| Always sleepy? Always tired? Zzz right now? | | | | brought out of neutral into rotation and true spinal |
| Be careful. People who are sleepy or who | | | | relaxation is interrupted. The solution to neutral leg |
| experience sleep deprivation invite a number of | | | | position is to insert a leg spacer or a body |
| health risks into their life, including a higher risk of | | | | support pillow between the legs (see for |
| hypertension, diabetes, heart attack and stroke, | | | | illustrations of supported side sleep). Unsupported |
| not to mention a higher rate of car accidents and | | | | side sleeping can lead to lower back pain and mid |
| injury. | | | | back pain. |
| Have you ever really learned what is involved in | | | | Secondly, there is a high tendency for the side |
| getting a good night sleep? There is surprisingly | | | | sleeper to allow the high shoulder and arm (the |
| little information available on how to sleep...and less | | | | shoulder and arm away from the bed) to wonder |
| information on proper sleeping positions. But the | | | | forward (or backward) causing the torso rotation |
| word is out. Sleep deprivation is adversely | | | | and potential stress at the neck, shoulder, upper-, |
| affecting world health. Change is a must. | | | | mid- and lower-back. This is true even if the side |
| To achieve health, and to remain healthy, we can | | | | sleeper uses a leg spacer alone, as opposed to a |
| all control (or learn to control) our daily habits. One | | | | body pillow. The result is often back pain, including |
| of our main daily habits is sleep. | | | | neck pain, upper back pain and mid back pain. The |
| Sleeping should take up about 1/3 of each of our | | | | solution to arm, shoulder and torso rotation is to |
| lives. Experts agree that the majority of adults | | | | properly support the torso and shoulder using a |
| require about eight hours of sleep each night, yet | | | | body support pillow. |
| roughly 40 percent of Americans get fewer than | | | | The third area of concern for the side sleeper is |
| seven hours of sleep on weekdays, and 71 | | | | the height of the neck pillow. It is very important |
| percent get fewer than eight hours. 50 to 70 | | | | to size the neck pillow and the torso support and |
| million Americans chronically suffer from a | | | | leg support specifically to the user. The most |
| disorder of sleep and wakefulness. Nearly 4 in 10 | | | | common mistakes in pillow choice are that the |
| of Canadians admitted that they wake up with | | | | pillow is too high or too firm, thus causing the |
| some kind of body pain. | | | | head to pillow to act like a fulcrum for the head |
| A good night's sleep seems to be as important to | | | | to kink upon (too low and too soft is less |
| good health as a nutritious diet and regular | | | | common). The proper sized neck pillow allows the |
| exercise. It is time we put more emphasis on the | | | | users skull to be perpendicular to the bed, resting |
| healthy skill of sleeping. | | | | comfortably. |
| To follow is the first of three articles commenting | | | | The supported side sleep position offers an |
| on body sleep positions. The side sleep position will | | | | excellent opportunity for neutral full body |
| be covered first, stomach sleeping will follow in | | | | relaxation and is an asset in sleep disorder, sleep |
| article 2 and back sleep will conclude the series in | | | | deprivation cases and for back pain relief, as well |
| article 3. | | | | as in day to day wellness applications. It is the |
| The side sleep position is the preferred sleep | | | | most recommended position by health care |
| position of health care professionals (and over 2/3 | | | | professionals. Support the side sleep position |
| of North Americans do so now), yet it is vital to | | | | properly, bend the knees slightly (i.e. as in the fetal |
| note that the side sleep position must be | | | | position) and see if your sleep-and your |
| supported. When side sleeping is unsupported, the | | | | health-doesn't improve immediately! |
| following three damaging events are likely to | | | | Check out these great sites for more sleep |
| occur. | | | | information: |
| Firstly, the high leg (the leg away from the bed) | | | | Check your body position tonight! Stomach |
| of the side sleeper is likely to fall with gravity to | | | | sleeping and back sleeping articles will be posted |
| settle either 1) against the lower leg or 2) onto | | | | soon. |
| the bed itself. Either way, the hip and pelvis are | | | | |