Choosing the right pillow – Pillow theory and ergonomic sleep

Choosing the right pillow – Pillow theory and ergonomic sleep

Posted Feb 4, 2015 by MSP Clinic

Posted In: Ask the Physiotherapist, Back Pain, baseball, Clinic News, Contests, Ergonomics, foot pain, Golfing, Health & Wellness, Leg Injury, Local News, Manual Therapy, Neck Pain, Nutrition, Osteoporosis, Patient Study, Physiotherapist Advice, Physiotherapy, Running, Services, Shoulder Injury, Soccer, Sports, Sports Injury, Sprains, TPI Assessment,

Pillows are tricky.

You want a pillow  to fill in all the “spaces” around your neck to keep your head/neck in a neutral position while you sleep (not flexed forward, not rotated or tilted to the side).  If you sleep mostly on your side, it means filling in the distance between your shoulder and head (doesn’t have to be huge, but you don’t want to collapse down toward the bed).  Your neck is narrower than your head, so some squish-ability will allow you to scrunch it up under your neck so there’s a bit more stuff there and a bit less under your head.  I don’t love the contoured pillows.  They don’t seem to fit anybody.  I like a squish- able synthetic or down so you can change the shape to suit you.

Kate Kennedy Physiotherapist at Main Street Physiotherapy Clinic in Vancouver.