
What Is The Best Pillow For Neck Pain?
One of the most asked questions we get, is “what is the best pillow for neck pain?” We all enjoy a good night’s sleep but not all of us sleep the same. We’re all different. Some people sleep on their sides, some with pillows between their knees, some people sleep on their backs and others are somehow able to sleep standing on their heads. Ok, the “bat sleeping” was a bit of a stretch, but you have to agree, everyone has different levels of comfort when it comes to getting sleep. Take me for an example, I prefer sleeping on my side and I’m never on my back for longer than a minute or two. This diversity is what gives developers headaches when it comes to making the perfect pillow.
My Neck Pillow Story
If neck pain is a constant problem when you wake up, the culprit could be your pillow. My wife was going through the same problems about a year ago. We could never understand why she had the pain until we saw our physician. He recommended switching to a memory foam pillow that would curve to the shape of her neck. She used the pillow for the next week and the pains started to go away and even the headaches she would experience from time to time. This pillow did wonders. We were thinking she would need some type of surgery when all it took was a better form of support from what I feel is the best pillow for neck pain. This isn’t a simple answer because every answer is going to be different for each person. People have different issues and will need different solutions. That being said, the most inexpensive and quickest solution could be to check your pillow. Here are a few guidelines that will help you choose a pillow to help relieve the pain.
Neck Pain Support
Look for a pillow that supports your neck, but won’t tip your head forward when lying on your back. Side sleepers, you want a pillow that will support your head and keep it in line with your spine. Your head should not tilt, or tip, up or down. By aligning your head and neck, this reduces the amount of pressure put on your body while you sleep.
Neck Support and contour pillows are shaped and formed into gentle curves and are designed to support the neck and align the spine. They are made of memory foam or standard foam, but you’ll almost always find the memory foam versions to be much more comfortable to use.
Best Types of Pillows
- Neck Support Pillows are horseshoe shaped and wrap around your neck to support you while you sleep. We normally see these particular pillows with travelers on planes, trains or cars. But don’t discount the benefits of these pillows to support your neck at home as well.
- Neck Roll Pillows use memory foam to position under your neck between your body and your pillow. This way you don’t have to get rid of your old pillow, you just add the support to it. However, its often better to just get a pillow with better support to make sure you’re covered from all angles..
- Traction Pillows are designed to align your spine no matter which direction you use the pillow in. Made from different materials such as memory foam or buckwheat, these pillows are endorsed by lots of people to be the best pillow for neck pain.