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.
How To Choose A Pillow If You Have Neck Pain
If neck pain keeps you up at night, you might want to consider swapping your pillow for one thats the right height. In the pillow world, height is usually described as loft.
The right amount of loft depends a lot on your preferred sleeping position. Stomach sleepers, for example, should opt for a pillow with a lower loft. Essentially, you want a pillow that will keep your spine in alignment without putting too much pressure on your neck.
You might also want to look for a pillow made of supportive foam or latex rather than down or down alternative.
Shape may also be a consideration. Cervical or ergonomic pillows are designed to provide support specifically for the neck and head, for instance.
Pillows can be made from a range of materials, including latex, polyester, cotton, and more. A
For All Types Of Sleepers
A machine-washable neck pillow could be your ticket to a good night’s sleep and pain relief. A firm pillow with slow-rebound can ensure peaceful nights night after night. Your regular pillow may be causing neck pain or making chronic issues worse. That’s why PhysioRoom stocks memory foam pillows in ergonomic shapes. We want to provide the perfect night of rest to all types of sleepers.
Even sitting may be contributing to your problems. And what’s more uncomfortable than plane seats? For those with sensitive skin, our non-inflatable pillows are a brilliant option. Take a soft pillow on the road or to bed that won’t worsen existing conditions.
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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.
Memory Foam Neck Pillow
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How To Select The Best Pillow For Neck Pain
At night when you lay down to sleep, you want your head to be properly supported so that your neck muscles can relax, says Nicole Nagle, DPT. With the wrong pillow, your neck muscles are working overtime at night and this is not going to help your neck pain, she says. Nagle recommends keeping the following factors in mind when looking for a pillow to help ease pain:
Memory Foam & Ergonomic Pillows
Fancy a great night’s sleep with a pillow that really suits you? A memory foam pillow moulds itself to the shape of your head and neck, giving you good support that helps you relax. They come with covers that can be machine washed so you can easily keep them clean and fresh. To find the pillow for your perfect nights sleep, start with your favourite sleeping position and then look for specific benefits and features for your individual needs. But no matter which one you fall for, theyre all designed to make you sleep like a log. Opt for a weighted blanket that will provide you with more comfort ease stress and improve your sleep quality. See how to pick the best ergonomic pillow for your neck comfort.
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What Is The Best Pillow Positioning For Neck Pain
Sleep experts recommend either back or side sleeping if you experience neck pain. Sleeping on your stomach causes your head to bend at a sharp angle and arches your spine, which puts unwanted pressure on your neck. If you strictly sleep on your stomach, you should choose a pillow with a low loft to minimize pressure.
For best results, back and side sleepers should ensure that their head, neck, and top of the spine form a straight line. Sleeping with a pillow thats too high or too low can cause aches and pains. Likewise, sleeping with your head rolled to one side or the other is also likely to cause neck pain.
Your Guide To Quality Memory Foam Pillows For Lasting Support Better Health & Comfort
Memory foam pillows offer a unique material based on the properties of its cell structure. Unlike standard foam pillows that only partially compress when under pressure, the cells in memory foam pillows fully compress when the weight of the head is pressed upon it, then the pillow springs back to its original shape very slowly.
This is how the name memory foam came to be, the foam appears to remember the shape of your head when it was last placed upon its surface. The slow pillow recovery plays a major role in the memory foam therapeutic properties. These pillows will mold to the head and neck and hold the shape as long as the weight remains pressed on it which reduces pressure points on the neck and head
They are also temperature sensitive. This means that at lower temperatures it is harder and more viscous, while at higher temperatures, it is softer and more elastic. This is they are called visco-elastic. The temperature sensitive quality gives the melting feeling as your head slowly sinks into a memory pillow. The reaction to your head and neck temperature allows it to more easily adjust to head and neck contours with a custom molding affect.
Today, many variations are manufactured in various locations around the world. Because there are so many variations, it is very important to trust a manufacturer before purchasing memory foam pillow online. There has been a dramatic increase in low quality memory foam pillow imports from foreign manufacturers.
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Pillows For Back Pain
Dealing with back pain is difficult at the best of times. And it’s important to find a way to ease the discomfort so it doesn’t affect your sleep. Our Memory Foam Pillows are designed to reduce pressure on the spine. Thanks to the therapeutic ergonomic design, you can better manage neck, back and shoulder pain. The memory foam eases pressure around the head. This can create a more relaxed sleeping space for you to drift off.
Our pillows are made from 3-5 seconds slow-rebound memory foam. This offers shock absorption and lowers the force of gravity being placed on your body. This helps your muscles to relax and helps you get back to sleep. Our memory foam pillows for neck pain ensure that your neck is supported. It also ensures it’s in the best possible position to prevent neck ache and a stiff neck. We have a range of pillows suitable for back, front and side sleepers which support your neck at night.
Villsure Cervical Memory Foam Pillow
Pros:
- With a high density memory foam core, this pillow provides ample firmness with just the right amount of give. Because of its thickness its also highly durable.
- The ergonomic design cradles the head well, which looks to promote ideal spine alignment.
- Featuring two high-quality cotton pillowcases, youre able to swap them out and wash them as necessary.
Cons:
- This pillows firmness is certainly a pro, but it would be better if there was an option to adjust the height with a removable foam insert.
Built to encourage proper spinal alignment, this ergonomic, orthopedic pillow features a strong memory foam core and two removable cotton pillowcases. This pillow is thick, firm, and ideal for back and side sleepers.
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What Is Memory Foam
Memory foam is made from polyurethane. This is a type of plastic youâll find in a variety of products, such as sofas, mattresses, insulation, and spray foam. It gets its name from the fact that it can change shape under pressure, but return to its original shape when the pressure is gone. This lets it adjust to your individual shape and gives you extra head and neck support.
Are Memory Foam Pillows Comfortable During Hot Weather
Its a myth that memory foam pillows are heat magnets. Ten years ago, this was a more understandable assumption, but the memory foam used in todays pillows is generally much more hi-tech, and typically has features such as air holes and areas of foam and down, to ensure brilliant temperature regulation.
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How Firm Should A Pillow Be To Alleviate Neck Pain
A somewhat firm pillow is generally best for neck pain, especially if you sleep on your side. A pillow that is too soft and unsupportive will put pressure on your cervical spine. But the pillow should still have some softness. Any pillow that feels uncomfortable is going to be bad news for your neck.
The Verdict: Memory Foam Pillows
Dunelms temperature reactive memory foam firm-support pillow is the winner here, simply because it ticks all the boxes its great value, has a hi-tech design and had us drifting off to the land of nod in record time. Sealys hi-tech geltex pillow is truly deserving of second place, largely due to the clever combination of different materials, and the Dorma down surround memory foam medium support pillow is an absolutely brilliant option for anyone who likes their pillows on the firm side.
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Neck Pain And Its Relation To Sleep Quality
Neck pain can involve discomfort in the muscles, bones, nerves, joints, and the discs between the bones. It can cause difficulty in movement.
Sometimes, a chronic health condition, such as fibromyalgia, causes neck pain. In other cases, it can occur as a result of an accident.
While periodic discomfort in your neck isnt typically something to worry about, its important to seek medical care if your symptoms dont go away within a week or escalate to other areas of your body.
Its difficult to sleep when youre experiencing any kind of pain, including chronic neck pain. You might toss and turn all night to find a comfortable sleeping position.
Researchers in a that evaluated teens found that neck pain was linked to poor sleep quality in this age group.
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for the neck and upper quadrant.
What Pillow Materials Are Best For Neck Pain
The best pillow for neck and shoulder pain is firm enough to hold your head at a healthy angle, but soft enough to alleviate pressure points. Most sleepers find success with either a memory foam, latex, buckwheat, or feather pillow, as these materials offer the best balance of support and pressure relief.
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Best Pillows For Neck Pain Video
Watch our video below to learn more about our labs top pillow picks for sleepers with neck pain.
Read our top picks to learn more about each ones materials and unique qualities. In the buyers guide section, well break down the reasons you could be experiencing neck pain and how your pillow can help. Well take a deeper look at how body position and pillow construction can enhance comfort, and well teach you what to look for when shopping for a pillow for neck pain.
Labor Day Sales Are Still Going On!
Labor Day is now behind us, but many companies are still offering major holiday discounts. Check our product reviews below for discount information. You can also head to our list of Labor Day deals and discounts.
Are Memory Foam Pillows Good For Side Sleepers
The best type of pillow for side sleepers is either a memory foam pillow or an orthopaedic pillow. This is because those who sleep on their side can damage their spines natural alignment if their head is positioned either too high or too low while snoozing. Unlike feather or down pillows, memory foam ones are designed to cushion vulnerable pressure points on the head and ensure the neck remains in the optimum position.
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Memory Foam Filling: Dense Soft Mixed Or Shredded
Do you want firm support from your pillow, or do you prefer to be enveloped in softness? Memory foam pillows have different characteristics depending on their filling. Some pillows are light and soft, while others are sturdy and dense. Some have multiple layers, which makes a pillow that’s soft on the surface but still sturdy enough to offer proper support.
The different memory foam solutions also offer different ways to regulate temperature and wick away moisture. Some pillows have small holes that allow air to flow through the pillow. Others are filled with shredded memory foam that allows warm air to escape and be replaced with fresh, cool air. Whichever pillow you choose, remember that the pillowcase also affects the pillows ability to breathe and regulate temperature. So, have a look at our different pillowcases to make sure you get that perfect nights sleep you deserve.
How We Picked The Best For Your Neck
Choosing a neck support pillow is serious business. If you suffer from chronic neck pain, you know: it plagues every aspect of your life, causing constant discomfort. Its important to consult a medical professional if youre experiencing chronic pain, as they can help you try and get to the root cause of your pain. They may recommend a cervical pillow to help aid in pain relief. As we were analyzing neck support pillows, these were some of the determining factors we considered:
- Ergonomic Design: It was important that the pillows we selected were designed to align the spine. To this end we looked for pillows with contours that supported the natural curvature of the body.
- Firmness in Build Material: Most often when were rating pillows, were looking for the right amount of softness or contour provided by a high-quality memory foam. For a neck support pillow, the keyword is support, so we looked for a nice, firm material .
- Customization: For an issue as finicky as chronic neck pain, an inch of thickness in a pillow can be the difference between a fix to a problem and an exacerbation. We favored pillows that could be size adjusted, or came in multiple sizes, or had multiple sides of varying length to give you options in how you used it.
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Benefits Of A Memory Foam Pillow
The support that a memory foam pillow gives you helps you sleep in the best position for your spine: one that supports the natural curve of your cervical spine. This is made up of the first seven bones that make up your neck.
To help you do this, memory foam pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from the traditional puffy rectangles to a curved orthopedic model designed for back and side sleepers.
As you sleep on your back, gravity keeps your body centered over your spine and keeps the banana-shaped curve of your neck intact. If youâre a back sleeper, experts say that you should use a small, rounded neck roll to support your neck and a flatter pillow to support the rest of your head. You can do this by combining a few different types of pillows, or by using a contoured memory foam one.
For side sleepers, the pillow should be higher under your neck than it is under your head. If you sleep on your side, you want to keep your chin straight ahead in a neutral position.
But some people tuck their chin into a fetal position. This forces your head forward and may cause pain. Studies have shown that a contoured memory foam pillow can help support your chin in the correct posture.
If you often sleep on planes or in cars, a horseshoe-shaped memory foam pillow can support your neck so it doesnât drop uncomfortably far to one side. Just make sure itâs not too high in the back, or itâll push your head forward as you doze.
