Sleep is a time for rejuvenation and de-stressing after a long day. So why is it that so many people wake up in the morning with a stiff neck and feeling worse than they did when they went to bed? It could be something as simple as their pillow. Aside from causing neck problems, a poorly designed pillow can affect the shoulders, as well.
In order to get a good night’s sleep, your skull and neck must be supported without undue pressure on your neck or shoulders. In other words, the weight of the neck and shoulders must be distributed evenly along the vertebrae.
If you are sleeping on your side, your shoulder should not be at a 90-degree angle to the mattress. If it is, spasms may occur in the trapezius muscles. The trapezius muscles are either of the two flat muscles of the shoulder and upper back that allow the shoulders and arms to move. When the shoulders are at a 90-degree angle this causes neck and arm pain and often a tingling sensation in the fingers.
If you are sleeping on your back and your pillow applies excessive pressure to the neck, then that pressure is likely to irritate the nerve sheaths, sensitive muscles, and facet joints in the neck. By the same token, if the joints are not resting comfortably, inflammation can occur.
When your shoulders are compressed because of a poorly-designed pillow, the shoulder blades may be pushed toward the point where the upper spine and neck meet. This can cause upper arm pain or pins and needles in the little and ring fingers, or both.
Shoulder problems are often caused by referred neck pain. That is why it is extremely important to stabilize the neck during sleep. The best way to do this is to choose a good cervical indentation pillow. Cervical pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and the best ones are made with memory foam. A quality cervical pillow will provide strong support in the space between your neck and mattress which will keep your spine straight. Another benefit of cervical pillows is that they will allow your breathing passages to remain open and clear, which may reduce snoring.
The key then to a good night’s sleep is to invest in a pillow that will allow you to wake up refreshed, relaxed, and pain-free. A cervical foam pillow will do just that – and more!