Are you suffering from neck pain currently? Most people think that you only get neck pain because of medical conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis, but that’s not exactly true. You can also get neck pain because of incorrect sleeping positions and wrong usage of bedding like mattresses and pillows.
Are you wondering “why does the back of my neck always hurt?” Are you looking for the cause of neck pain after sleeping? Well, you probably don’t have to look much further than the very pillow you rest your head on.
Regardless of how comfy the pillow may seem, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s suitable for you specifically. People with different sleeping positions require different pillows. For example, the best pillow for stomach sleepers will have an incredibly low profile of just 2.75 inches whereas the best pillows for side sleepers will have cervical support.
To bring you the best pillow for neck pain, our physicians and pain specialists have vetted and reviewed some of the best pillows on the market. In this article, we give you a detailed review of the best pillow for neck pain.
Elite Rest Contour Sleeper — Best Pillow for Side Sleepers
Elite Rest Contour Sleeper is a contour memory foam pillow. As such, this pillow has two loft levels — the higher contour is 4 inches high while the lower contour is 2.75 inches high. This is the best pillow for side sleepers because of the ergonomically rounded sides of the pillow.
You suffer from neck pain when your neck falls out of alignment with the rest of your body. This pillow remedies that by offering neck support and covering the distance between your mattress and your head. You can rest your neck on the higher contour while nestling your head in the concave center.
As a memory foam pillow, it also provides optimal support to your neck and head without sinking down either. This pillow comes with a 100% cotton cover that’s machine washable and removable, making it both convenient and highly breathable. The cotton cover keeps this pillow cool at night so you don’t experience night sweats.
Elite Rest Slim Sleeper — Best Pillow for Stomach Sleepers
When you sleep on your stomach, you have to be very careful about the position of your neck. If you use a high loft pillow, your neck will get elevated, which is likely to cause neck pain in the morning. Stomach sleepers should ideally avoid pillows altogether or they should use extremely low-loft pillows that can maintain their neck in a neutral position. You can also place the pillow beneath your abdomen to support your back.
Elite Rest Slim Sleeper is the best pillow for stomach sleepers for that very reason. This is an extremely comfortable and luxurious pillow but it has a loft height of only 2.75 inches so your head remains neutral while sleeping. Furthermore, this pillow is made of natural latex foam, which is a considerably firm material and it doesn’t change shape or allow you to sink in. As such, you can rest assured that your neck will remain in the ideal position throughout the night.
In addition to having the perfect firmness and loft height, this neck pillow is also perfect for hot sleepers. Natural latex foam is a cool material because it’s naturally ventilated for air circulation but the Elite Rest Slim Sleeper also comes with pinhole construction, i.e., it bears holes throughout the body to prevent heat retention. This keeps you cool all night and prevents night sweats.
Desk Jockey Neck Pillow — Best Neck Roll
Do you have a job that requires you to sit on a chair for long periods of time? Do you experience considerable neck pain while doing so? If so, it’s possible that your current chair doesn’t offer adequate neck support. That’s where Desk Jockey Neck Pillow comes in.
This is the best neck roll on the market. This is a dog bone-styled neck pillow that you can place on the headrest of your car or even your chair. This pillow offers cervical support to maintain your neck in the correct position without letting it slump down so you don’t experience neck pain.
This neck pillow is also fairly compact in size so you can carry it wherever you go. If you’re a frequent traveler, this neck pillow is ideally suited for you because you can place it on your flight seats to prevent neck pain.
Coop Home Goods Premium — Best Neck Pillow for Back Sleepers
Coop Home Goods Premium is the best neck pillow for back sleepers and combination sleepers. This is a shredded memory foam pillow, which is one of the most adjustable and flexible pillows on the market. You can add or remove the memory foam filling to increase or decrease the loft height. As such, regardless of your preferred sleeping position, you can find a loft level that suits your style. The only issue with this pillow is that the shredded memory foam may part sometimes and your head may sink in.
Core Products Cervical Support Pillow — Best Cervical Pillow
Cervical pillows are those that have rounded sides with a concave center, ideal for resting your neck. Core Products Cervical Support Pillow is the best tri-core cervical pill because it has ergonomic contours on all corners with a concave center where you can rest your head. This ensures that your neck is always perfectly supported and it also prevents you from moving your head around too much, ensuring that you stay in alignment throughout the night. This pillow is also extremely firm, which is necessary to prevent your head from sinking down, which can also throw the alignment off. It also comes with a highly-breathable cover made of 50% polyester and 50% cotton.