Best Latex Pillow: Purple Harmony Pillow
The Purple Harmony Pillow might suit people who find memory foam options too hot.
Purple notes that the pillow uses its own GelFlex Grid material that contains more than 1,500 air channels to keep air circulating through the pillow and keep heat away from the head.
The pillow also has a Talalay latex core that the company claims is naturally cooler than other memory foam options.
The cover is a blend of nylon and spandex with a moisture-wicking treatment.
The Purple Harmony Pillow comes in three heights: low, medium, and tall. Purple recommends each height for different people, as follows:
- Low: This pillow is 5.5 in high. It may be ideal for stomach and back sleepers and people with a small to medium body size.
- Medium: This pillow is 6.5 in high. It may be ideal for side and combination sleepers with a medium to large body size.
- Tall: This pillow is 7.5 in high. It may be ideal for side and combination sleepers and those with a larger body size.
The pros and cons a person can consider may include:
Pros:
What Pillows Will Reduce Neck Pain
Both of the physical therapists I talked to, Karena Wu, PT, DPT, owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York City and Mumbai, and Colleen Louw, PT, a therapeutic pain specialist and spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, recommended cervical neck pillows.
These pillows take a variety of forms, but Wu and Louw recommended pillows that have a lower loft in the middle and larger bumps along each length. The Tempur-Pedic Neck was the only pillow of this style that I tested, and I found it didnt fit the curvature of my neck right. Wu mentioned having a similar problem. I had the Tempur-Pedic pillow, and it was too small for me, she said.
For future updates to this guide, we hope to test more cervical pillows to find one we can recommend.
Wu and Louw also liked the MyPillow because you can adjust it to fit the contours of your head and neck region. However, in our testing, we found there were better options that are more easily moldable and adjustable.
The bottom line is you need to find a pillow no matter the style that fits the contours of your head, neck, and shoulders to provide comfortable support throughout the night. This is why adjustability and a good return policy are important.
Using A Pillow While Sleeping On The Stomach
Sleeping on the stomach is the most stressful position for the back and neck. Patients may be advised by their doctors to avoid sleeping on the stomach if they have certain spine conditions, or following spine surgery.
If sleeping or resting on the stomach is preferred, the pillow should be relatively flat, or the head should rest directly on the mattress, so the head and neck aren’t strained. In this position, it is often best to place another relatively flat pillow under the abdomen or pelvis to help the lower back keep its natural alignment.
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What Is The Best Pillow Positioning For Back Pain
Sleep posture can exacerbate or alleviate back pain. Sleeping on your back is often considered the best positioning for back pain. This position is most likely to encourage sleepers to maintain a neutral posture, which keeps the spine aligned and reduces pressure on the lumbar region. Sleepers can use pillows strategically to relieve back pain.
Stomach sleeping is one of the worst sleeping positions for back pain, as it puts pressure on the lower back and often leads to spinal misalignment.
The following sleeping positions, along with their potential benefits and drawbacks, should be considered:
How To Train Yourself To Sleep On Your Back
People who are used to sleeping on their sides or stomachs might find it difficult to transition to sleeping on their backs. Others can drift off on their backs with ease but might wake up to find theyve moved to a different position in the night. Here are some tips to help you fall asleep on your back.
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Best Overall Pillow For Side Sleepers
Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow
Price: $$$
Parachute made our list again with a pillow specifically designed for side sleepers. Its another medium-density option, which means itll still be comfortable if you move from your side to your back.
The pillow is designed with a 3.5-inch gusset to relieve pressure on the neck and shoulders, while European down makes it soft and luxurious.
Reviewers credit the pillow with eliminating neck pain from both back and side sleeping positions. It comes with a 3-year warranty and can be dry cleaned or machine washed. Again, theres no option for a trial.
Tip #: Get A Supportive Mattress
A mattress that is too soft and allows you to sink in wont provide enough support for back sleepers. If you want to sleep restfully on your back, youll need a firm mattress that helps keep your spine aligned. The Casper Wave Hybrid mattress has gel pods that cradle your hips and ergonomically align your spine. If a brand-new mattress isnt in the cards, a firm mattress topper can also provide ample support.
Here are some quick answers to frequently asked questions about back sleeping.
Why Cant I Sleep On My Back?
Transitioning to back sleeping can be tough at first. Sleeping face-up can make your body feel more exposed than sleeping with your face pressed against your pillow. If you are persistent with the tips outlined above, you should be able to train yourself to sleep comfortably on your back with time and patience. However, theres nothing wrong with sticking to your side or stomach if that ultimately helps you get better deep sleep. If youre having trouble drifting off, you can also try out a cozy weighted blanket that hugs your body and a glow light that can help lull you to sleep.
Is Sleeping on Your Back Bad?
Sleeping on your back is widely considered by sleep experts to be the healthiest and most beneficial sleeping position because it supports good spinal alignment. However, it could have negative effects if you are pregnant, have sleep apnea, or snore.
Do Back Sleepers Need a Pillow?How Long Does It Take to Train Yourself to Sleep on Your Back?
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How Much Do Pillows Cost
Pillows range anywhere from $10 to upwards of $200, so you should be able to find a model that fits your budget. Materials and craftsmanship tend to have the most impact on price, but pillow type, size, and brand can also influence price-points.
- Size: Price generally increases with size. That said, a luxury pillow model could be three times the cost of a mid-range model of the same size. Custom sizes or specialty models tend to be pricier because they are less common.
- Type: Not all pillow types require the same construction or craftsmanship. Handcrafted, ergonomic, or more complex designs typically command higher price-points than standard pillows.
- Material: Material type and quality heavily influence pricing. Down, latex, and memory foam tend to drive up cost, while polyester and polyfoam models are usually more economical. Natural and organic materials can also increase price-points.
- Brand: While many shoppers are willing to spend more for brand recognition, an affordable generic model is sometimes comparable to well-known brand products that cost more. Be sure to compare different brands and models to ensure youre getting the best deal.
Finding The Right Loft & Firmness For Neck Pain
When it comes to relieving neck pain, neutral spine alignment is the name of the game. Youll hear me mention this a few times, but promoting neutral spine alignment is your pillows most important job .
Now, you might be wondering, How am I supposed to know if my spine is in neutral alignment? Well, heres a trick I like to use: If your spine is in neutral alignment, your ears should be in line with your shoulders, and your chin should be in line with your sternum. So when youre lying in bed, take some time to see if your chin is being craned upward, or if your ear is pressed into either shoulder. If so, its time to readjust and regain a healthy posture.
That said, its important to match your pillow to your preferred sleeping position in order to keep a healthy posture. To find the right fit, youll need to keep a close eye on the pillows loft and firmness rating. So lets take a closer look at the best loft and firmness for each position:
Before we move on to the next factor, remember that you can find a more in-depth explanation of how to keep a healthy sleeping posture in my complete guide to picking the right pillow!
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Best Pillow For Back Sleepers With Neck Pain
The Purple Harmony Pillow
Price: $$$
With its combination of Purple Grid Hex technology and a Talalay latex core, this pillow instantly adapts to your head and shoulders to eliminate pressure and pain. It comes in two sizes to accommodate back and side sleepers.
Over 4,000 reviewers give it a 5-star rating, and the Harmony comes with a 1-year warranty and has a 100-night trial window.
While the pillow cover can be tossed in the washing machine, the core is spot clean only.
$99 At Casper And Amazon
We liked this pillow both for back and side sleeping, so if youre a back and occasional side sleeper this may be the pillow for you. It has a synthetic core with soft memory foam surrounding it, which gives a soft yet supportive feel. Casper describes this pillow as feeling like a marshmallow and that description hits the mark. Its squishy enough that it had some give while laying on our back but also enough support that it kept our head properly elevated. The rectangular-shaped gusset on the side of the pillow also helps keep the structure which we appreciated when sleeping on our side. If youre the type of person that doesnt like adjusting your pillow throughout the night, youll like this pillow as we found it kept its shape better than down or down alternative pillows.
If youre a hot sleeper, we think youll appreciate the Casper. Unlike other foam pillows that can overheat, we didnt feel too hot with this thanks to the holes throughout the pillow to help disperse heat.
The Casper Hybrid Pillow comes in two heights, regular with a 2-inch gusset and low loft with a 1.25-inch gusset. Casper has a quiz you can take to help determine which loft height is right for you, though we found that the low loft version was the perfect size for our petite side sleeper, so if you have an average to larger frame you may want the regular loft. It comes with a removable and machine washable cover and Casper offers a 30-night return policy.
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How To Choose The Best Pillow For Back Sleepers
There are many pillows to choose from for back sleepers, so we spoke with experts to find out how to find the best pillow. All of the experts agreed there is no perfect pillow that will work for everyone, and that a good pillow should keep the head, neck and spine in a neutral position.
While many pillows are marketed for specific sleeping positions, the arguments for their effectiveness are largely anecdotal. Theres actually no scientific evidence that a given pillow labeled for a certain sleep position, such as back sleeping, will work for an individual, says Andrew Varga, MD, neuroscientist and physician at The Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Center.
During our testing, we kept this expert consensus in mind, and worked with the understanding that there wasnt one perfect pillow for anyone we looked for a pillow that would let us achieve a neutral, comfortable, supported sleeping position and we didnt always like the pillows sold for a given specific position.
However, while testing pillows we did find in general that manufacturers sleep position labeling gives a good starting point to finding the right pillow. Most pillows for back sleepers, for example, are more supportive and lofty compared to pillows for stomach sleepers that are softer and flatter, so youll want to take this into consideration, at least as a starting point, when trying to find a pillow to suit your needs.
How To Choose A Pillow For Back Sleepers
As a back sleeper, there are particular pillow features you should take into consideration when shopping. In their advertising, pillow brands make all pillows sound good, even though not all will work well for your body. Its important to bypass the hype and focus on whats important.
Learn which pillow features are truly impactful for your sleep experience, then judge prospective pillows on those features rather than manufacturer claims about comfort.
Also Check: What Is The Best Rated Tempurpedic Mattress
How To Choose A Pillow For Neck Pain
If you experience neck pain, choosing the right pillow can be a key step toward living pain-free. The right pillow will depend on your individual needs. Well walk you through the most important considerations, including how to choose the best material, shape, and thickness for your individual sleeping style.
Riley Home White Down Pillow
- Price point: $$$
- Fill: 750 fill power white down
Key features: If youre looking for a comfortable 100 percent down fill pillow that also offers good neck support, the Riley Home White Down Pillow may just fit the bill.
Available in both plush and firm density, this machine-washable fluffy pillow is filled with down that carries the Responsible Down Standard certification. This means it follows strict standards to ensure humane animal treatment and the highest quality down.
If youre a back sleeper, its recommended that you opt for the plush density. This will allow you to sink into the pillow but still feel support in your neck.
Considerations: This pillow is more expensive than many other back-sleeper pillows, but it does come with a 5-year warranty.
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Other Tips To Help Neck Pain After Switching Your Pillow
If youve changed your pillow but still arent finding relief, you can also try these tips:
- Modify your overall posture when standing or sitting. Find a neutral spine in these positions, with your shoulders hovering directly over your hips and your ears over your shoulders.
- Stretch your neck every 20 to 30 minutes when doing computer work, driving long distances, or doing other repetitive tasks that tax your neck. It may be helpful to set a reminder on your computer or phone to take breaks.
- Use a backpack or rolling suitcase when carrying heavy loads. Either evenly distribute the weight or wheel it around. Using a shoulder bag puts excess strain on your neck and shoulders.
- Use heat or ice to ease the pain by taking a warm shower or applying a hot or cold compress. This is especially effective in the first 2 to 3 days of an acute injury.
- diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis, or cancer
Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice numbness or less strength in your arms or hands. Any shooting pain down your arm or around your shoulder is also important to note.
Seek immediate medical attention if your neck pain is severe or has resulted from an injury, like a car accident or fall.
Choose The Right Loft
If youre a back sleeper youll want to find a pillow that has enough loft to cradle your head comfortably, and while manufacturers tend to recommend firm pillows for back sleepers, exactly what works will vary for different size bodies.
If you have a small frame, you may find a lower loft pillow is more comfortable if youre larger you may find a higher loft pillow works for them. Because of this, Josh Tal, PhD, of Josh Tal & Associates, Sleep and Health Psychotherapists, advises that online shoppers look for adjustable fill pillows because you can add or remove fill to find the right fit. Our top pick is a great option, since its simple to remove fill to achieve a good amount of loft for smaller people, and it comes with additional fill if you need extra firmness.
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Best Back Sleeper Pillow Introduction
Are you feeling tired even after a long proper sleep of eight hours? Your work performance and interaction with family and friends are not going the way you want because you feel down as your head hurts, your back is aching, and your Neck is as stiff as a stick. Well you need Best Back Sleeper Pillow for yourself
Perhaps you have the best room environment with warm and cosy colour combinations to make you nod off quickly, yet you are not up to your mark when you wake up and you are badly in search of a soft and firm pillow for sleepers.
Despite months of checking and identifying the problem, you might have decided to carry the suffering along. There is no need for that anymore. One factor could be that most of the time, we are focusing on the quality of mattresses that are soft, warm, and fragrant, and not a bit of attention is given to what might be resting inside of our luxurious pillowcases. This is where the best back sleepers Pillow for back pain, neck pain and under knees pain comes into the game.
The best back sleepers Pillow helps allay and minimise head, shoulder, and back pain and stress. In addition, it would be good to mention that laying on the Hi-end back sleepers pad would also cut the costs of unnecessarily expensive spas-for good. So, without any delay lets dive into the list of our reviewed TOP 7 high-quality pillows for back sleepers. HERE WE GO!
