ARE YOU HURTING YOUR NECKWHILE YOU SLEEP?
We spend one third of our lives sleeping. Therefore, how you sleep and the bed you sleep on can have a dramatic effect on the support of your body. When you sleep, you need to be aware of how your neck and spine are supported. There are many different types of beds on the market today which can be very confusing for consumers. The best type of bed is the one that you try out and feel most comfortable using. Typically, a bed that is firm underneath with a softer top helps to provide support as well as contour your body. If your mattress is old, then think about investing in a new one so that your neck and spine are supported well. The best positions to sleep in for your spine are on your back or sides. Avoid sleeping on your stomach since your spine ends up twisted, especially your neck. Over the hours of repetitive sleeping on your stomach, you can damage the joints of your spine and compress the nerves exiting your spine. Use a pillow to help support your body and take the weight of your legs off your spine. If you like to sleep on your back, place a pillow under the backs of your thighs and knees. This should place your knees in a slight, supported bend which takes pressure off your lower back. If you sleep on your side, be sure to put a pillow between your knees. This helps keep the alignment of your spine, and takes the pressure of your upper leg off the spine. Have 1-2 pillows under your head to keep your neck in proper alignment. If you need 2 pillows stagger them so that one pillow overlaps the other by one half.The lowerhalfgoesunder theshoulders,while theupperhalfsupports the neck. Our physical therapists at Synergy Healthcare can show you exercises, stretches, and techniques to relieve your pain and prevent it from returning. If you are suffering with neck or back pain, call us today to learn more about how we can relieve your pain, returning you to a more active, pain-free life! Staff Spotlight Megan McMaster, MS CF-SLP Pediatric Speech Therapist A nativeof Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Megan McMaster received her Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Eastern Washington University. Megan completed two fieldwork rotations; one in a public elementary school and the other in a pediatric outpatient setting. She has experience working with the pediatric population (birth – 18), with an interest in early speech and language delays, articulation disorders, feeding and swallowing, and augmentative and alternative communication. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her two black labs. Hiking, boating, and camping are a few of her favorite things!
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