By the age of 30, you will have spent, on average, a total of 262, 080 hours of being alive, and 87,360 of those hours asleep. Typically we will sleep for about 1/3 of our total day (6-10 hours in total), so this means that you will either be helping yourself to grow, repair, recover while you sleep, or potentially harming yourself while asleep. Proper sleep positions are crucial to a restful night’s sleep. If you are sleeping incorrectly or on a crappy mattress you can potentially be doing harm instead.
Proper sleep position does not mean passing out wherever you lay down or lying on your stomach or on a couch or recliner. Proper sleep position means giving yourself the best chance to get a restful night’s sleep. Lying flat on your back and lying on your side are the two optimal sleep positions.
Back sleeping is great because if puts you in the proper anatomical position with your spine, neck and head in a natural, neutral position. If you suffer from lower back issues, or may not have the best mattress, placing a pillow underneath your knees can help to reduce some stress felt in the lower back. You want to make sure that your head is neutral and not forcing your head to be too far forward or backward with your pillow height.
Side sleeping is another way to ensure proper positioning. Being on your side with a body pillow between your knees and arms is ideal. Once again this ensures proper anatomical positioning with your head in line with the rest of your body and no unnecessary stresses being placed on your lower back.
As you can see, sleep is vital to our health and well-being, when done properly. If you are waking up every day stiff and sore or in pain, you’re doing something wrong. If you fall in the second category, be sure to speak with us and we can help work through whatever issue you may be having.
– Dr. Mike