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Writer's pictureVicktoria L Jimenez LMT

#2 Your Sleep Equipment

Updated: Oct 11, 2020

Bits of healthful information to easily incorporate into your life...

Good health to you!


During these days of shelter-at-home, social distancing and quarantine, I’m guessing that most of us are in our beds for longer periods each day than in pre Covid19 days. There hopefully is no good reason to short ourselves on sleep.

The problem is that your sleep could be a cause of your physical discomfort. That sore back, pain in your neck or aching shoulder. How so? Your mattress or favorite pillow can become an accessory to your pain. And because you succumb to these for hours at a time, for good or for bad, you are affected. Let’s take a look at your equipment.

First, your mattress. You need to have enough cushion to support the curves of your body and you must lie on a level foundation. Test it out: While on you back with legs extended and arms at your sides, do you feel that your body is level from head to foot and from side to side? What about when your partner or pet lies next to you, do you lean? You may need to consider a new mattress. A mattress that is perfect for you, may be less than perfect for your partner. While compromise is generally a good thing, compromising on a mattress may simply result in two people, instead of one, waking up with pain. Look into a Sleep Number Bed…I’m just sayin’.

Now, your pillow. Whether you sleep on your back or your side, this rule applies (If you are a stomach sleeper, stop it! Do not sleep on your stomach! My blog post Sleep…What’s Your Position? Does it matter? will explain why) Your pillow should not be tucked under your shoulders. It should lay just at the top of your shoulders and fill in the space at the curve of your neck. Your head should not be tilted up toward the ceiling nor down toward the floor. Your chin should point toward your feet not toward the ceiling (see blog post Tip, Tuck & Roll… A simple tweak to help combat a forward head posture). You need your neck to be in line with your spine. You do not need a fancy, expensive pillow. What you do need is proper positioning. My preference is a pillow filled with shredded foam. I can easily plump it to fit the contour of my neck.


Hopefully you don't need to get a new mattress that would be inconvenient, but maybe all you need to do is adjust your pillow...a piece of cake!




Sleep well and good health to you!


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