Roughly 31 million Americans experience lower back pain at any given moment. Many of them will not go into work as a result of the back pain resulting in 264 million lost workdays in a year. That is a lot of lost productivity due to pain that isn’t actually caused by a serious medical condition. It is possible that your mattress is causing your lower back pain, but it could also be your sleeping position. Buying a pillow for lower back pain could also help to reduce the pain you feel when you wake up.
If you are looking for a pillow specifically for lower back pain, there are a few things you need to look out for to ensure you chose the right pillow to suit your lifestyle and sleeping positions. A key point to remember when looking for a new pillow is that alignment is the most important thing. It doesn’t matter what your sleeping position is, you need to make sure that your body is correctly aligned while you are sleeping. Look out for gaps between your body and the bed, if there any gaps, you can close them using pillows. Tossing and turning during the night also causes your body to go out of alignment, if possible, try to move your entire body at the same time when you turn. An orthopedic pillow will help to anchor and support your head and neck while you sleep.
What is important to look for in a pillow for lower back pain
Different pillows work for different sleeping positions, so we have split our recommendations up into the different types of sleeping positions.
Back sleepers need to make sure that the pillows they chose to fill up the space between their neck and mattress. It is also important not to choose a pillow that is too high because this will pull your neck forward.
Thinner pillows are best for back sleepers suffering from low back pain.
Pillows made from memory foam are a good choice, they mold to your neck and provide the right support for you specifically.
You can also consider a water pillow, the technology in the water pillows provides you with all-over support and these pillows are firm so your neck will be supported while you sleep.
Sleeping on your stomach places the most pressure on your neck, so make sure you do look for a pillow that has been specifically designed for belly sleepers. Stomach sleepers need a thin pillow, the thinner the better in fact.
Gel-infused memory foam pillows are great for belly sleepers. Thin, flat pillows reduce the rotation of the head and neck and this ensures the neutral positioning of the head which can improve breathing and reduce pressure points.
Elite Rest has a memory foam pillow that has been designed just for stomach sleepers. It is only 2.5 inches, making it one of the thinnest pillows you can find. Not only will a thin pillow provide your spine with optimal support, but it will also help to reduce low back pain.
For those who sleep on their side, look for a firmer pillow, ideally one that has an extra-wide gusset to close the space between your ear and shoulder. Check your alignment as a side sleeper, placing a pillow between your legs can help to ensure that your spine, hips, and back is correctly aligned.
A Lumbar Pillow is specifically designed to align the spine, reduce strained back muscles and ligaments. These pillows fit naturally to the curve on your back, allowing for greater comfort.
Side sleepers can also consider Goose Down Pillows to reduce the lower back pain. Down pillows promise to make your dreams come true with their superior softness and maximum comfort. The pillows make you feel like you are sleeping on a cloud while still providing support to your head and neck.
If you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk you may want to look for the best sitting posture for lower back pain as well as a pillow to offer you support while sitting.
Specially made reading pillows are available, ideal for back support while you are sitting. The LINENSPA Shredded Foam Reading Pillow molds to your body while you are sitting working on a laptop, reading or watching TV. The shredded foam filling helps the pillow to keep its shape and prevents it from clumping.
If you want a pillow that you can take with to the office, or while you are driving, the Desk Jockey Support Pillow is the one you need. This specific pillow improves your sitting posture and reduces back pain while sitting. You can use this pillow during the day and one of our recommended sleeping pillows while you sleep, ensuring back pain is dramatically reduced.
Waking up with lower back pain should not be an everyday occurrence. The pain could be caused by many things but more often than not your pillow or your mattress are playing a part in the lower back pain you are experiencing. Finding the correct pillow for lower back pain will ensure your back is given the correct support and is aligned right while you sit, drive or sleep.