Focus on pillows!

I know it may seem shocking at times when we feel overworked, overstimulated and busier than ever--but we humans actually spend a third of our lifespan in our beds asleep! And even though we use that time to recuperate mentally and physically from the hardships of the day, our bodies are still working--and still capable of being put under stress. In fact, it’s quite common for spinal injury recovery to be greatly affected by the manner in which we rest--for better or worse! Since we’ve covered ergonomics previously with the aim of helping you make your waking life a little less stressful on the spine, we thought we’d do the same for the time you spend asleep--here are some basic guidelines on the ergonomics of pillows.

Like anything dealing with as wide of variety of ailments as this, there is no one solution; every person, every body, and every condition is different. But some things are universal, after all, and the necessity for comfort and support when sleeping is one those things! That’s why above all, it’s important to make sure that you are able to rest comfortably with your choice of pillow--although perhaps a bit surprisingly, this probably doesn’t mean you’ll want to grab the softest, fluffiest pillow out there; in fact, pillows with soft down or feather padding tend to be less helpful than pillows made from firmer materials. After all, a pillow needs to be able to change shape to adapt to the changing positions our bodies take on as we sleep; having a bit of a firmer pillow will mean a greater amount of malleability and support.

Support--that’s really the name of the game when it comes to neck pillows, since ultimately what we have to shoot for is bedding which allows for relaxation of our spine and an opportunity to recuperate from any pain we may be feeling. Sometimes pillows that are especially contoured to fit around our head and neck can do the trick, sometimes a standard but well-made pillow will be satisfactory (in fact, depending on the injury, some patients end up feeling better with no pillow at all; like we said, there’s no one solution); the best thing to do is try different types out and see which one works for you. But don’t scrimp on support--it’s what provides the essential cushion your spine needs!

And this applies not only to the neck, but the whole body; after all, your spine is also affected by the position of your back, legs, and other extremities, so you’ll want to be sure you’re taking care of those too! Consider getting a body pillow--these can be used for support for those of us who like to sleep on our sides--or a lower back support pillow that cushions the inward curve of the lower spine. Try out a variety of pillows to see which work for you; if you’re a “more the merrier” type, then go all out!

Sleep is an essential time for recouping the losses of the day in terms of strain and pain. Your body deserves to get the same restful treatment as your mind--and if you’re someone who suffers from back or neck pain, you’ll be grateful for the extra effort you put in!