Do you experience neck pain while sleeping? If so, it’s possible that you’re either sleeping in the wrong position or using the wrong pillow. According to research, sleeping on your stomach leads to spinal misalignment and neck pain.
It’s preferable to sleep on your side, but that also comes with a caveat. If you use a low loft pillow while sleeping on your side, your neck and shoulders won’t have any support, which can again lead to neck pain. If you prefer the side sleep position, you also need to find a good side sleeper pillow.
So how do you find the best pillow for neck pain? What are the qualities of the best side sleeper pillow? How to find the best pillow for neck pain side sleeper? That’s what we discuss in this article and we give you an overview of the best side sleeper pillows on the market.
Qualities of the Best Pillow for Neck Pain
You need to purchase specific pillows for neck pain and neck support because your body should be in perfect alignment while sleeping. When you sleep, your spine should be perfectly aligned so you don’t experience any back or neck pain. The following are some of the primary characteristics of the best pillow for neck pain.
Materials — What is the Best Material for Neck Support Pillow?
Memory foam is one of the best materials for a neck support pillow. This is because memory foam provides firm support while also being flexible and conforming to the shape of your body. As such, no matter which position you sleep in, it will bunch around your neck and offer support. Shredded memory foam may also be a suitable alternative if you want to adjust the loft height by adding or removing memory foam stuffing. Latex foam is also a suitable option because it’s all-natural and soft, but some people may be allergic to them.
Cover — What is the Best Cover for a Neck Pillow?
You should ideally look for a neck pillow that has a removable cover so you can easily toss it in the washing machine. The best cover is a 100% cotton cover because it’s generally antibacterial and resistant to dust mites. Furthermore, cotton is highly breathable and ensures air circulation to keep you cool.
Shape — Do Contour Pillows Help Neck Pain?
If you’re suffering from neck pain, you can seriously benefit from a contour pillow or a cervical pillow. These pillows are curved ergonomically to enhance spinal alignment. For example, some contour pillows have elevated corners so you can rest your neck on them as a neck support pillow.
What is the Best Pillow for Neck Pain?
So now that you understand what are the qualities to look for in the best pillow for neck pain, let’s get into a brief review of the best neck pain pillow. WonderSleep Premium Adjustable is currently one of the best neck support pillows on the market.
This is an adjustable pillow made of shredded hypoallergenic memory foam. This means you can add or remove the memory foam in order to adjust the loft height. No matter which position you’re sleeping in, this pillow is perfect for you. The memory foam also conforms to your body, thus offering therapeutic value and relieving neck pain.
This neck pain pillow comes in a set of two and it also includes a removable cover of bamboo-derived rayon. This cover is highly breathable and hypoallergenic so it will keep you cool through the night with no risk of allergies.
Qualities of the Best Side Sleeper Pillow
Sleeping on your side is generally considered a good sleep position. Over 40% of all side sleepers use the fetal position with their knees tucked into their chests. This position is perfect for spinal alignment because it prevents disc herniation. However, if you don’t choose your pillow correctly, you may still suffer from neck pain.
The following are some qualities of the best side sleeper pillow.
- Shape: When you’re sleeping on your side, your neck doesn’t have much support. That’s why it may be beneficial to get a contour pillow that can support the curve of your neck.
- Loft: If you’re a side sleeper, you should go for a medium or high loft pillow so it can make up for the distance between the pillow and the neck/head.
What is the Best Side Sleeper Pillow?
Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow is currently the best side sleeper pillow on the market. This pillow has a high loft size, but it’s filled with shredded memory foam so you can remove the foam and lower the loft if necessary. It also conforms wonderfully to your natural shape and provides optimal support.
Physician’s Pick of the Best Pillow for Neck Pain Side Sleeper
If you’re suffering from neck pain and you’re a side sleeper, you need a pillow that can manage both of their desired qualities. That’s where Elite Rest Contour Sleeper comes in.
This is currently the best pillow for neck pain side sleeper on the market because it has all the qualities you need. It’s made of memory foam so it offers perfect support to your neck when you’re sleeping on your sides. It’s contoured with the elevated part being 4 inches and the lower part being 2.75 inches. As such, you can rest your neck on the rounded corner for optimal support. Furthermore, this neck pain side sleeper pillow is hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mite and mildew as well.
As you can see, the kind of pillow you choose can seriously affect your health. If you’re suffering from neck pain, you should definitely change your sleeping position and use one of the aforementioned side sleeper pillows. We hope this article helps relieve your neck pain.
