What is the best sleeping position to avoid back pain?

Dec 06, 2023

Bob Sharma

Sleeping can be difficult for those who suffer from chronic back pain, as some positions may aggravate the discomfort. Understanding which sleeping position is best for avoiding or alleviating back pain can help you get a good night of rest and prevent future aggravation. Here we discuss the various sleep positions and their effects on back pain.

Back Sleeping
Back sleeping is a common go-to for those with back pain, as it keeps your spine in its natural alignment and prevents straining of certain muscles. It’s important to support your neck and upper lower back; however, you can do this by adding a pillow under your shoulders, legs, and feet. If it’s too difficult to sleep on your back during pregnancy or if you have acid reflux or snore frequently, however, you should opt out of this position.

Side Sleeping
Side sleeping is an excellent option because it distributes weight evenly across the body, reduces pressure points on the spine and keeps your head level with the rest of your body — all of which are beneficial for avoiding back pain. To make this more comfortable, place a pillow between your legs to stabilize joints further and fill in any gaps in your spine’s curvature. This can help relieve hip discomfort as well!

Stomach Sleeping
Though stomach sleeping isn’t recommended for people who experience back pain as it twists your spine out of alignment, some find that using a thin pillow under their abdomen provides enough padding so they can still enjoy this position without aggravating their condition. However, this should be avoided if possible since it has not been proven to be beneficial and carries risk of increased strain on certain areas of the spine due to poor posture while asleep.

Finding what works best for each individual will take time but with patience, comfort while sleeping should hopefully become accessible again soon! Additionally, there are other lifestyle choices such lifestyle changes like exercise & physical therapy which could also help reduce muscle tension & inflammation caused due to bad posture or long days at work. If you’re concerned about chronic back pain & would like more advice visit Park Place Clinics – contact us now to find out more!