Got a Backache?
Submitted by SharpMan Editorial Team on Sunday 10th October 2010- Sleeping positions that encourage comfortable sleep.
- Aids designed to help your body sleep right.
- Other tips for productive shut-eye and better mornings.
Got a backache? Maybe you should rethink your sleeping position — and your sleeping accessories.
A recent survey indicated that seven out of ten American men report waking up feeling stiff and poorly rested. Bummer. Who wants to start off the day that way? Check out these tips and aids for waking up Sharp:
Neck Pain
Most SharpMen complain about waking up with a stiff or sore neck. Often this is caused by improper sleeping positions. Most commonly, the neck pain is a result of pillows that prop up the neck — and hence the spinal column — at an awkward angle because the pillow is either too hard or too soft. Back specialists indicate that the ideal sleeping position requires SharpMen to sleep on their sides using a pillow that ensures that the neck lies parallel to the mattress — not angled up (too hard) or down (too soft).
For SharpMen who experience pain, they recommend switching to a pillow designed higher at the neck and lower at the skull — in effect, locking the head into the proper perpendicular position. No idea what kind of pillow this is? Our team found a Swedish-designed neck pillow that is constructed with these specifications in mind, without sacrificing the comfort that a pillow should provide. The pillow is designed to curve around your particular head and neck shape when it comes in contact with your body head. Very cool.
Back Pain
In addition to neck pain, a common complaint is lower back pain. Often this is caused by bed sheets or additional blankets that have bunched up beneath the lower back during sleep. The result? The spinal column contorts around this material for the remainder of the night, and as with the improperly angled neck, the contortion causes nighttime discomfort and morning stiffness. To avoid this, always make a point of lying on a sleeping surface that is smooth.
Other SharpMen wake up feeling stiff despite a smooth surface and a great mattress. Again, the culprit is contorted back positioning during sleep. For these guys, back specialists recommend sleeping on your side (with the appropriate head pillow) and inserting an additional firm head pillow between the legs. How does this help? While we sleep, one foot lies against the other, promoting spinal column contortion to one side. By placing a pillow between your thighs you create a sleeping position that mirrors your standing position and ensures that your spinal column lies parallel to the mattress all night. For those nay-sayers among you, try it. You’ll immediately notice the difference by morning.
Other lower back pain is caused by spending time in cars, office chairs or airplane seats without a proper lumbar support. Ideally, the chairs and seats you use should support the natural curve of your lower back by jutting out at the bottom of the backrest. Where this support is absent, your seated position will put additional strain on the lower back, leading to soreness and discomfort the next day. Consider adding a lumbar support to your car, your desk chair or seats you use while in-flight (for more information on in-flight comfort, see SharpTravel Gear. For example, we found an office chair or car seat back support that has an adjustable lumbar support (for taller SharpMen). We prefer this model because, unlike models that strap on to (and quickly fall off of) the backs of chairs, this version sits tight and is easier to use with adjustable office chairs that have a gap between the seat and back. Check it out.
Lumbar Support Cushion
Self-inflating Lumbar Pillow
For SharpMen who’d like to take their lumbar support on the road, we found a portable lumbar support cushion compact enough to stow in a small bag. Like the neck pillow we tested above, this product is temperature sensitive, molding itself to your body shape once it comes in contact with body heat.
Not quite small enough for you? We found a self-inflating lumbar pillow that rolls up small enough to store in your pocket. Pretty Sharp and perfect for long car rides, plane rides or poorly designed movie theatre seats.
This article last updated on Sunday 10th October 2010