Tempur Original Large Pillow: Best Memory Foam Pillow For Neck Pain
Price: £109 | Buy now from Tempur
Contoured memory foam is the pillow type of choice for people seeking relief from neck pain, and Tempur is the king of memory foam pillows. This classic robust pillow is pricey, but it’s a superb investment if you want to sleep better and wake in comfort.
The raised section supports your neck and helps your head, neck and shoulder muscles to fully relax in their natural posture while you sleep. The Large size is 11.5cm at its highest, which is not actually that high, so while it’s perfect for back sleepers you may need a bit of extra height to accommodate your shoulder if you’re a side sleeper. Luckily the Tempur Original also comes in X Large with 13cm of support, which is ideal for side sleepers. However it’s also worth noting that the pillow will compress and firm up over your first few nights of sleep.
Key specs Filling: Memory foam Cover: 100% cotton cover Sizes: Large is 61cm x 31cm also available in Medium and X Large
Why You Can Trust Us
Our team at Sleep Foundation includes experts and testers with years of experience in the sleep product industry. We have tested over 300 pillows in order to determine which ones are best suited to sleepers with different needs. Our team includes back, side, stomach, and combination sleepers, as well as sleepers of different body types. This allows us to represent as wide an array of sleep preferences as possible in our findings.
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:
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Pillow Support Is Crucial For Spine Problems
For those with spinal disorders, the right type of support can be especially important in helping the spine rest comfortably. Sufficient and restorative sleep are the body’s chance to heal itself from the postural, physical, and nervous challenges of the day.
Pillow fillings vary in their level of support. Most down or feather pillows offer little structural support compared with pillows filled with firmer materials.
One research study compared the support provided by 3 different types of pillows:
- A roll-shaped orthopedic pillow filled with polypropylene capsules
- A contour-shaped memory foam pillow made of polyurethane
- A feather pillow made of 100% goose down.
The orthopedic pillow was found the best for spinal alignment and the feather pillow fared worst.1Kim HC, Jun HS, Kim JH, Ahn JH, Chang IB, Song JH, Oh JK. The Effect of Different Pillow Heights on the Parameters of Cervicothoracic Spine Segments. Korean J Spine. 2015 Sep 12: 135-138. Published online 2015 Sep 30.
While research can be helpful, individual comfort and support should be the deciding factor. Trying out a pillow for a week should be enough time to decide whether the pillow is beneficial.
A Pillow For Side Sleepers
If you’re someone who sleeps on your side, you’re no doubt aware of how important your choice of pillow is a lack of support can mean pain in the morning, and loss of sleep quality. The Therapeutica Spinal Alignment Sleeping Pillow provides you with crucial support for your head, neck and shoulder, making it the ultimate side sleeper pillow. This support will allow you to avoid back, shoulder and neck pain and enjoy sleeping on your side as much as possible.
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What To Consider When Purchasing A Pillow For Neck Pain
Most people dont give much thought to their pillow, beyond choosing a pillow thats nice and squishy for immediate comfort. This means that when we do realize our pillow may be contributing to our neck pain, we may not know how to go about choosing the best pillow. If youre in this position, you may be susceptible to misleading marketing and end up choosing a pillow thats ill-suited for your needs.
To help you get started, weve made a list of the most important factors. Focusing on these factors and having a basic understanding of pillow features and construction can help you find the pillow that works best for you.
More Information About The Therapeutica Spinal Alignment Pillow
To help you make sure that you receive the product that is best suited to your needs, we have a range of in-depth guides providing further information. Please follow the links below:
and share your opinions!
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Headaches are goneChristine
I never ever write reviews but this pillow really deserves one. I don’t know what magic this is but I’ve had this pillow for more than 2 weeks now and my tension headaches are completely gone. I can live and function again, so thank you SO much.
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Therapeutica Spinal Alignment Orthopedic Pillow for Neck PainDavid
The pillow was stiff to start,but molded to be more comfortable. It seems to be supporting in the right places and reduced pain.
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Relieve neck pain after using this pillow
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WOW!Pamela
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2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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neck pain under controllAnthony
this pillow has made a great difference to along term problem well designed and well made
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Can Pillows Make Your Back Hurt
A pillow could make your back hurt if it doesnt fit your preferred sleeping position. In other words, stomach sleepers may wake up with back pain if their pillow is too high. Although theyd primarily feel discomfort in the neck area, the pain can go down to their back, especially after a while. Additionally, side sleepers may feel the same way if their pillow is too thin.
Discover The Best Supportive Neck Pillows That Ensure You Wake Up In Comfort With Our Buying Guide And Bite
Waking up with a sore neck is a rotten way to start the day. The best pillows for neck pain offer support in all the right places, ensuring that your shoulders and muscles are positioned properly all night long. No more waking up with sore shoulders, neck stiffness and headaches.
Our necks and backs need more careful attention than ever, now that so many of us work from home and spend our down time staring at our phones. “In my 20 years of clinical experience, I’ve never treated so many younger people with neck pain,” says Gary Jones, physiotherapist at Physio 206. “That’s got to be something to do with the mobile screen generation. It’s a big problem and it’s not going away.”
The right supportive pillow could make all the difference – but instead we sleep on the same saggy old pillow for years on end. “Think about how many hours you sleep each week,” says Gary. “Your car has an annual MOT, but how often do you do an MOT of your pillow? It’s literally, let’s wait until it’s gone threadbare!”
So in this buying guide, we’ll reveal how to choose a pillow that offers the correct support, alleviating not just neck pain but also back ache and headaches. We’ll also reveal our pick of the best pillows currently available.
Get £10 off the Tempur Original Large Pillow
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Pillow Position For Back Pain
When it comes to positioning your pillow to help with back pain, just like choosing the right pillow, location matters. For shoulder and upper back pain, a standard pillow will do, you just need to make sure youre picking the right pillow for your sleeping position. Look at the loft of the pillow, see if its an adjustable pillow, and go from there.
When it comes to the lumbar area and lower back pain, body pillows are more equipped to help. If the body pillow can wrap around your shoulder, having it run along your back can provide great back support. In the case of the Yana pillow, it surrounds your body entirely, so you can play around with a position that works best for you.
How To Choose The Best Pillows For Back Pain
Before I get too detailed here, I should note that Im not a medical professional, and my knowledge of pillows should not be taken as medical advice. But it does provide me with some insight on how to help. If you are facing chronic or severe back pain, please consult your doctor.
A pillow might not be the first thing youd think of when looking for ways to alleviate back pain. Sometimes, a crick in the neck can work its way down your spine and cause aches and pains to develop along your back.
When it comes to choosing the right pillow to help with back pain, consider where the back pain is first. If its upper back pain, near your shoulders and neck, the solution could be as simple as picking a pillow with the right loft for your sleeping position.
Back sleepers need something around 4-5 tall, side sleepers 5-6 tall, and stomach sleepers need something no more than 3 tall while sleeping. These heights will keep most sleepers spines aligned in each position. Side sleepers need to keep their head elevated, and firm pillows do a better job of that because you wont sink too far into one.
However, if the back pain is more towards the lumbar area or your lower back, body pillows are a good option. Body pillows are designed for full body support and can help lift your hips up if you use them in front of you. Or they can provide some good lumbar support if they run down your back.
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When You Should See A Doctor About Back Pain
Though some back pain can be managed or treated at home, there comes a time when your pain should be addressed with your doctor. Dr. Shah says you should seek medical attention in these scenarios.
- Youre experiencing night sweats on the regular.
- You have fevers along with your pain.
- Your back is swollen or red.
- You have a sudden, unexplained weight loss.
- Your back pain has not improved after seven days of home treatment.
- Your pain is constant or intense, specifically when lying down.
- You have weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or both legs.
Which Pillow Is Best For Neck Pain
There isnt one single pillow out there thats perfect for everyone, but the best pillow for neck pain has two main characteristics: its firm enough to keep your head at a neutral angle so your spine stays aligned while you sleep, but yet somehow soft enough to allow some give to help alleviate pressure points. Thats why we like the Tempur-Pedic Tempur Neck Pillowit checks all the boxes.
Memory foam and feather pillows are excellent options because they provide support, but also cradle your head to keep your spine neutral. Cervical pillowsthe ones that have a depression in the center and raised edgesare also top picks. Keep in mind that the best pillow for neck pain may not feel totally comfortable at first. It can take some getting used to, so give it a little time.
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Aligning Pillow Height With Sleep Position And Body Size
The human neck curves slightly forward , and its important to maintain this curve when in a resting position.
If the pillow is too high when sleeping sideways or on the back, the neck is bent abnormally forward or to the side, causing muscle strain on the back of the neck and shoulders. This type of position may also cause narrowing of the air pipe, resulting in obstructed breathing, and sometimes snoring, which can hinder sleep. Conversely, if the height of the pillow is too low, the neck muscles can be strained.
Body size and preference are likely to influence pillow size, but usually the pillow should maintain a height of 4 to 6 inches to support the head and neck . One small research study comparing three foam pillow heights found that a pillow height of approximately 4 inches offered the best spinal alignment and greatest comfort, leading to the least muscle activity.2Gordon SJ, Grimmer-Somers KA, and Trott, PH. Pillow use: the behavior of cervical stiffness, headache and scapular/arm pain. J Pain Res. 2010 3: 137-145. Published online 2010 Aug 11.
Often selection of which type of pillow will work best depends on one’s sleeping position. Pillows for each type of sleep position are profiled on the next page.
Tips For Sciatica Pillows And Sleeping
Sciatica issues can be more than a handful to deal with. Aside from making it painful to sit or stand for long periods of time, it can also cause sleeping to be nearly impossible. Mobility slowly becomes more and more restricted. As many of those searching the internet for a therapeutic pillows already full well know.
Pillows for sleeping help with sciatica issues as well as for generally sitting or traveling. Sleeping is the time that your body should be rejuvenating itself, not tossing and turning and fighting pain. Try these three easy tips that anyone can do to help relieve sciatica pain.
Learn more below:
Sleeping with a pillow between knees
Keeping a pillow between the knees relieves pressure to the hips, spine, and tailbone. Using this simple trick will help you start reducing pain levels felt each morning and throughout the day.
Sleeping with a pillow under knees and hips
Elevating your knees and hips lowers the number of aggravators to your sciatica while resting. This will help to keep your spine aligned correctly as well as easing your lumbar pain.
Taking a hot shower or bath before bed
Perhaps the most straightforward form of physical therapy, a hot shower or bath with relax your muscles and temporarily relieve joint pain. Making falling asleep that much easier. In combination with the above tips, these actions make a world of difference in sleeping with sciatica pain.
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Bedstory Memory Foam And Microfibre Pillow: Best Cooling Pillow For Neck Pain And Headaches
Price: £37 |
Memory foam is great for providing neck support, but it can feel rather clammy in warm weather. So pillow specialist BedStory has found a solution: infuse memory foam with cooling gel to regulate temperature, disperse heat and allow the air to move around. The result is a wonderfully supportive pillow that responds to your body’s temperature to help you drift off and wake up in comfort.
The pillow isn’t contoured, and it is quite firm even when you first use it. However the foam moulds beautifully to the contours of your neck and head, whether you’re a side or back sleeper, and then springs satisfyingly back to shape. We also like its super-soft, breathable cover, which you can supplement with a standard pillow case.
Key specs Filling: Memory foam Cover: Microfibre and tencel Sizes: 1
Price: £65 | Buy now from Rested
Down pillows feel luxuriously soft, but that sinking feeling isn’t so great for your neck and shoulder muscles, which need more support. This pillow’s visco-elastic memory foam does a brilliant job of mimicking the softness and give of down, but it also offers superb bounce-back and enough support to avoid shoulder crunch and a stiff neck.
We also love the way one of the long edges curves inwards, creating a nook for your shoulder to fit into. However if you have a long neck or shoulders you may find this pillow just a little too flat for comfortable side-sleeping.
Key specs Filling: Memory foam Cover: ‘Sleepsoft’ outer cover Sizes: 1
Correct Measuring For Therapeutic Pillows
Have someone assist and measure your left shoulder. Stand Facing the person who is measuring you, arms down to your sides. Hold the ruler to the base of the neck. Keep the ruler Level across the shoulder area. Feel for the arm bone and ignore any muscle beyond the bone on the end of the shoulder. Compare size on the ruler, above the end of the arm bone with the diagram to get the proper measurement for your therapeutic neck pillow. Between sizes choose the smaller. In general, if you have a soft bed or you noticeably sink into the bed, choose one size smaller. From ages 6 and up. Also available in a Travel Version.
The unique density of the foam creates a combination of firmness and give which allows for an comfortable, yet supportive nights sleep. It is on the firm side, which is necessary to maintain ergonomic design integrity. The video above gives a good idea of the pillow flexibility.
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Can A Therapeutic Pillow Help Relieve Sciatica Pain
If you suffer from sciatica, you know how debilitating the pain can be. You may be wondering if a therapeutic pillow can help relieve some of that pain. Lets take a look at what sciatica is and how a pillow may be able to help. Sciatica is a condition that results from compression of the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from the lower back down the leg. Sciatica can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the affected leg. There are a few different ways to treat sciatica. These include physical therapy, pain medication, and surgery. Many people find that a combination of these treatments is the most effective. A therapeutic pillow may be able to help relieve some of the pain associated with sciatica. These pillows are designed to provide support and comfort to the lower back and sciatic nerve. There are a variety of different types of therapeutic pillows available. You may want to try a few different types to see which one works best for you. If you suffer from sciatica, you know how painful the condition can be. A therapeutic pillow may be able to help relieve some of that pain. Talk to your doctor about whether a pillow may be right for you.
