Many of our clients sustain back injuries from various types of trauma, such as car accidents or bad fall-down incidents. So many of them enter a vicious cycle of interrupted sleep due to back pain, causing them to be exhausted the following day, and then repeating the process night after night and day after day. Research suggests that a lack of sufficient sleep is associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
There are techniques that can help alleviate the pressure on one’s lower back by keeping the spine in neutral alignment. The best type of sleep position is going to depend on your specific type of back injury. (I’m obviously no medical doctor, so don’t take this as medical advice.)
This article from the (cleverly named) website, VanWinkles.com, explores the different type of sleep positions and methods to improve the quality of your sleep. Stomach sleepers beware – you are sleeping in the worst position if you have a back or neck injury. Back sleepers – try using a pillow under your knees. Side sleepers – make sure your pillow is thick and firm enough to keep your neck in a neutral position. Experiment with different positions that work best for you. Sleep well!
By: Michael Raff, Esq.