Could your sleep be causing you pain?

The way you sleep could be causing you unnecessary aches and pains. We are told time again that we should be sleeping flat on our backs, but many of us develop incorrect habitual sleeping patterns, which are hard to change.

If you suffer from neck or shoulder stiffness, muscle tension or more commonly back pain, you might want to think twice about curling up into a foetal position next time you hit the hay.

Incorrect spinal alignment, and poor support of your back and limbs, will put unnecessary pressure on different areas of the body. This can result in you waking up in discomfort, or having aches throughout the day.

Your central nervous system (spine) plays a huge role in sending nerve signals around the body. The delicate nerve tissues help control your vital organs – any damage or disruption to these tissues can lead to problems affecting impairment in balance, vision, temperature regulation, digestion and hormonal regulation problems. It has a major knock-on effect.

Follow these simple sleeping tips, to help give your back a break:

• Try to refrain from sleeping on your stomach, as this causes your spine to arch unnaturally and can result in both back and neck stiffness
• Lying on your back or side is the ideal position, however to perfect your alignment try to use an orthopaedic pillow, and firm mattress, can give your neck and spine the adequate support it needs.
• If you tend to sleep on your side, consider placing a pillow in-between your knees for support to prevent your back and pelvis from twisting
• If you sleep on your back, consider placing a pillow under your knees to take the tension off your lower back
• Acknowledging and correcting your posture throughout the day will help you find ease when it comes to sleep. Being more attuned to your body this way, can have a real positive impact on your health, as you can spot bad movement patterns before they can develop into something which causes severe pain.

In addition, an underlying neck or back problem can cause poor quality sleep due to increased muscle tension. So, if you are experiencing poor sleep, consider visiting a Chiropractor, who will assess your neck and back via a spinal screening, and also offer lifestyle and dietary advice that will have you reaching for that good quality, and pain-free, sleep in no time!