A wrong head positioning may lead to tensions and pain. The choice of the proper pillow provides an essential contribution to a good and recreational sleep.
From the doctor’s point of view
When waking up with tensions and pain in the neck- and shoulder-region, which improve during daytime you should check your head positioning. When having wrong sleeping habits the spine may overstretch or sag.
The role of the pillow
Positioning: As different as the sleep habits are, as different may the choice of the pillow. The most important role of the pillow is the optimal positioning of the cervical spine so that it can stay in its natural S-form. Basically, the pillow should give support to the head and ensure that the cervical spine doesn’t bend. A constantly wrong positioning of the head may lead to pain in the head as well as in the neck and tensions in the shoulder region.
The neck is the most sensitive part of the cervical spine and has to carry the weight of the head. Therefore it needs an anatomically shaped support area. When the pillow is too hard, they are not able to optimally adjust to the sleeper’s shape of the head. Too hard pillows hinder the functions of nerves and blood vessels.
Dermatology and bedding climate: sleeping experts recommend organic sheep wool for bedding content since they are able to absorb humidity 30 % of their own weight. As is well known, down feathers are water repellent. Since especially the neck of people who are sweating strongly is severely endangered, not only the cover but also the pillow should be filled with natural sheep wool. Muscular pains, so-called myalgias and already existing myogelosis may intensify through sweat-attacks.
Recommended size of pillows
The pillow may not be too wide; it is made for supporting the head and the shoulders should not rest on the pillow. When choosing a pillow you should take care that only the head and the neck-area rest on the pillow. Only this way it is guaranteed that the shoulder is able to optimally sink into the mattress/sleeping underlay. Orthopaedics and sleeping experts basically advise against big pillows. Their recommendation: 20 x 31 inches or 20 x 25 inches.
Find your personal pillow
There is no pillow that suits everyone. Depending on sleeping habits, preferred lying position either on the back, stomach or side the sleep-healthy-specialist SAMINA offers a choice of 20 basic pillows with different possibilities of variation through different fillings out of natural material and different sizes. The pillow no longer is a foreign object in your bed. Depending on your sleeping habit a useful position and support of the cervical spine happens.
Pillows for side sleepers
Sleeping on the side is the most popular sleeping position. Almost two thirds prefer it. It is important, that the pillow fills in the area shoulder/throat/neck and that it supports the head to prevent bending or overstretching of the cervical spine. Here you have to take care that pillows too soften often are not having the necessary support strength. The optimal pillow for side sleepers takes away the weight from the spine.
Pillows for back sleepers
When lying in back position the area between back of the head and shoulder should be perfectly filled in so that a pleasant relief is ensured during night. The pillow may not be too high.
Pillows for stomach sleepers
Conventional pillows often don’t offer stomach sleepers the desired comfort and since they sleep with the face “in the pillow” furthermore impair relaxed breathing. Under these circumstances it may lead to burden and overstretching of the spine. Consequences are a restless and non-recreational sleep as well as tensions in the neck-, throat- and back musculature. Out of this reason rather flat pillows are advisable for stomach sleepers.
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