.
We offer a range of PT services, including physical therapy services for women, post-operative rehab, sports injuries treatment, and more.