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 who sleep are successful with a memory foam, latex, buckwheat or feather pillow, as these materials offer the best balance of support and pressure relief, 3 days ago when they are seated. Horseshoe-shaped body pillows can be useful to prevent neck strain when sleeping while sitting, such as sitting on an airplane or in a car, or while sitting in a recliner. These small pillows support the neck so that the head does not fall too far to the side.
The pillow should be small enough so that the head is aligned on the shoulders and is not pushed forward. If neck pain is your problem, a flatter pillow may be the best option. In one study, higher pillows created more skull-cervical pressure (i.e., at the point where the head and neck meet) and a larger cervical angle, meaning that the head is not aligned with the spine. This can cause pain and stiffness if the neck stays at that angle all night.
For example, Wu pointed out that if a pillow has too much volume, the head will tilt too far forward when you sleep on your back, stretching the back of your neck too much. If there is too little height, the head tilts back and stretches the front of the neck too much. With its contoured shape and supportive memory foam, the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Neck 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.
Don’t let the low price fool you, this pillow has many features that make it ideal for neck pain. If you sleep on your back, look for a pillow with a curve in your cervical spine, which means there is a little rocking or bulging under your neck and a flatter point for your head. Well sleepers, we have reached the end of my guide and they are on their way to finding their new pillow that relieves pain. With the wrong pillow, “the neck muscles are working overtime at night and this is not going to relieve neck pain,” he says.
Waking up with neck pain could be a sign that the pillow or sleeping position doesn’t fully support the neck. If possible, while buying pillows, lie down in your usual sleeping position and place the pillow under your head. Neck pain is more common among office workers and people who sit most of the day, and if you sleep with your spine crooked or too extended in either direction, you can make it worse. The type of pillow and pillow filler are mostly personal preferences, so you can decide what suits you best.
I switched to the Layla pillow when I woke up with neck pain, and it did a great job of relieving the pain. While there are some general pillow trends for all types of sleepers, the ideal pillow may vary for each person. A good pillow will keep your spine aligned and your neck in a neutral position so you can avoid neck pain and get a good night’s sleep. An orthopedic pillow, or cervical support pillow, can go hand in hand with a chiropractor’s plan to treat neck pain.
Pillows that are too stiff or too full can strain the neck by keeping it flexed throughout the night, causing pain. The best positions if you have neck pain (or just want to avoid it) are sleeping on your back or on your side.
