Getting a good night’s sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.  Unfortunately, 30% of adults report that they suffer from the inability to sleep.  The mattress and pillow that we sleep on has a major impact on this.  If you think about it, one-third of our life is spent sleeping so we need to make sure we are investing in the right mattress and pillow to guarantee the best sleep. If we don’t get the proper amount of sleep, it will carry over and affect the other two-thirds of our life in a very negative way.  When you are considering looking for a mattress and pillow, Chiropractor Wichita KS expresses that you need to consider these three things.

1. Neutral Spine – Your spine should always remain in its neutral position, meaning when you look at your spine from the front or back it should be straight. When you look at your spine from the side you should have three good curves.  You should have a lordotic curve in your neck, a kyphotic curve in your upper back and another lordotic curve in your lower back.  If your mattress in too soft, you might notice your hips or shoulders are sinking into the mattress too much.  If your pillow is too tall or too short, then your neck can be forced out of its neutral position.  The best way to know if your spine is in its neutral position is to have someone else observe your posture as you lay on the bed.
2. Sleeping position – The absolute worse way you can sleep is on your stomach. Sleeping on your stomach will cause strain in your lower back and neck.  It also forces your spine out of its neutral position since your neck is twisted so you can breathe.  Sleeping on your back is a good way to sleep.  A firmer mattress is usually better for back sleepers since it gives more support.  You can also try placing a pillow under your knees to keep them slightly bent which has been shown to take strain off the lower back.  The most common and the best way to sleep is on your side.  Side sleepers usually benefit from a slightly softer bed than someone who sleeps on their back.  This helps relieve pressure points on the shoulder and hip.  You can also try sleeping with a pillow between your knees while on your side to keep your lower back and hips from twisting as you sleep.
3. Comfort – There isn’t one standard mattress or pillow that works for everyone so you need to find something that is the most comfortable for you. As a general rule, the firmer the mattress the better but you also have to balance that with comfort.  The best way to know if a mattress or pillow is going to be a comfortable is to try it out.  Go to the store and lay on it for several minutes or see if you can get a trail period to try it out at home.

Finding the right pillow and mattresses can make a big impact on relieving joint pain and your overall health.  I help you find this health tip of the week helpful and if you have any questions feel free to reach out to us at 425-1911 or visit our website at mywichitachiro.com