Many people wake up with neck and back stiffness, making it difficult to get the day started right. The position in which you sleep could be the source of this soreness.
According to health care professionals, the ideal sleep position to promote spinal alignment is flat on your back with a pillow both underneath the head, and underneath your knees. This allows your spine to remain in it’s “neutral position” throughout the night.
Many people who have been side sleepers for the majority of their lives find it difficult and uncomfortable to switch to sleeping flat on their backs. The good news is that you can still avoid neck and back pain while sleeping on your side as long as you keep your legs straight. This position also allows for open airways helping to reduce snoring. A pillow between your knees in this position can help keep your spine in proper alignment and prevent you from moving around excessively during the night. Sleeping on your side with your knees bent is not an ideal position as your weight is not evenly distributed in this position.
Many professionals agree that the worst sleeping position is on your stomach. Sleeping on your stomach means that you must turn your neck, keeping it in a unnatural position for long periods of time. In this position, the spines natural curve is straightened which could be the reason for tension in the back and neck when you wake up.
If early morning soreness is preventing you from starting the day off right, the problem may stem from your sleeping habits. Evaluating these habits and making necessary changes can lead to prevention of pain and long term improvement in spine health.