How to choose the correct Pillow · When choosing the correct pillow, your physio will consider...
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How to choose the correct Pillow? What is the best sleeping position… side, back or tummy? To care for your neck, the best position to sleep in is either on your back or on your side. When you are in these positions, your neck is able to maintain its natural alignment. Lying on your tummy means your neck is turned all night, which is not an ideal position! But this is only half the problem… never underestimate the benefit of the correct pillow! The following information will help you to understand why the combination of a better sleeping position and having the correct pillow might be the secret to avoiding your neck pain! What position should my neck be in when sleeping? For both back and side sleepers, the aim is for your neck to be in good alignment through the night. This means that your neck is in its natural curve and aligned with the rest of your spine. If your pillow is too high, the top part of your neck will be pushed higher than the lower part. If your pillow is too low, your neck will be on a downward slope. While both of these positions can be maintained for short periods, within time it can contribute to problems such as neck pain, headaches, wry neck, shoulder pain, dizziness and poor sleep. How do I know if my pillow is correct? Getting someone else to look at you lying on your pillow is the best way to check whether it is right for you. Your neck should be parallel to the horizon. As we know this is not easy for non- physios to judge, we recommend that you bring your pillow with you to your treatment session and your physio can assess your position. My partner and I use the same pillow. Why do I find my pillow uncomfortable but my partner loves theirs? Gone are the days of a ‘one size fits all’ pillow. Generally speaking, the physique of a man is different to that of a woman. Men tend to have broader shoulders and narrower hips than women, and they tend to be taller and heavier.
Transcript of How to choose the correct Pillow · When choosing the correct pillow, your physio will consider...
HowtochoosethecorrectPillow?Whatisthebestsleepingposition…side,backortummy?
Tocareforyourneck,thebestpositiontosleepiniseitheronyourbackoronyourside.Whenyouare inthesepositions,yourneckisabletomaintain itsnaturalalignment.Lyingonyourtummymeansyourneckisturnedallnight,whichisnotanidealposition!Butthisisonlyhalftheproblem…neverunderestimatethebenefitofthecorrectpillow!Thefollowing informationwill help you tounderstandwhy the combinationof abetter sleepingpositionandhavingthecorrectpillowmightbethesecrettoavoidingyourneckpain!Whatpositionshouldmyneckbeinwhensleeping?
Forbothbackandsidesleepers,theaimisforyournecktobeingoodalignmentthroughthenight.Thismeansthatyourneckisinitsnaturalcurveandalignedwiththerestofyourspine.Ifyourpillowistoohigh,thetoppartofyourneckwillbepushedhigherthanthelowerpart.Ifyourpillowistoolow,yourneckwillbeonadownwardslope.Whilebothofthesepositionscanbemaintained for shortperiods,within time it cancontribute toproblemssuchasneckpain,headaches,wryneck,shoulderpain,dizzinessandpoorsleep.
HowdoIknowifmypillowiscorrect?
Gettingsomeoneelsetolookatyoulyingonyourpillowisthebestwaytocheckwhetheritisrightforyou.Yourneckshouldbeparalleltothehorizon.Asweknowthisisnoteasyfornon-physiostojudge,werecommendthatyoubringyourpillowwithyoutoyourtreatmentsessionandyourphysiocanassessyourposition.MypartnerandIusethesamepillow.WhydoIfindmypillowuncomfortablebutmypartnerlovestheirs?
Gone are the days of a ‘onesizefitsall’ pillow. Generally speaking, the physique of aman isdifferent to that of a woman. Men tend to have broader shoulders and narrower hips thanwomen,andtheytendtobetallerandheavier.
Let’slookatthecharacteristic,shoulderwidth,tohelpexplainthis.Aside-sleepingmanwithwider shoulders will likely require a deeper pillow than a side-sleeping woman who hasnarrowershoulders.Ifshewastousethesamedeeperpillowastheman,it islikelythatherneck would be pushed upward rather than maintaining the natural spinal alignment we’reafter.Thisisjustoneexampleofwhyonepillowdoesnotsuiteveryone.Whatpillowdoyourecommend?
If you are in the process of changing your pillow,we recommend our contour pillows. Thecontoured design helps to support both your neck and head. These pillows offer a range ofheights (small,medium or large) and densities (soft ormedium),which allow you to find apillowthatistailoredtoyourbodyshape.
Therearemanyfactorsthatcomeintoplaywhenchoosingthecorrectpillow,andthechoicecanbeoverwhelming.Sobeforebuying,askyourphysioforhelp.Whenchoosingthecorrectpillow,yourphysiowillconsidermanydifferentfactors,including:
• Shoulderwidth(broadornarrowshoulders)• Height• Posture• Sleepingposition• Thefirmnessofyourmattress• Whetheryousufferfromneckpainand/orheadachesand/orshoulderpain.Thiswillhelptodeterminewhichpillowwillberightforyou,andhelptokeepyourneckinagoodpositionthroughoutthenight.-ContourPillowsinstockhereatPhyxfor$57.95–
