The Best Sleeping Positions for Neck and Back Pain Relief

When you sleep your body is doing much more than resting. This time allows your body to regenerate and enable you to feel refreshed and rejuvenated when you wake up. In order to get the optimum benefits from sleeping, it is important for you to consider the best sleeping positions for neck and back. Whether you are already suffering from neck and back pain or your pain results from your sleeping position, follow these helpful tips to get the best out of your night’s sleep.

Best Sleeping Positions for Neck and Back

Keeping your spine in a neutral position while sleeping is the key to relieving neck and back pain. This means that your spine is straight and your hips are aligned.

• Sleeping on your back provides the best overall sleeping position to keep a neutral spine. Use a small pillow to support your head while still keeping your neck aligned with your spine.
• Sleeping on your side with your legs stretched out is the next best option, especially if you snore while sleeping on your back. You can place a pillow between your knees to keep your hips aligned.

Sleeping Positions to Avoid

With the goal being sleeping with a neutral spine, there are some sleeping positions to avoid in order to prevent neck and back pain.

• Sleeping on your side with your legs curled is not an ideal position as your neck and shoulders cannot align properly. Your weight distribution is also uneven in this sleeping position which can lead to back pain.
• Sleeping on your stomach may be the worst position of all if you are trying to avoid neck and back pain. Your spine is not aligned in this position, it puts pressure on your joints, and your neck must twist to one side.

When to See a Specialist

If you have been using the best sleeping positions for neck and back but are still experiencing chronic pain, it may be time to see a specialist. The trained physicians at the spine clinic at Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group can help. Our services range from treating conditions such as herniated discs and low back or neck pain, to more complex problems such as spinal tumors, scoliosis, and stress fractures. The majority of spine problems can be treated without surgery. In most cases, our doctors will refer you to our in-house physical therapy department to try conservative treatment first. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment.