Why You Should Use A Body Pillow To Reduce The Risk Of Back Pain

Sleep is an inevitable necessity but sometimes, you may not always feel satisfied when the alarm clock goes off in the morning. Turning and tossing or letting stress get to you can result in consecutive, unhealthy sleepless nights. You may wake up stiff or sore either because your mattress is super firm or due to the inability to stay locked in one position throughout the night, waking up with intense neck pains.

This is where a body pillow comes in handy. Body pillows are designed to help with back pain relief by ensuring that you maintain proper alignment while you sleep. The following are 5 reasons why you should use a body pillow.

Pressure Point Relief

It is very easy to aggravate pressure points when using a firm mattress. Hips are particularly sensitive when they are not supported properly and this can cause pain and discomfort. The body responds to this phenomenon by shifting sleeping positions such that you are partially lying on your stomach, which in turn causes improper spinal alignment that imposes excess pressure on the arm since it’s probably numb and squished underneath the pillow.

This is particularly a huge deal for people with broad shoulders as they are bound to twist and lean forward while trying to get more height and support for their structure. Given its full and elongated shape, a body pillow can address this problem by taking pressure off your hips, allowing the rest of your body to relax. Placing the pillow in between the knees and along the body gives some form of support that keeps you aligned while preventing you from constantly changing your sleeping position.

Improves Alignment

When lying on your side, the entire weight of the body on the upper torso pushes on the lower back which can cause sleeping discomfort. When this happens, the leg may slide forward and cause you to twist and impose pressure on the back. Body pillows are designed to allow you to relax by maintaining proper muscle alignment. This allows you to remain still throughout the night, preventing constant movements that tend to keep you up.  Have some more guidance from Free Your Spine regarding the efficacies of body pillows.

The fact that it is lighter and more malleable makes it a great travel companion that you can take on a long trip to provide support around the lower back, keeping you from getting a cramp. Besides, they are compact enough to fold and fit into a small suitcase. Hugging the pillow while sleeping prevents body twists as there is even distribution of weight. This makes it an excellent option for people suffering from chronic back illnesses.

Accesses the Benefits of Hugging

Everybody needs a hug not just for its instant comforting effect but also the fact that it makes you feel happy and safe. Clutching onto a body pillow at night is likely to replicate this sensation thereby creating a sense of safety and peace when you sleep. It automatically lowers the heart rate and helps you get a good grip over not just emotionally but physically as well. The emotional effect that is associated with holding and hugging allows the mind to stop racing, keeping you focused on the quiet around you while relaxing your muscles.

In case you have been struggling to get your mind shut off when trying to get cozy and under the sheets, grabbing a body pillow will help you feel like you are holding onto that stuffed animal you had growing up to help you feel energetic and fall asleep. It does so by helping you stay in proper alignment. Besides, it’s a lot less embarrassing than using an actual stuffed animal.

Minimizes Tossing and Turning

Nobody wants to have a full-on workout session while actually trying to catch some sleep. It’s exactly what turning and tossing feels like. When the body feels uncomfortable, it gets restless while trying to get a suitable sleeping position. However, having something supportive to clutch onto will significantly reduce the tendency of moving around. Body pillows are designed ergonomically to offer support both in the front and back while sleeping.

Additionally, they can support your head and neck and their large size allows you to place them between knees to provide better cushioning so you can sleep easy. Incorporating a body pillow into your sleeping routine helps to train the brain and body into viewing the pillow as a symbol of comfort and relaxation. Just like other regular nighttime routines, a body pillow encourages and promotes a restful sleep that is less of the bumpy distraction that is tossing and turning.

Provides Body Support During Pregnancy

Body pillows have been seen to provide adequate support for the back, shoulders, legs, neck and stomach during pregnancy. Women who tend to suffer from back pain and neck pain can use a body pillow by lying in a half-fetal position. Some people refer to the body pillow as a pregnancy pillow. If used properly, it can relieve pressure on the hips and lower back while improving alignment along the spine. The ergonomic design of the pillow can help to get rid of the discomfort that comes with pregnancy to bring about good sleep.

Additionally, these pillows have been hailed for helping the baby reach the best birth position which facilitates a shorter, less painful labor for the mother. Even after birth, they can still be used in supporting the baby while feeding or as a barrier to prevent them from rolling off the bed.

Conclusion

There may not be a surefire way to completely prevent you from waking up to back pain when you go off to sleep at night but a body pillow comes close enough. They come in different designs and colors, features that allow you to pick what you feel best suits your specific needs. Regardless of the form or shape, anybody pillow is suitable for providing support to all body parts and pressure points to relieve or prevent pain. They are durable and resistant to flattening which makes them convenient for all kinds of seasons and versatile as they appeal to all sorts of situations.