Do You Wake Up In Pain? This Might Help!

By Your Place PT | June 10, 2020

“I Don’t Know What I Did…I Just Woke Up & My (Fill In The Blank) Hurt..”

This is something I’ve heard from countless patients. Many people fail to realize that the positions they situate themselves in throughout a night of sleep can be very problematic and difficult for the body to tolerate.

It is difficult to maintain proper joint alignment throughout the body, particularly in the spine, while you toss and turn all night. Staying in positions for too long without moving can also be an issue because it causes soft-tissue to tighten up and joints to get stiff. A classic example is someone who sleeps on one side for most of the night. This causes the muscles and joints on that side of their neck, shoulder and hip to get irritated, tight and stiff. When they wake up it’s no wonder that they don’t feel like a million bucks.

What Can I Do To Prevent Waking Up In Pain?

  • If your mattress is too old then invest in a new one that is comfortable for everyone who will be sleeping on it. This is not the thing to try to get a bargain deal on. Sleeping is the activity we use to recover, recharge and keep up with our lives. Trying to save money here will absolutely end up costing you money in many other areas as a result.
  • Find a pillow that supports your head in a properly aligned position.
    • BACK SLEEPER: You want your head and neck to be straight. You don’t want your chin pushed up towards your chest. You also don’t want your chin up tilted up. Find that perfect balance.
    • SIDE SLEEPER: You want your head and neck to be straight. You don’t want your top ear hunched up towards that top shoulder. You also don’t want your head to fall into the pillow causing your bottom ear to move closer to your bottom shoulder.
    • STOMACH SLEEPER: You want your head and neck to be straight even though you will likely be turned to one side. Find a pillow that doesn’t force your upper back into an extended position because it is too firm.
  • Use pillows to help provide support and stability throughout your body as you sleep.
    • BACK SLEEPER: Placing a pillow under your knees can decompress the lower back and hips and is often much more comfortable for most people.
    • SIDE SLEEPER: Placing a small pillow under your ribs can decompress the shoulder and hip you are laying on. It can also decrease the likelihood that your neck will kink towards the side you are sleeping on. Placing a pillow between your knees and ankles helps maintain spine, hip and leg joint alignment as well.
    • STOMACH SLEEPER: Placing a pillow under your stomach helps reduce the curve of your lower spine to alleviate potential back and hip issues associated with this position.

I Still Have More Questions – How Can I Get In Touch?

Reach out to Dr. Allen! Feel free to call, send a text, send an e-mail or set up an in-person meeting to discuss anything you may have issues with. This can be questions about a resistance band workout or anything related to pain or physical function that Dr. Allen could help you with. 

We also offer completely FREE discovery sessions during which Dr. Allen will evaluate your strength, range of motion, flexibility, movement mechanics and balance in an effort to give you a comprehensive idea of where you stand in regards to physical function. You can schedule yours today!

Phone: (904) 537 – 0301

E-Mail: frankallen@yourplacept.com

Schedule Your FREE Discovery Session Using This Link: Schedule Discovery Session Today

Posted in Uncategorized and tagged , ,