Chiropractor in Hurst TX Explains How
Your Pillow May Be Hurting Your Neck

If you suffer from neck pain in Hurst TX you may not be able to remember the last time you even had a restful night's sleep. You might have difficulty finding that perfect position in bed so you can fall asleep quickly and stay asleep. Your pain may be so bad that you end up sleeping in your recliner as lying down is not an option.

Before we talk about what you should be resting your head and neck on, let's briefly go over the position you should be sleeping in. You should be sleeping on your side or on your back. Sleeping on your stomach places more stress on your neck and lower back, not a good thing if you suffer from neck pain or lower back pain.

Patients often ask me what type of pillow they should be sleeping on. Since we spend so much time sleeping having the proper pillow is very important. We all come in different shapes and sizes so there isn't one pillow that is ideal for everyone.

There are a lot of different types of pillows and each one has unique characteristics: soft, medium, firm, memory foam, down, feather, etc. A lot of these options come down to personal preference. The two things the perfect pillow MUST do are to maintain the natural curves of the neck and keep the head in a neutral position so our ears are in line with our shoulders.

Choose the Right Height

Whether you sleep on your side or on your back the pillow should provide support to your neck and head while maintaining a neutral position. Depending on the position you sleep in, the height of your pillow will vary. Back sleepers should look for thinner pillows, while side sleepers should look for a loftier pillow.

How Do I Know If I My Pillow Has the Right Height?

There are some simple ways to tell if your pillow has the appropriate height to support your neck properly.

When you sleep on your back, your head should not be propped up and elevated. You can determine if your head is elevated by looking at the position of your chin. If your pillow causes your chin to be closer to your neck vs. standing in a neutral position, your pillow height is too tall.

When you sleep on your side, your head should not be tilted away or towards the mattress. If your pillow causes your ear to be closer to the mattress, your pillow isn't tall enough. If your ear is tilted away from the mattress, your pillow is too tall.

Choose the Right Support

A great pillow for back and side sleepers are contoured pillows. Contoured pillows have thicker curved edges and are thinner in the middle. The thicker curved edges help fill the gap between your head and neck, while the curved down middle section provides proper support for your head. These types of pillows really cradle the neck and help maintain proper posture while sleeping.

Better support for your head and neck will allow you to wake up feeling refreshed without the annoying stiffness and soreness.

Here's What to Do Now in Hurst TX

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