📚Are Memory Foam Pillows Good for Your Neck?

Do you find that you wake up with aches and pains in your neck? The main reason this happens is because your pillows aren’t providing you with enough support. But are memory foam pillows good for your neck? In this article we will be looking at whether they offer a much firmer base for you to sleep on and could eliminate the problems you are experiencing for good. Read on to find out more.

The Causes of Neck Pain While Sleeping

Sleeping is an essential time when our bodies have the opportunity to relax and repair themselves. To do this it is important to reduce all of the strain and pressure being applied to your muscles and joints, and doing so effectively will let you sleep comfortably, and wake up renewed and refreshed.

The neck, in particular, is a vulnerable part of the body because it is made from a series of bones, muscles, cartilage, and tendons. To fully take the load of all of these your head must be aligned with the rest of your spine in what is referred to as a “neutral” position, but with the wrong pillows this is practically impossible to achieve. This can be especially true for side sleepers with neck pain.

Your Sleeping Position

The position you sleep in also has a big effect on how your neck will feel. Sleeping on your front, for example, puts an increased load on your back because it is arched, and also stresses the neck because your head will be turned to one side or the other.

Sleeping on your side is much better, but it is crucial that you have the right pillow to bridge the distance between your head and the mattress, and sleeping on your back is by far the preferable position. Here are some best air mattress for everyday use to enhance your sleeping.

How to Reduce Neck Pain

In all sleeping positions, the most effective way to reduce neck pain is by providing your head with plenty of support. If you think of the way your head is held by your pillow, you want it to be as straight in line with your spine as possible. Anything that holds it higher or lower than this will cause strains on the muscles and lead to discomfort.

Linked to this is the importance of keeping your back straight, because this will directly affect how well your neck is supported in relation to this. That’s why sleeping on your front is the worst position, and when sleeping on your side it is worth placing a pillow between your knees to prevent your body from turning and twisting your back.

Memory Foam Pillows

Memory foam is made from foam and chemicals to provide a dense and viscous material. It was first invented by NASA who were looking for a way to develop more comfortable cushions, and is affected by heat so it molds to your body shape over a few minutes.

This property, when applied to pillows, means that the support they offer will be customized to your particular shape, and be able to support every part of you. In regards to your head and neck this is exactly what you need because there won’t be any part of your neck needing to support itself, no matter the way you sleep, so the muscles can relax.

People who use memory foam pillows swear by their effectiveness, so if you’re suffering from neck pain it could be a good idea for you to try one out. It’s important, when considering this, that you get one of the right thickness. As we said before, the head and neck needs to be well supported, but also needs to be aligned with your back.

The dense material within memory foam pillows means that the pillow thickness remains constant, and you need to purchase one in the first place that will hold your head at the right height. Failure to do so will cause similar pains to the ones you are trying to avoid.

Which Memory Foam Pillow to Buy?

There’s a wide variety of memory foam pillows on offer. They vary with their shape, thickness, and other materials used in their construction. The dense foam, for example, can withhold a lot of heat so some products utilize breathable materials to help counteract this.

The Final Word

If you suffer from neck pain after sleeping then you’ll be more than aware of how much this can inhibit your day-to-day life. The good news is that most causes of this problem are completely manageable by using the right bedding, and you can soon be back to feeling great and sleeping well.

If you’re wondering ‘are memory foam pillows good for your neck?’, then it is worth looking at the different ones available and how they offer to help. The firmness they provide will keep your head in an ideal position, and could well be the solution you are looking for. If you have any questions or comments, please use the section below.