What kind of pillow is best for neck pain?

What kind of pillow is best for neck pain?

The neck’s delicate nature makes it susceptible to injury. The condition is most evident in adults who spend long hours with their heads bent forward, but children are also affected. Neck pain is the most common source of childhood trauma in the U.S., affecting as many as 18 million children each year. Without enough support from the pillow, your head can sink into it, leaving your neck vulnerable to strain and stress. As a result, neck pain is one of the most common reasons people visit their doctor every year. In fact, as many as 80 percent of all adult Americans experience some form of neck pain at some point in their lives. Therefore, finding the right pillow can be a vital part of preventing neck pain and improving its symptoms. This article discusses what kind of pillow is best for neck pain and how to get the right fit for your needs.

What is neck pain?

Neck pain is a general term that encompasses a variety of conditions. It starts with tenderness in the neck and can move on to numbness, tingling, and headache. While there are many causes of neck pain, the most common are car accidents, repetitive strain injuries resulting from long hours working at a desk, sports injuries, fall-related injuries, and osteoarthritis. Neck pain can also be caused by stress or trauma.

How to find a good pillow for neck pain

To find a good pillow for your neck, consider these factors: 

• Firmness. When looking for a good pillow, consider the firmness of your current pillow and how it feels on your neck. A firm pillow can help with pressure relief, while a soft or medium-firm pillow might be better for support. Some firm pillows are firmer than others, so it’s essential to ensure you get the right fit before buying. 
• Size. If you prefer sleeping on your side or back, make sure the pillow size is appropriate for that position. The size can also be helpful if you experience any morning stiffness in your joints and need to prop them up with extra support during the day. 
• Shape. Finding a round-shaped pillow is difficult for some people because they may find that it keeps their head tilted in an awkward position all night. If you wake up with a headache or neck pain, try a more traditional shaped rectangle-shaped pillow instead.

Types of Neck Pain and Which Pillows are Best for Each

There are many types of neck pain, and specific pillows can be best for each type. A pillow shouldn’t cause your neck to arch too much or rest on the back of your head. A pillow shouldn’t completely block out light, but it should also be soft enough not to feel it when you sleep. The two most common types of neck pain are tension-type and whiplash-type. The former is caused by strain and stress on the muscles surrounding your spine.

In contrast, the latter is caused by a sudden impact on the front of your head from a car accident or another trauma. It would help if you also chose a pillow based on its support level and height. If your neck feels relaxed after sleeping, choose a low-support pillow that is up to waist level when you lie down. If you have trouble sleeping because you wake up in pain, consider purchasing a high-support pillow that doesn’t go lower than the chin.

What are the best pillows for neck pain?

There are many benefits to using a pillow. For example, sleeping on a pillow can help align the head and neck in such a way that they’re comfortable. Additionally, pillows can support the neck regarding stress or other injuries. However, not all pillows are created equal. To find the right one, you need to consider your personal needs and the nature of your existing neck pain symptoms. 

The best pillows will be shaped to provide comfort while still providing support. A standard pillow will likely work well for you if you sleep primarily on your back. But suppose you like to sleep on your side or stomach more often. In that case, you’ll want a contoured or curved pillow that provides better cognitive alignment for sleeping in these body positions.

Additionally, suppose your neck pain is caused by stress or strain from prolonged sitting at work. In that case, you must use a pillow that provides optimal lumbar support during sleep. The best advice on getting the perfect fit is just as important as finding the perfect shape and size for your needs.

Conclusion

Neck pain is a common problem, but finding a pillow that works for you can be difficult. Certain types of pillows are better for certain types of neck pain. However, if you have neck pain that is not specific to any type, you should look for a pillow with more support and a firm surface.

FAQs

What are the consequences of poor neck posture?

A bad neck posture can lead to headaches, neck aches, and even sleeping problems. The consequences of lousy neck posture are severe and can affect your health. The first and most obvious consequence of bad neck posture is painful headaches. 

Poor neck posture is one of the top causes of headaches among schoolchildren. If you spend long hours sitting with your head bent forward, your muscles will become tense. This tension can make it difficult for you to sleep on your side or your back. Poor neck posture can also cause sleeping problems. 

Finally, poor neck posture can result in problems with the nerves running down the middle of your back. These nerves are responsible for sending messages to and from your brain to all body parts. The resulting pain and numbness in these areas are known as neuralgia.

What are the causes of poor neck posture?

Poor neck posture is a common cause of neck pain and may be caused by Slouching. Sloppy heads can also lead to poor posture and neck pain, as the head can fall backward and against the pillow, leading to dehydration of the scalp and consequent headaches. At the same time, sleep can cause your head to come forward, leading to degenerative changes in the Soft Palate and TMJ. 

Dangers of poor sleeping posture include: -Upper Orientation Disorientation (UOD): When we shift our heads from one side of the bed to another, we often do not realize that our bodies have become disorientated – resulting in a change in upper body alignment with the awareness that coincides with the head’s movement; this is called Upper Orientation Disorientation (UOD). It usually is a temporary change that corrects as we shift again. Still, when it persists, it leads to altered vision, dizziness/ vertigo, gastroparesis, tinnitus, etc.

How can you correct poor neck posture?

The first step in correcting poor neck posture is to identify the problem. Using a mirror, observe your sleeping and sitting positions to see where your head is resting and the degree of forward flexion and extension of your neck. 

Observe whether you’re tilting your head backward while asleep. If you’re sitting in bed, do so with an appropriate pillow between your head and the bed frame. Adjust the pillow so that it supports the base of your skull and doesn’t allow your head to sink into it. The second step is to find a more ergonomic position. 

Place pillows under your head for a more comfortable position, but don’t allow them to support it. Alternatively, place them behind you at chest level if that provides the necessary support for your neck. Sit straight in a chair with your shoulders relaxed against the back of the seat (if there’s room). Finally, turn on a TV set or music player and watch or listen in this position as long as it feels comfortable. There are various techniques for correcting poor neck posture, such as cervical traction*. This technique involves applying force along two cervical curves…..

The best pillow for neck and shoulder pain is firm enough to keep your head at a healthy angle yet soft enough to relieve pressure points. Most people are successful with a memory foam, latex, buckwheat or feather pillow, as these materials offer the best balance of support and pressure relief. Neck pain can be aggravated even more if you sleep very hot. Anyone striving to stay cool at night should look for good cooling pillow.

In addition to cradling the head and relieving pressure on the neck with its deep contour memory foam, the best pillow for neck and shoulder pain should be breathable and ideally have a copper-gel infusion. Both of these traits help the pillow, and therefore the person, to sleep incredibly well. With its contoured shape and supportive memory foam, the Tempur-Pedic Pillow promises to keep your neck aligned throughout the night. It comes in three sizes, customizable to your body shape and sleep style, and is completely hypoallergenic.

Sometimes a higher pillow is recommended, so that the neck and head are aligned straight on the shoulders as they would be when standing with good posture. A rolled towel or pillow in the form of a roll should be placed under the neck and supplemented with a pillow for the head. Choose from three sizes: small, medium and large to find the right pillow for you and your neck. For an all-natural and adjustable option, many people choose buckwheat pillows, such as the original buckwheat pillow Hullo.

People with neck pain who like a firmer pillow should consider the many memory foam options, but if you want something even firmer and more supportive, it’s worth considering the Therapeutica Pillow. As for the touch, this is a plush but supportive pillow that should be a good choice for any sleeping position, although tummy sleepers should be especially comfortable. A new pillow can dramatically relieve neck pain, but there are additional ways to help relieve neck pain or stiffness. 

If standard flat pillows don’t give you enough support, consider the Tempur-Pedic Top Neck Pillow. Alig, a little sleeper on her side and back, experienced neck pain at first, but as she got used to the pillow, she loved it. While any of the best pillows can work to keep the spine aligned, there are also some special pillows made specifically to support the neck, especially for those who chronically struggle with neck pain. This Epabo pillow features a strategic ergonomic design to help support and cradle your head, neck and shoulders, allowing you to sleep uninterrupted and wake up feeling refreshed.

Purple’s unique design means a cooler pillow that also offers a perfect adjustable support for people suffering from neck pain, whether they sleep on their side or stomach. It has a removable foam piece on the back, which can help reduce the resting position of the head for people who find the pillow too high. Small lifestyle changes, such as stretching, adjusting your posture when you feel slumped, and maintaining exercise, can really make all the difference when it comes to neck pain. Both the physical therapists I spoke with, Karena Wu, PT, DPT, owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York City and Mumbai, and Colleen Louw, PT, a specialist in therapeutic pain and spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, recommended neck pillows for the neck.

Cervical or ergonomic pillows are designed to provide specific support for the neck and head, for example. To relieve neck pain, people who sleep on their side need a pillow with a high profile and a medium to firm level of support.