The best sleep positions for your sleep
Thousands of people Google “what sleep position is best?” every month. We don’t blame them - your sleep position can directly affect the quality of your sleep.
Fetal Position
This popular sleep position has loads of benefits. Not only is it great for lower back pain or for pregnant sleepers, sleeping in the fetal position can help reduce snoring. To make the most of sleeping in this position, make sure your posture is relatively loose, otherwise your comfy position could limit deep breathing while you snooze. Also, if you have any issues with joint pain or stiffness, sleeping in a tight fetal position might leave you sore in the morning.
Side Sleeping
Sleeping on your side is actually pretty good for you — especially if you’re sleeping on your left side. Not only can it help reduce snoring, it’s great for your digestion and might even reduce heartburn. Sleeping on your side can cause stiffness in your shoulders and jaw. Putting a pillow between your lower legs will help better align your hips to avoid low back pain.
Stomach Sleeping
If we had to rank sleeping positions, lying on your stomach might be at the bottom of the list. While it’s a good position for snoring or sleep apnea, that’s about where the benefits stop. Unfortunately, sleeping on your stomach can cause both neck and back pain. It can also add a lot of unnecessary strain to your muscles and joints, which is why you might be waking up sore and tired. Placing a pillow under your lower belly might help reduce back pain.
Back Sleeping
Sleeping on your back offers the most health benefits. Not only does it make it easiest to protect your spine, it can also help relieve hip and knee pain. Sleeping on your back uses gravity to keep your body in an even alignment over your spine, which can help reduce any unnecessary pressure on your back or joints. A pillow behind your knees may help support the natural curve of the back. On the flip side, sleeping on your back can be difficult for anyone who struggles with snoring or sleep apnea. It can also be difficult for anyone who already struggles with back pain, which is why it’s important to make sure you’re properly supported.
Especially during these hard times it’s important to prioritize sleep. Learn more about prioritizing sleep during a pandemic here.