How To Choose A Pillow That Helps Neck Pain

Did you know that your pillow could be the cause of your neck pain and headaches?

Many people underestimate the damage a poor quality or unsuitable pillow can cause to their neck. Since we spend a third of our lives sleeping, roughly 8 hours a day, knowing how to choose a pillow that’s good for you is essential! This will help you will sleep better and prevent lingering neck pain.

Dr Miki Humphrey is a qualified chiropractor and registered member of the Chiropractors Association of Australia. She suggests thinking about sleep like sitting at an office desk. Failing to maintain a positive sleeping posture, pillow and mattress that supports your spine will lead to neck and back problems.

Top Tips For Finding The Right Pillow

So, how do you go about finding a pillow that’s right for you? Here are a couple of my top tips that I give to my patients when figuring out what pillow is best.

1. Choose a good pillow height

The first thing to check is the height of the pillow. A pillow that is too low or too high can prevent your neck from sitting in a neutral position while you’re sleeping, which can create a slight ‘kink’ in your neck.

Sleeping in this uncomfortable position over the course of several nights will put a strain on your neck. Experiment using one or two pillows with different thicknesses to find what allows your neck to sit in a comfortable natural position. Ideally, your neck will sit balanced on the pillow, without being pushed up or down.

2. Contour pillows are best

Similar to the benefits of finding a pillow at the correct height, contour pillows help keep your neck in a neutral position and maintain the correct curves of your spine. Considering opting for one of these over traditional rectangular pillows.

3. Ditch the feather pillows

Big, soft feather pillows may seem comfortable but they are actually terrible for your spine. The feathers don’t offer much support for the correct spinal curves and start to bunch up after a short period of time. Opt to choose a pillow that uses memory foam or some kind of supportive material instead.

What Is The Cost Of A Good Pillow?

Like many things in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to pillows.

Typically, a good quality pillow will cost around $90 to $110. You shouldn’t need to spend much more than that and it’s money well spent. Think of buying a good pillow as an investment — it should last for a couple of years and provide a comfortable sleep. It also has the flow-on effect of less time and money spent seeing a remedial massage therapist or chiropractor because you won’t be waking up with a stiff neck.

Our clinic recommends therapeutic pillows. They use memory foam, have two different contour sizes and the filling can be removed to adjust the height. You can find them online or purchase one from our clinic during your visit.

Improve Your Sleep With Professional Advice

Now you know how to choose a pillow that helps with neck pain. Finding the right pillow is well worth the investment of time, effort and money as you will avoid more problems down the track.

Feel free to get in touch for more information on pillows and sleeping advice. Visit our clinic to purchase yourself a therapeutic pillow or seek treatment for any aches, pains or injuries. Dr Miki Humphrey Chiropractic is located in the Brisbane CBD and we’d love to help!