Your sleeping position at night or any time of the day (whatever your schedule suggests) is a crucial element of your shoulder health. And this becomes more elemental if you are already suffering from shoulder pain or had an ailment earlier.
Poor sleep posture can put unnecessary stress on your shoulder joints, leading to stiffness, discomfort, and even long-term issues. You should take insights from experts in metro cities since they have the best ones. Consulting a shoulder specialist in Mumbai should be your priority if the pain persists even after sleeping in the correct posture. This article will highlight how various sleeping positions contribute to shoulder pain and some sleeping tips to get you a pain-free rest.
Insights: Sleeping Positions that Affect Shoulder Health
- Sleeping on Your Stomach
This is considered to be one of the worst positions for shoulder health and eventually leads to discomfort. It forces your head to be turned to one side for long periods, straining the shoulders and neck.
- Sleeping on Your Side
It’s a silent cause. At first, it feels comfortable. But it eventually puts excessive strain on the shoulder that you are lying on. This ultimately leads to inflammation, pain, and even conditions like bursitis or rotator cuff injuries over time. The condition deteriorates if your mattress is too firm or lacks support, leading to misalignment in your shoulder and spine.
- Sleeping on your Back
This posture is considered to be the safest and best posture for spiral alignment and holistic joint health. But, if your pillow is too low or high, it can lead to misalignment, leading to shoulder distress. Some back sleepers might also suffer from shoulder pain if they sleep with their arms positioned awkwardly, such as under or overhead their bodies.
Now that you are aware of the root cause, given below are some quick tips that even the best doctor for shoulder pain in Mumbai or other metro cities generally suggests.
Have a Painless Rest by Following These Quick Sleeping Tips
- Utilize a Supportive Pillow
Exercising this auxiliary pillow positions your spine and neck in an aligned position. This minimizes the stress on your shoulders. Bring home a pillow that supports the natural curve of your neck. The best materials you can get are contour pillows or memory foam. Ensure before buying that it aligns properly and is neither too low nor too high.
- A Side Pillow Enhances Easiness
Sleeping while holding a side pillow positions your shoulders in a more easy state, thereby minimizing the strain. Try to practice sleeping holding a standard pillow or body pillow (cylindrical shaped) close to your chest while tilting on your side. This will position your shoulders to a more comfortable position.
- Try Alternating Your Side at Frequent Intervals
This prevents the overloading of a particular shoulder and evenly distributes the pressure of your upper body.
- Optimize Your Mattress
As mentioned earlier, a mattress should be optimal in terms of softness and firmness. A medium-level firmness is ideal for offering support and space to minimize pressure on your shoulders. If you are not in a position to invest in a new mattress, consider adding a mattress topper for extra comfort.
- Set a Pillow Between Your Knees
Positioning a pillow in between your knees assists in maintaining the correct orientation of your spine and hips. This in turn minimizes the overall stress that can lead to shoulder pain.
Get a rigid pillow or a customized knee pillow, when sleeping on your favorite side. This practice ensures that your spinal structure stays in the easiest position.
Conclusion
So, the sleeping position might seem like a mere account to keep a check when it comes to shoulder health. But when it’s neglected to the fullest, it can inflict distress on either of your shoulders or both. The tips mentioned above might help you alleviate your pain due to your bad sleeping postures.
However, if you experience pain for a prolonged period, you should consult an experienced orthopedic, generally appointed in metro cities like Mumbai. Setting the right foot in your shoulder treatment, you can consult our distinguished surgical orthopedic Dr. Aditya Sai at shoulderandkneeclinic.com. Whether it’s about a frozen shoulder treatment in Mumbai or rotator cuff tears, our unmatched orthopedics with uncountable success stories up their sleeves are ready to give you a better lifestyle.
