Choosing the Perfect Pillow for Your Sleep Style

Selecting the Ideal Pillow for Your Sleeping Position

Ensuring you have the right pillow is key to reducing neck discomfort. The appropriate pillow supports your head, maintains neck alignment, and prevents muscle strain. Factors like body size, weight, sleeping habits, and personal comfort influence the best choice when selecting a pillow for neck relief.

Sleeping on your back
A flatter pillow suits back sleepers best. You might also add a small rolled towel or cylindrical pillow for extra support. Some neck pain pillows feature contour designs with elevated neck sections and lower areas for head placement.

Placing a pillow under your knees can help reduce lower back strain.

Sleeping on your side
Higher pillows help keep your neck aligned with your shoulders. Additional support with cylindrical pillows or rolled towels can be beneficial. Body pillows mimicking arm support can also ease neck tension. Placing a pillow between your knees promotes proper spinal alignment.

Sleeping on your stomach
It’s generally recommended to avoid stomach sleeping, especially if you suffer from neck pain. This position strains the neck by twisting and arching the back. If unavoidable, use a flat pillow or sleep without a pillow. Resting your forehead on a pillow can lift your head. Placing pillows beneath the hips and abdomen helps maintain spinal curves.

Special features to consider in pillows for neck pain include:

Orthopedic (cervical) pillows
Designed with elevated support at the neck and lower at the head, often made from memory foam. Not everyone finds them comfortable, and some prefer sleeping with the pillow upside down.

Feather pillows
Soft and adaptable, these pillows are favored by those who change sleeping positions frequently. The goal is to select a pillow that conforms to your body, reducing the need to adapt your sleeping posture.