“Is sleeping on your side bad for your shoulders?”
I am a 27 year old female. I want to know if sleeping on your side is bad for your shoulders?
12 Answers
Sleeping positions can be tricky. I like to tell patients to imagine that the way you are currently laying is how you are standing, would you stand that way?
Pillow thickness is a big thing, make sure the pillow is not too thick or thin to avoid having your neck bent to one side.
Pillow thickness is a big thing, make sure the pillow is not too thick or thin to avoid having your neck bent to one side.
Not necessarily. If it’s painful, then something else is the cause and you should get that checked out by your chiropractor or PT.
Skylar Bakko, DC QNCP PAK BFM
Skylar Bakko, DC QNCP PAK BFM
Yes, it can be, especially if you are not positioning the pillow correctly as well as being prone to any shoulder injuries.
I haven't Examined you so I have to answer this question generically. Every individual is different and function differently. Also what do you mean by the term "bad". Are you referring to Degeneration or arthritis as an example? Therefore examination is important. However my advise is that when sleeping find a position that doesn't irritate your shoulders. Options are back, stomach or either side. Use of pillows or folded up blankets may help modify your position to advantage. Also raising or lowering the head of the bed or your knee may modify for your benefit. As much as possible stay out of positions that aggravate. However get an appropriate Examination.
Not if you use the correct pillow. Sleeping on your stomach is never a good idea!!
Only if it hurts your shoulders.
Dr. Jonathan Donath, DC, MS
Dr. Jonathan Donath, DC, MS
As a general rule, it's more important that you sleep well than how you sleep. That said, if you are waking up with shoulder pain from sleeping on your side, then maybe you have a shoulder injury that should be looked at.
Your neck should be in as straight a line as possible. Simply sleeping on your shoulders is not in and of itself harmful to your shoulders, but having poor head and neck support from your pillow is hard on your shoulders.
no
Not typically. However if your shoulder is healing from injury or surgery, you should avoid that side. If it hurts to lie on it you could have diagnosed bursitis
Not necessarily, it depends on many factors. If you tend to have forward rounded shoulders, sleeping on your side may make the problem worse.
I would suggest sleeping on your back if at all possible, but each persona and their spine is different. The best thing to do would be to have a competent corrective care chiropractor see if there is something wrong with the alignment of the shoulders or some part of the spine that may be related to the overall function of the shoulders.
Hope that helps!
Dr. Josh Barton
Hope that helps!
Dr. Josh Barton
