Neck pillows reduce and prevent body pain while sleeping. Different designs and materials offer support in different ways. Foam plate and neck pillow rolls are popular choices. Stomach sleepers should avoid firm pillows, but water-filled pillows can be helpful. Small water-filled pillows are also sold for use in bathtubs and as travel or office pillows.
A neck pillow is a therapeutic pillow designed to reduce and prevent body pain while sleeping. Many people wake up with neck pain or stiffness from non-supportive pillows. Even if your neck pain was caused by a car accident, sports injury, stress, or anxiety, a non-supportive pillow can make these conditions even more painful. Neck pillows are made in different designs and materials to offer support to the body in different ways.
The foam plate type of neck pillow is wide, rectangular, and much flatter than typical feather or foam filled pillows. Many pillows are too tall to support the neck, as they stretch the muscles in that area up and away from the spine. Foam plate neck pillows usually contain two sides of different heights so that the sleeper can choose the side that is most favorable for his or her needs. Also the highest edge is much lower than that of normal pillows so the spine is more supported.
Some people prefer a neck pillow roll, which is cylindrical or log-shaped. This type may stretch the neck too far up for some sleepers, but for others, the roll helps keep the head from moving too much. Moving your head too much while sleeping can lead to muscle pain or injury to a disc in your neck.
Most neck pillows intended for night use are designed for side or back sleepers. Stomach sleeping positions are not usually recommended for neck health. A firm neck pillow with a deep indentation in the center can help people who tend to sleep on their stomachs at night to stay on their backs. Water-filled neck pillows aren’t a good choice for stomach sleepers, but they can be helpful for people who find firm pillows too firm. The water fill is gently supportive and moves with, rather than against, your spine and neck muscles.
Small water-filled pillows that fit around the neck are commonly sold for use in bathtubs. This type of pillow can allow the bather to stretch out in the bath while also providing neck relief from the hard surfaces of the tub or bathroom tile. Some types of bath neck pillows are inflatable; these can also serve as a travel or office pillow. Sitting in the same position for many hours in an airplane seat or office chair can create neck pain. A portable neck pillow can help prevent pain by supporting the discs and muscles in your neck.
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