At the Neck Pain Support Blog we get a lot of inquires into choosing the right pillows. People are pretty specific about their needs. Some people are looking for a pillow that will help them breathe better, others want their spouse to stop snoring ! Some like sleeping on their side, some on their back, some like foam- others prefer fiber. Sleeping Position is pretty popular. The consensus is that most people like to sleep on their side. Most people do move around while they sleep, so suggesting a pillow that one can sleep on both their side and back is usually the best choice.
One of my top recommendations is the arc4life linear gravity pillow. Here’s the reason- most of us move around at night whether we know it or not. The linear gravity pillow, no matter if you move to the edges of the pillow or stay exactly in the middle, you will be very comfortable. This pillow is not so firm that it’s uncomfortable to move around or change positions.
How to use the linear gravity neck pillow: First start by sleeping on your back, as this positiong gives the maximum support to the neck spine. Having the proper curvature in the cervical spine is very important. Like I said above, most people are not zombies when they sleep- naturally they move to their side which is perfectly normal. On your side the pillow will fill the gap between your head and neck and keep your spine level. In fact, I recently had someone inquire about getting the neck traction pillow. For him it would have been good but after he told me he was mainly a side sleeper, we changed gears and recommended the linear gravity pillow.
The linear gravity neck pillow, I find, is a little better for those of us who sleep mainly on their side. The traction pillow will hold you better in place on your back. With either pillow, I would recommend starting out on your back to get the value of the support roll under the neck to improve the neck curve.
Additional Reading Resources
- The Arc4life Blog
- 6 Ways to Get A Better Night’s Sleep
- Sleep Well- natural sleep solutions
- Linear Gravity Pillow
- Which Sleeping Position is Best For you?
I am a Chiropractor in Reno, NV and I agree with the author of this article. It is challenging finding a pillow that will work for all people, but I have recommended many pillows like the one above to my patients. It is best for the neck and the entire spine to sleep on your back with a pillow that supports the normal curvature (lordosis) of the neck, however the next best position is on your side with a pillow that is approximately as thick as the distance between the tip of your shoulder and the side of your head. This pillow looks like it would accomplish both sleeping postures. Hope this helps.
Hi Dr. Quigley, Thank you for your comment. One tip for patients who have a difficult time sleeping on their back would be to use a positioning wedge under their knees- such as a knee elevator or a foam wedge. Something as simple as 2 soft pillows works great too. This position is very comfortable and takes the pressure off of the lower back area.
Link for postioning products, wedges and bolsters:
http://www.arc4life.com/site/615058/page/918492
Dear doctor,
i am suffering neck pain for last one month,i use medicine for this.but i got again and again.
recently i change my pollow(recron pillow)
again i am getting pain it was mainly right side througn sholder.
is pillow is necessary when suffuring neck pain?
please sugget me in this.
thanks,
deva
About me, I am not having neck pains but I can’t sleep peacefully at night because it seems that my pillow (though is soft) doesn’t provide me much comfort. My friend suggested neck pillows though I just realized now that it is targeted to prevent neck pains.
Will this help resolve my sleeping issues?
Another thing can you post more graphical image regarding the linear gravity neck pillow?
Here is some information about the Arc4life Linear Gravity Neck Pillow:
http://www.neckpainreliefkit.com/lineargravity
I am puzzled by the recommendation of this pillow for side sleepers, because the instructions say when you are on your side to put your head at one of the edges of the pillow, in which case it seems no different than sleeping on a firm regular pillow. Please advise.
Diane, the arc4life cervical traction neck pillow is extremely different from other neck pillows. It is not like your regular flat neck pillow- it has specific contours in the pillow: one for neck traction (which gives your neck a gentle stretch while you are sleeping) and also a neck support ROLL. Yes, you can sleep on your back or on your side with this neck pillow. For sleeping on your side, you can sleep in the middle or on the sides of the pillow (wings of the pillow). Also, this pillow is not made of foam, it is composed of polyester fiber fill. Hope this helps you out Diane.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cervical traction neck pillow
http://www.arc4life.com/site/615058/page/158456
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People seem to underestimate the importance of a good pillow and mattress in order to prevent or heal back and neck pain. I’m glad i have found such an informative article. And will be spreading the word. Many thanks
People seem to underestimate the importance of a good pillow and mattress in order to prevent or heal back and neck pain. I’m glad i have found such an informative article. And will be spreading the word. Many thanks
Hi There,
Hope you are doing well, i am really enjoy with your post and get lot off positive information about the pillows which is helpful to me.
Dear Doctor, I have a lack of sleep for several months. Sometimes I was so tired but I could not sleep. And I have a low back pain too. I think the back pain causes the insomnia or my pillow is not right? I am a side sleeper. So can you suggest me what pillow is right for me to treat my back pain and insomnia
Side sleeeper pillows can help with neck pain and help those with back problems. Thank you for your article!
Side sleeper pillows can help alleviate neck pain and help those with back problems. Thank you for your informative article.