Flat on your back. Lying flat is the nearest approximation to standing in a relaxed posture with your head, neck, and spine aligned. Lying flat also evenly distributes your weight across your body. Be sure to support your head with a good pillow.
The ideal sleep position: On your back
The best position to avoid back pain is lying flat on your back. Even so, many people find it the hardest way to enjoy deep sleep. For optimal spine alignment, place one pillow underneath your head or neck and another underneath your knees.
Pull your knees up slightly toward your chest. The pillow for your head should keep your spine straight. A rolled towel or small pillow under your waist may also help support your spine. Insert pillows into gaps between your body and the mattress.
Specifically, sleeping on the side or back is considered more beneficial than sleeping on the stomach. In either of these sleep positions, it's easier to keep your spine supported and balanced, which relieves pressure on the spine and enables your muscles to relax and recover.
If you sleep on your side, draw your legs up slightly toward your chest and put a pillow between your legs. Flexing your knees and having a pillow between your legs can help align your spine, pelvis and hips. This position takes pressure off your spine. Use a full-length body pillow if you prefer.
Sitting is becoming more prevalent while at work, and having a sedentary desk job can result in sitting for around 8 hours a day. This position actually increases the load on your spine more than standing. Spinal pressure “sits” around 140mm pressure.
No matter how your body moves when you sleep, your neck should maintain a neutral position, with your shoulders just below the pillow.
If you lay mainly on your back, you can use a pillow to support your arm either by your side (pillow under arm) or out to the side (if your movement allows). Use a small pillow to support the weight of the arm. Many people need two pillows, one under the shoulder blade and one under the arm.
Sleeping without a pillow may help some people who sleep on their front. It can help keep the spine and the neck in alignment during sleep, easing neck and back pain. It is not a good idea for everyone, though. People who sleep on their back or side might find that sleeping without a pillow causes neck or back pain.
It May Improve Your Posture
Sleeping on the floor can make it easier for you to keep your spine straight during sleep, since you don't have to worry about sinking too deeply into a mattress. However, you may need to use pillows to decrease pressure on your spine, such as placing a thin pillow beneath your lower back.
What is the best sleeping position for neck pain? Two sleeping positions are easiest on the neck: on your side or on your back. If you sleep on your back, choose a rounded pillow to support the natural curve of your neck, with a flatter pillow cushioning your head.
Most people find that sleeping on their side is the best position for a good night's sleep. Learn about the benefits of side sleeping here.
Sleeping on your stomach is the worst position when struggling with neck and shoulder pain because it strains your neck, shoulders, and back. We recommend side or back sleeping instead since they promote healthy spinal alignment and don't put pressure on your neck and shoulders.
Without a pillow to support the head, side and back sleepers may experience stiffness or soreness in the lumbar or cervical spine. Referred neck pain from not using a pillow may also contribute to tension headaches. Even when stomach sleepers don't use a pillow, neck pain isn't necessarily unavoidable.
Body size and preference are likely to influence pillow size, but usually the pillow should maintain a height of 4 to 6 inches to support the head and neck (and shoulders when lying on the back).
The best temperature to sleep is cooler rather than warmer. Temperatures above 75 degrees and below 54 degrees can disrupt a person's sleep. A cooler temperature is the ideal environment to fall asleep and remain asleep throughout the night. Over a 24-hour period, our body temperatures naturally peak and decline.
Surrounding muscles in your back need to be toned to support your spine and reduce pressure on your lower back. Our core muscles are rarely used during everyday activities, so they need to be toned through specific, targeted exercises. Take a few minutes each day to do a couple of simple core exercises. Stretch daily.
Spinal Pain | American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Spinal pain in the lumbar region (lower back) and cervical region (neck) are highly prevalent and are often the causes for many lost work days.
The cervical spine is the most vulnerable part of the spine to injury due to its mobility and susceptibility to high-impact or sudden movements. However, thoracic and lumbar spine injuries can also result in severe and permanent disabilities.
In a seated position, move yourself to the front edge of the chair and get your hips underneath you. (This is not how we want to sit all the time, but it is good to give our spine a break from being compressed when we sit in a more relaxed position.)
Yes, it's OK to sleep with socks on at night. In fact, they may help you fall asleep faster as wearing socks can promote a drop in core body temperature, which is needed for sleep. Just make sure socks aren't making you too warm or uncomfortable, and they're not too tight.
By sleeping with the mat on the floor – rather than on a bed frame, as in Western culture – the Japanese believe it helps to relax the muscles, while enabling the hips, shoulders and spine to maintain a natural alignment during rest.