Sleep is an important aspect that leads to a healthy lifestyle. The better you sleep, the greater will be the regeneration and restoration of your fatigued body. While getting a decent night’s sleep can be a hassle for many, it is especially aggravating for people with spinal compromise or other health issues. The spinal cord is one of your main supporting structures, ailments of this core can hinder your regular sleep.
Though spinal problems can present variations for different people, let’s see how we can fix this and improve your sleep (also check 10 great mattresses for scoliosis).
What Is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a medical illness in which the spine’s normal curvature is deformed, resulting in the bending of the spine. Not painful at a very young age but can elevate as time passes. It can cause intense pain and sleep discomfort.
Sleeping Positions That Promote Spinal Alignment
Suppose someone has undergone an accident and struck their spine. In that situation, prolonged bed rest is the only solution with the back straight. Any slight injury can make you suffer for ages. It holds the body and keeps it in an aligned shape. If you have become a victim of any spinal deformity, such as scoliosis, it will give you a tough time. Treatments and different sleeping positions can become your remedy.
Find out which type of sleeping position can best heal your broken spine.
Back Sleeping
If you are finding a solution for your abnormal spine – back sleeping may aid and provide relief. Lying flat on one’s back is ideal for people with an aberrant spine curvature.
Most people find reassurance when they sleep having their back in an erect position because if the medicine is not working or has shown delayed response, this can be your miracle medication.
Back sleeping promotes even distribution of your body weight. If the body is stabilized with an equal mass on the mattress, it can facilitate pressure points. It will give you a little pang while snoozing, guaranteeing a pain-free sleep.
Check the firmer mattress support. It will lessen the circularity of your spine. You can add scoliosis customized cervical pillows for more consolation to the neck to achieve your best sleeping position (also check 10 amazing pillows for neck and shoulder pain).
Side Sleeping
The ideal resting position for scoliosis is typically thought to be on the side of the mattress. It is due to the mattress’s capacity to let the spinal curvature descend within it and reduce the load and pressure. The comfort and conformance of your sleeping surface will help to correct your pelvic side, especially your hips, spinal column, lumbar back, cervical region, and neck. It makes your sleep more snug and pleasant because it permits less pressure on your peripheral cord.
If you are getting used to side sleeping, allow yourself to take full benefit of this and where your scoliosis curvature is most apparent.
Try to uplift your knees towards the chest to maximize the relief during side sleeping. Use additional pillows beneath the knees and in between your spine. It will ease the soreness in your spine.
Worst Positions
The spine is sensitive; even the slightest mistreatment can cause pressure on your spine. Relative to the gravity of your spinal curvature, you may wish to try different sleeping positions to get the best assistance. Avoid the ones that can prolong the misery when working on your sleep positions.
Stomach Sleeping
Even though several individuals enjoy lying on their stomachs, doing so could harm their health. It can lessen snoring and sleep problems, but this position is terrible for your neck and back (also check 10 amazing mattresses for back pain), especially if you are a patient with scoliosis. Immediately change it because you can’t even imagine how bad it could be in the long term.
When you start to sleep on your stomach, the tension on your spine increases as the lumbar region of the body holds most of the body weight. Establishing a stable and equilibrium position of your spine will be hard.
It has the potential to “push the spine’s standard curve outside symmetry and may result in aberrant scoliosis curvature. The head and neck bend at an uncomfortable inclination, which might result in their spine tilting unnaturally.
Sleeping On the Floor
However, it might surprise you that the floor can serve as the base for your mattress. It will save the expense of buying a foundation. It will help to some extent to straighten your back and ease your pain, but everything will work against you if you have scoliosis.
Floor sleeping in scoliosis can be your worst nightmare because it further damages your already misaligned spine. It will make spinal curvature more bend leading to discomfort and more ease.
Can Sleeping Position Improve Scoliosis?
If you have scoliosis, you must deal with it throughout your lifetime until and unless you go for surgery. A sleeping position can only reduce pain and provide relief so your spine can breathe.
Sleeping in a different posture won’t change the structural aspects of scoliosis. The extent, site, and age of a person’s curves impact their condition. Solely by using a corrective brace, their spinal structure can modify during sleep.
Sleeping Tips for Scoliosis
Use A Comfortable Yet Supportive Mattress
Scoliosis is a structural defect that is hard to correct naturally by adjusting posture. However, sleeping on a mattress that provides comfort in this uncomfortable condition will give some relief and alleviate the symptoms (also check the most comfortable mattresses).
The plush, softer, and squishy mattress might tempt you, but a bed that will help you out here is firm. It will be comfortable enough and be very supportive. Over time, the brace it provides to your spine will help manifest some improvement in your posture and spine correction.
Consider A Mattress Topper
Your old mattress might have deteriorated over time and may not be ideal for resting on with scoliosis. As your spine needs to stay in natural alignment and neutral position, a worn-out mattress will not help.
A mattress topper can be an excellent addition, reviving your old one and compensating for your pain without spending much money. You will have a level surface to rest on because the additional comfort layer is firm and fill up any sags. As a result, the spinal cord will remain lifted and promote relief from pain.
Customized Pillows for Scoliosis
A pillow is essential to maintain the balance of height and posture between your lower back, neck, and shoulders. You will not like a heap of pillows under your head, leaving your spine misaligned.
A pillow that is soft and squishy will help. Memory foam or clustered fill pillow can easily mold and follow the contour of your upper body. It will prevent soreness and numbness in the shoulders, lessening the severity of symptoms if you have a worsened case of scoliosis.
Don’t Forget Body Pillows
Extra pillows for your bed will aid with your pain in this condition. Gaps between the mattress and body because of the curves and contours might leave some areas unsupported for such patients. Additional pillows will fill up the spaces so that every posture remains comfortable and aligned in the best possible manner.
Especially placing pillows between the knees for side sleepers can be greatly helpful. It will prevent disordered mobilization and place the spine and pelvis in a neutral position. Similarly, a thin, soft cushion for stomach and back sleepers will do the job (also check the top-rated mattresses for stomach sleepers).
Maintain Good Sleep Hygiene
Good hygiene refers to the preparations you make before sleep to promote a serene and deep slumber. Of course, the room and your ambiance will matter greatly.
To make your sleeping ritual very soothing, you have to make arrangements. It doesn’t require just a perfected bed but ensuring that the room is dark. All your gadgets should be away from you.
Use an essential oil diffuser with soothing scents like lavender or chamomile. It will help clear your mind and refresh it, preparing you for restful sleep. You can even try some meditation exercises for improved focus and relaxation.
Avoid Sweat
Avoid sweating if you use a support brace for your back that you must accompany in your bed. The buildup of moisture and sweat will be a feast for bacteria and other microorganisms leading to skin infection, itching, and rash. The condition that is already irritable gets coupled with another misery.
You must use a cooling mattress and maintain the room temperature that keeps you cool and allows for a long-lasting sleep.
How Scoliosis Interferes with Sleep
Scoliosis is a slow-progressing condition that is incurable. Some people never develop the disease, whereas others live with severe pain and discomfort their entire lives. It is something that people have to deal with, especially during sleep, due to which they have to spend the nights in agony.
Scoliosis can have two effects on sleep: pain, especially in adults, or breathing difficulties due to significant lung damage.
Lung dysfunction and scoliosis go together. Even while the majority of scoliosis-related lung cases are undetectable, they are only apparent during periods of vigorous activity. It will also have an impact on sleep.
The thoracic curves that constitute your middle back can influence your ribs. For example, the rib hump results from the thoracic curves’ bending in the ribs.
While the extent of this varies, the curvature of the spine limits the ribs’ range of motion and affects the respiratory muscles’ mechanics, reducing lung volume. As a result, you can experience night-time awakenings due to breathlessness while trying to sleep
Key Takeaways: Best Sleeping Position For Scoliosis
Understanding Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a medical condition characterized by a deformity in the spine’s normal curvature. Although not painful in early stages, the condition can escalate over time, causing significant pain and discomfort during sleep.
Recommended Sleeping Positions for Scoliosis
For those struggling with scoliosis, maintaining spinal alignment during sleep is paramount. Back sleeping is often recommended as it ensures even distribution of body weight, promoting relief from pressure points. Side sleeping is another favorable position, allowing the spinal curvature to sink into the mattress and alleviating pressure on the spinal cord. However, care should be taken to use pillows to enhance comfort and support during side sleeping.
Positions to Avoid
Stomach sleeping is advised against as it exerts additional pressure on the spine, potentially exacerbating scoliosis symptoms. Sleeping on the floor can also worsen the spinal curvature, leading to increased discomfort.
Can Sleeping Position Alleviate Scoliosis?
While sleeping positions can offer relief from pain, they do not alter the structural aspects of scoliosis. However, using corrective braces can modify the spinal structure during sleep.
Essential Sleep Tips for Scoliosis Patients
Choosing a firm mattress can provide essential support, potentially improving posture over time. Mattress toppers can rejuvenate old mattresses, ensuring a neutral spine position. Customized pillows designed for scoliosis patients can offer the necessary support to the neck and shoulders, while body pillows can fill gaps between the mattress and body. Moreover, maintaining a conducive sleep environment, such as a dark room and calming scents, can enhance sleep quality.
Understanding the Impact of Scoliosis on Sleep
Scoliosis, a slow-progressing condition, can disrupt sleep due to pain or breathing difficulties. The thoracic curves of the spine can affect rib movement, potentially reducing lung volume and leading to breathlessness during sleep.
Conclusion:
If your doctor has declared you a patient of scoliosis, then don’t take the stress. The more you handle stress, the more it will hurt your soft spine. Instead, try healthy alternatives and lifestyles which could make your body amenable to treatment.
Opt for proactive medication to heal the ferocity of the condition. Choosing the model sleeping position, such as on the back and side, can be your remedy (also check the best-selling mattresses for side sleepers).
Find your comfort in getting restorative sleep, using braces or surgery, but don’t let it go untreated. Otherwise, you never know when you’ll have to cope with your worst-case scenarios.
Sleeping position for scoliosis FAQs
The Best Sitting Position for Scoliosis
The ideal sitting position for a person with scoliosis is to lean back on the chair and keep the back straight. Your thighs and buttocks should bear the majority of the weight. To avoid the pelvis tilting forward or backward:
• Try to sit in your chair without leaning too far ahead.
• Make an effort to sit so that your legs are slightly lower than your pelvis.
• You should stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, flat on the ground.
• Try to avoid remaining motionless for long periods.
It's advised to get up and move around every 30 minutes.
What Should I Avoid If I Have Scoliosis?
Make sure you are entirely comfortable with each step you take to heal your scoliosis. Avoid unnecessary bending of your spine and sleeping postures such as stomach and floor lying.
How Can I Fix Scoliosis Naturally?
Involve yourself in different exercises prescribed by your physiotherapist. For example, practice yoga, stretching and get a spine massage therapist. The disease has no permanent cure, but these practices can prolong the lifespan of your broken spine.
Does Standing Up Straight Help Scoliosis?
Standing up straight can help keep your spine vertically and support your neck and head alignment. Focus on your posture, as bad posture can ruin your therapy. Do not stand for many hours as it causes pressure on your spine and can aggravate it.