The short answer is: nothing good!. Sleeping on your stomach can assist with reducing snoring and lessen sleep apnea, but it can also be strenuous for your back and neck
I recently had a client come in to the clinic with lower back discomfort. After assessing the client and going through their history, a common theme kept arising. They experienced the most discomfort upon wakening from the previous night’s sleep on their stomach. We then discussed their sleeping patterns and spoke about simple things to change the habit.
Sleeping with your back in a neutral position, not arched a lot, but not flat either helps take pressure off your spine. These two positions have been the most successful in reducing that pressure:
Sleeping on your side, place a pillow between your knees. Try to keep your top leg from falling over your bottom leg. You also can put a small, rolled-up towel under your waist. This keeps your pelvis in a neutral position and doesn’t put strain on the area
When sleeping on your back, place a pillow under your knees. You also can put a small, rolled-up towel under the curve of your back. This stops your lower back area from arching and allows the whole spine to lay in a general position
The combination of soft tissue treatment and adjusting the clients sleeping position assisted in the decrease of lower back pain. Many people find that these positions work for them, but they may not work for you. Find the position that helps you the most and if your pain persists, Elite Myotherapy can assist.
By Andre Andrade – Elite Myotherapist
