Does your Sleeping Posture Affect your Sleep?
Medical experts put a lot of emphasis on waking posture, that is your posture as you move throughout your day. Unfortunately, many times, sleep posture is overlooked. However, it is just as important since we spend about 1/3 of our lives sleeping.
There are three primary sleep positions:
- Side
- Stomach
- Back
The right one for you depends on which one is most comfortable and helps you maintain proper spinal alignment. While there are three main categories, there are different variations within each one. Each offers its own benefits and drawbacks.
The team at Breathing and Sleep Center in Colorado Springs emphasizes the importance of sleep posture for getting a good night’s sleep. In this article, we’ll explain more about what sleep posture is, the benefits of good sleep posture, and how to improve your sleep posture.
Sleep Posture Explained
There are two types of posture that your body engages in dynamic and static. Dynamic posture is how your body moves and static is how you hold your body during periods of inactivity. Both have an impact on your overall well-being. Sleep posture is classified as static.
Posture describes the position of your spine in relation to the other bones and muscles in your body. The spine has a natural s-shaped curve, and the ideal posture maintains that curve. Unfortunately, there are several factors that can impact your ability to maintain proper posture, including:
- Age
- Mental health
- Pregnancy
- Weight changes
- Acute and chronic pain
Sleep posture may also be impacted by your mattress and mattress support. Choosing the right mattress and mattress support is critical if there are other factors that are causing discomfort or impacting your posture.
What are the Benefits of Good Sleep Posture?
Your spine has a natural s-shaped curve and is critical for your overall body function. It is designed to protect your spinal cord and distribute weight across your muscles and bones.
Good sleep posture maintains the natural curve, keeping it in proper alignment. Poor sleep posture, on the other hand, can lead to a variety of issues including neck/back pain, limited mobility, and more.
Proper sleep posture offers a variety of benefits including:
- Reduced back pain
- Improved breathing
- Improved sleep quality and overall quality of life
Tips for Improving Your Sleep Posture
The very first step to improving your sleep posture is to determine the impact that your current sleep posture has on your sleep quality and overall health/well-being. If you have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you have become pregnant, or experienced a weight fluctuation, you may want to change your position. Here are a few things to consider:
Positional therapy
Consider using bedding and other devices designed to encourage you to sleep in a different position.
Pillow firmness
Consider changing to a firmer or softer pillow depending on what position you are trying to switch to.
Pillow placement
In addition to the firmness of your pillow, the placement can have an impact on your sleep position.
Mind-body exercises
Engage in awareness exercises such as yoga, meditation, or tai chi so that you can recognize when something is not right.
Schedule a Consultation with Breathing & Sleep Center
If you are having problems sleeping, you may have a sleep disorder. Schedule a consultation with the Breathing and Sleep Center in Colorado Springs today. We can help you determine if your sleep issues are due to a disorder or if you need to change your sleep position.
