Overall back health and spinal alignment can be significantly affected by the position you sleep in. Orthopedic physicians commonly advise sleeping on your back, as the weight along the spine is evenly distributed and maintains the natural curvature of the lumbar region.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Karunakaran, Director and Senior Consultant – Department of Spine Surgery at MGM Healthcare in Chennai, shared, “Lumbar strain can be relieved by placing a small pillow under the knees, as it helps to promote optimal pelvic alignment. Side sleeping—especially in a fetal position—will be beneficial for those with spinal stenosis or herniated disc by widening the intervertebral spaces.”
To prevent internal hip rotation, he suggested, “It is essential to keep a supportive pillow and position another pillow between the knees to maintain a straight spine. Stomach sleeping is completely discouraged by physical therapists and chiropractors. There is considerable lumbar hyperextension in this position and cervical rotation which leads to increased risk of lower back pain and aggravation of pre-existing conditions like facet joint dysfunction or spondylolisthesis.”
According to Dr Karunakaran, maintaining a neutral spine position is critical for the individuals who suffer from chronic pain in the back. Choosing ergonomic pillows and a medium-firm mattress helps in nocturnal musculoskeletal tension relief and offers extra support.
Bringing his expertise to the same, Dr Vignesh Jayabalan, Senior Consultant Spine Surgeon at SIMS Hospital in Chennai, revealed, “There is a close correlation between one’s spinal health and sleep quality. As a spine surgeon, I cannot emphasise enough how crucial sleeping positions play a role, not just on how you feel upon waking up but also with limiting the progression of certain spinal conditions such as herniated discs, spinal arthritis, and chronic lower back pain.”
Dr Vignesh Jayabalan highlighted, “Choice of pillows and mattresses can have a significant impact on your spinal health. For example, a pillow that is too high or very low can adversely affect your neck alignment and you may run the risk of developing muscular strain.”
He concluded, “Above all, it will make a huge difference if you pay a close attention to your bodily changes. If you frequently experience feelings of soreness and numbness upon waking up, it’s time you look into your sleeping position. Bringing about adjustments to your sleeping positions at the earliest can significantly avert the risk of future surgeries and undoubtedly improve your quality of life.”
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Overall back health and spinal alignment can be significantly affected by the position you sleep in. Orthopedic physicians commonly advise sleeping on your back, as the weight along the spine is evenly distributed and maintains the natural curvature of the lumbar region.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Karunakaran, Director and Senior Consultant – Department of Spine Surgery at MGM Healthcare in Chennai, shared, “Lumbar strain can be relieved by placing a small pillow under the knees, as it helps to promote optimal pelvic alignment. Side sleeping—especially in a fetal position—will be beneficial for those with spinal stenosis or herniated disc by widening the intervertebral spaces.”
To prevent internal hip rotation, he suggested, “It is essential to keep a supportive pillow and position another pillow between the knees to maintain a straight spine. Stomach sleeping is completely discouraged by physical therapists and chiropractors. There is considerable lumbar hyperextension in this position and cervical rotation which leads to increased risk of lower back pain and aggravation of pre-existing conditions like facet joint dysfunction or spondylolisthesis.”
According to Dr Karunakaran, maintaining a neutral spine position is critical for the individuals who suffer from chronic pain in the back. Choosing ergonomic pillows and a medium-firm mattress helps in nocturnal musculoskeletal tension relief and offers extra support.
Bringing his expertise to the same, Dr Vignesh Jayabalan, Senior Consultant Spine Surgeon at SIMS Hospital in Chennai, revealed, “There is a close correlation between one’s spinal health and sleep quality. As a spine surgeon, I cannot emphasise enough how crucial sleeping positions play a role, not just on how you feel upon waking up but also with limiting the progression of certain spinal conditions such as herniated discs, spinal arthritis, and chronic lower back pain.”
Dr Vignesh Jayabalan highlighted, “Choice of pillows and mattresses can have a significant impact on your spinal health. For example, a pillow that is too high or very low can adversely affect your neck alignment and you may run the risk of developing muscular strain.”
He concluded, “Above all, it will make a huge difference if you pay a close attention to your bodily changes. If you frequently experience feelings of soreness and numbness upon waking up, it’s time you look into your sleeping position. Bringing about adjustments to your sleeping positions at the earliest can significantly avert the risk of future surgeries and undoubtedly improve your quality of life.”
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
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It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution
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