There are several factors that may cause neck pain, but among the most common are staying in a single position for too long and sleeping in an awkward position. To help you sleep better and relieve your neck of the pressures that it has been subjected to all day, you may want to invest in an orthopedic pillow. As for having to stay in one position all day long, you may want to use an ergonomic chair at work. It is also a good idea to take yoga classes or find some other way to relax and de-stress.
Chronic neck pain is a condition that can last for months without the sufferer knowing exactly what is causing it. Unless you can identify a specific incident where your neck may have been injured or you suffer from a medical condition that causes such pain, the remedies cited above - particularly the use of orthopedic pillows - are perhaps your best bet for relieving and preventing neck pain. Now, let's take a closer look at the kind of neck pain that is caused by awkward sleeping positions. These awkward positions often put too much pressure on your spine, thus leading to muscle strain that results in neck pain.
Some people sleep on their backs, while others sleep on their sides. However, the ones who are most likely to suffer from neck pain are those who sleep on their stomach. That's because lying on your stomach puts both your head and your spine in the wrong alignment. Just imagine how your body suffers when you stay in that position the whole night! The problem is that it can be difficult for someone who has been used to sleeping on his stomach to break this habit. The next best thing for you to do is to use orthopedic pillows that are specifically designed for those who sleep on their stomach. This type of orthopedic pillow is often called a stomach pillow. It is soft, flat, and thick enough to adjust your body's alignment to that of your head.
Now, if you're one of those people who sleep on their back, don't think that you don't need orthopedic pillows. Even back sleepers wake up with neck pain from time to time, especially when their pillows are either too thin or too thick. Even sleeping with traditional pillows that are piled too high can result in neck pain. To make sure that your pillow is thick and firm enough, it is best to use orthopedic neck pillows. Among the most popular of these pillows are those made from memory foam, which follows the natural contour of your head, neck, and shoulders.
Even side sleepers are not spared from neck pain because sleeping on your side tends to place too much pressure on your neck, shoulder, and arm. An orthopedic body pillow or one that is designed to be placed between your knees should help improve the quality of your sleep. Remember that even the most luxurious hotel-grade pillows cannot provide you with the same level of relief from body pain that orthopedic pillows provide.
