Why Your Sleeping Position Matters: Avoid Waking Up With Aches And Pains – Do you have aches and pains every morning when you get up? Maybe your lower back is sore, or your neck or shoulder hurts from sleeping on it incorrectly. If you’re experiencing this, it’s likely that you’re overworking muscles when your body should be resting.
Sleep is intended to be a restorative state. While your system repairs and restores itself, you should be entirely comfortable and relaxed. Sleep is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. When your sleeping habits are out of whack, it can lead to mental and physical issues.
However, having a good cushion or getting enough sleep may not always be enough. Your body can be stressed and strained if you sleep in an inconvenient position. As a result, you’re more likely to wake up with aches, pains, and occasionally injuries, such as a stiff neck, painful shoulders, or back pain. Major injuries, such as spinal compression or a bulging disc, can occur in some persons.
Why Your Sleeping Position Matters
Every day, our bodies take a hammering from the tension we place on ligaments, muscles, joints, and tissue. Our bodies have the opportunity to recover and reset for the next day while we sleep.
However, if you sleep in a position that keeps strain on particular portions of your body, it will not be able to heal as quickly as it should. Because the cartilage that cushions your joints begins to wear down as you get older, this condition only becomes worse.
The position you sleep in is critical since a neutral posture allows your body to rest correctly.
Good Posture Is Important While You Sleep
If you’re anything like me, your mother instilled in you the value of proper posture by telling you to “stand up straight” or “put your shoulders back.” Good posture while sleeping, on the other hand, is just as vital as it is while sitting at your desk.
While sleeping, good posture is attained by aligning your head, shoulders, and hips in a neutral position that relieves stress. When you lie down at night, your goal should be to choose a position that supports and maintains your neck and back’s natural curves.
This Is The Position You Should Be Sleeping In
Sleeping on your back is the best way to avoid waking up with aches and pains, especially back pain. Fall asleep in a straight position with your arms at your sides if you can train your body to do so.
Neck, shoulder, and back pain might be relieved by sleeping on your back. You’re also less likely to pull a muscle or injure yourself more seriously, such as dislocating a rib.
When sleeping on your back, a small pillow under your knees is a good idea. This slight lift will work with your spine’s natural bend to relieve pressure on your back.
For your pillow, you want something with the proper height that will reduce strain on your neck and keep your head in a neutral position. If your pillow is too thin and low, your neck will be strained and your jaw will be pointing toward the ceiling. If your pillow is too high, it will cause your chin to tuck toward your chest.
To avoid shoulder pain, avoid letting your shoulder dip down to meet the bed. For support, you can rest your arm on a low-lying pillow or a folded blanket to keep your shoulder aligned with your body and take some of the pressure off.
Side-Sleeping Works, Too
The lateral position, which is often known as sleeping on your side, is another excellent sleeping posture. The spine stays in a neutral position when you sleep on your side. And this is extremely beneficial for shoulder, neck, and back pain.
Side sleeping, on the other hand, provides numerous possibilities to move your body away from its neutral posture. Once again, a good head cushion is essential for maintaining your neck’s natural bend.
Your pillow should be the right thickness to support your head and neck without putting any strain on them. A tiny pillow between your knees is also a great idea.
This will help keep your hips and spine aligned while preventing your upper leg from pulling forward and twisting your torso.
Stretching out and keeping your thighs aligned with your torso, while bending your knees slightly, can help reduce pressure on the lower back.
On the flip side, you want to avoid the fetal position because that extreme curvature of the spine can cause some serious discomfort in both the back and neck. Sleeping in the fetal position can also restrict breathing.
Avoid Sleeping On Your Stomach
On your stomach is the one sleeping position you should avoid. Sleeping in this position for an extended length of time puts strain on your neck and lower back. It can also make you toss and turn more at night, making you feel restless.
It’s also a poor idea to sleep with your arm above your head or on your shoulder, as these positions can lead to unpleasant injuries.
Conclusion
You don’t have to wake up every morning with aches and pains. Finding the proper sleep position will make a huge difference and allow your body to truly rest and recover every night.
If you are waking up regularly in pain, try sleeping on your back or side. You should experiment with different positions and pillow placement to find what works best for you.
