Sitting for long hours in an ordinary chair will lead to discomfort. Your back and thighs may even ache afterwards. Any typical chair simply cannot give your body the support and comfort it needs for extended sitting. This is where ergonomics come in. With the right chair and pillow support for your lower back, you will be able to sit for a prolonged period without a problem.
The same principle applies to sleep. As you lie down on the bed with a good pillow, ergonomics will determine how comfortable you will be as you doze off. Ergonomics will also make sure that you don’t wake up the following day with shoulder pain, back pain, and other aches. To this end, having an ergonomic pillow will help you correct your sleep posture for optimal sleep.
What Happens When You Sleep?
Sleep may seem mundane, but your body actually experiences several things when you sleep. Biological and neurological processes run as you dream. Your physical body also bends, stretches, and feels pressure based on your sleeping posture. Breathing may be affected. Comfort will also vary depending on your posture. All in all, these factors will make or break your quality of sleep.
What’s Your Sleep Position?
Sleeping Position: Back Sleepers
Sleep posture means how you lie down in bed for sleep. Most people simply lie on their back. In this neutral position, your head and neck will be elevated. Your weight will be evenly distributed throughout the rest of your body. However, the body has a natural curve around the lower back, hips, and buttocks areas. Due to this natural curve, the same areas may feel more pressure as your weight pulls your body down.
Sleeping Position: Side Sleepers
Many people also sleep on their sides. Your head and neck remain elevated, although your neck may bend more when compared to back sleeping. Your sleeping side will bear the weight of your body. Side sleeping will also place more pressure on one of your hips as you sleep.
Sleeping Position: Stomach Sleepers
A small number of people sleep facedown. Stomach sleeping forces your head to turn to one side. Your front body will bear the weight this time, and your belly will mainly experience the most pressure.
Neck Pain, Backaches, and Poor Sleep
Although your sleeping position is up to your personal preference, you may have problems related to your sleep posture. In general, chronic neck pain often troubles people. Due to the elevation of the neck, when paired with the wrong pillow, the neck muscles will have no support. They will strain to keep your head up, and you will feel that strain in the morning.
Your back may also suffer, regardless if you sleep on your back, your side, or your stomach. As previously mentioned, your lower back, hips, and buttocks form a natural curve. That curve can also be strained during sleep if your spine does not align properly.
Best Pillow for Sleep Problems
With these problems in mind, a change of pillow may be correct for you. There are many types of pillows out there, such as feather pillows and down pillows. However, these pillows have their own downsides. They may be susceptible to dust mites. Some are thinner pillows that offer little head and neck support. Feathers or down filling may even cause allergies to act up.
This is where an ergonomic pillow like memory foam comes in. Memory foam is hypoallergenic and breathable. Its pillowcase is even washable, so you won’t have to worry about dirt, oil, or dust accumulation. You can also adjust the height of the pillow to your liking. In addition to these features, memory foam is precisely the pillow that keeps ergonomics in mind to give you a good night’s sleep.
How an Ergonomic Memory Foam Pillow Brings Pain Relief
An ergonomic pillow has a unique figure. Two ends are raised, and a dip lies between them. This curvy shape is designed to offer optimal support to your head and neck. Whether you sleep on your back or your side, you can expect comfort when you lay your head down.
A Cervical Pillow Holds the Neck Up
The neck forms part of the cervical spine. As previously discussed, your head is held up when you lie down, and your neck slopes upward. Most of the time, there is no support underneath the neck, straining the muscles and causing pain.
A cervical contour pillow, like a memory foam pillow, provides much-needed neck support. Your head will rest in the dip while your neck rests on one of the raised ends. All the critical pressure points will be pinpointed here for heightened comfort.
A Neck Pillow Aligns the Spine
Remember when we said that spinal alignment is essential to restful sleep? The right pillow will facilitate spine alignment by keeping you in place throughout the night. An ergonomic pillow allows for less movement, which will then align your spine into a neutral position. In this neutral position, the natural curve of your lower back will feel less pressure and more comfort. With this, say goodbye to back pain in the morning!
Think about Ergonomics When You Sleep
In a single lifetime, a person spends much of his time sitting down, but he spends even more of his time lying down and sleeping. Since sleep forms a massive part of your life, you may take the time to think deeply about your comfort during slumber. Consider the ergonomics of your head and your neck, and you will find the right pillow for your needs.