Many people ask us what pillows we recommend every day. There are many types out there from cheap to expensive. We mainly recommend a cervical pillow( the ones with the scoop and dip in them). There are also many different materials used in the making of pillows, microfibres, foam and feathers to name a few. The biggest thing I tell my patients is that we are all built differently, a women 140 lbs 5 foot 5 does not need the same pillow as a 230 pound 6 foot man.
When sleeping the best position is on your back or the next best postion is on your side.The side lying pillow should be the depth of your ear to the tip of you shoulder when your neck is in a normal position (head not tilted). When on your back your neck should be in the normal curve comfortably. You neck/chin should not be flexed forward as most people have too large of pillows thus reducing the normal neck curve and shortening the front neck muscles, overstretching the back neck muscles causing headaches, 'sleeping wrong' and 'neck pinches'.
Cervical Pillows can help to induce a proper cervical curve when used with back sleeping, thus reducing neck pain and headaches.I usually recommend a normal foam cervical pillow for men, and the petite ones for women and teens as these are proportional to their size.
Please don't forget your childrens spine!
Children also need proper neck support when sleeping, our 8 year old does not need the same size pillow as their parents. I like to recommend a pillow that gently supports and is again smaller and proportional th their size. Theses ones are made of a memory foam to help induce the proper curve. Children 2-5 need and even smaller pillow that also gently supports the neck as they grow and develope the spinal musculature.At the clinic we carry all types of pillows for different body shapes and sizes.Written By Dr. Joelle Johnson B.Sc.,D.C.
We are located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellnes, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, T4R 2X3
403-347-3261
www.family1stchiro.ca
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