It seems odd to think that you could hurt yourself sleeping, but you can. In fact, several sleeping habits can lead to chronic back pain. Thankfully, you can change your sleeping habits over time with a bit of patience and consistency. Read on to learn more about what your sleeping habits may be doing to your back.
Avoid Stomach Sleeping
Sleeping on your stomach is the worst position for not only your back, but your neck as well. It’s nearly impossible to maintain a neutral spine while sleeping on your stomach. Plus, it puts an unhealthy amount of pressure on your nerves and joints. When you irritate your nerves, it can lead to pain, tingling, and even numbness. When you sleep on your stomach, your neck is turned to one side for hours at a time. This position is incredibly rough on your cervical spine, muscles, and ligaments. Sleeping face down also puts pressure on your hips and lower back. The bottom line is, if you’re a stomach sleeper, it’s time to switch positions.
Aim to be a Back Sleeper
The very best way to sleep is on your back. Sleeping on your back in a supine position helps your spine maintain a neutral position. When your spine is neutral, it takes the pressure off your lower back and neck. If you’re not a natural back sleeper, this could be tricky to do. Choose a pillow made specifically for back sleepers that supports your head and neck. Try falling asleep on your back and then consciously remember to flip over to your back if you wake up in the middle of the night in a different position.
Are your sleeping habits the cause of your back pain? Come see the chiropractors here at Posture Doc. They can help change your bad sleeping habits and get you on the right track to living a pain-free life.