A suitable
orthopedic pillow for side sleeping should provide proper support for the
spine and head during sleep in this position. Its
design and features are tailored to relax muscle tension and maintain the spine
in a straight line, which directly contributes to
comfortable and healthy sleep.
A
side sleeping pillow usually has its own
characteristic features. First and foremost, it should be
much higher than a pillow for sleeping on the back to support the
head and neck. This is extremely important because during
side sleeping, the spine should be aligned
in a straight line, and the head should not
tilt or drop to either side.
Most often, the
shape of an orthopedic pillow for side sleeping resembles a
wave or soap bar. Such pillow design is a result of being
cut from blocks of visco foam, which is a very
fast and inexpensive production method. It's worth noting that
orthopedic pillows in this shape are dedicated to individuals who prefer
side sleeping because they are not suitable for
sleeping on the back. However, very often, manufacturers with questionable
ethical systems sell and advertise them as
orthopedic pillows for sleeping in any position.
An important aspect of a
side sleeping orthopedic pillow is the foam used. Typically, they are made of
memory foam, a material that is initially
soft and comfortable but only for the first few minutes of lying on the pillow. Afterward, it starts to
sink, leading to
excessive sweating and directly disrupting the
maintenance of the spine in the correct position.
Therefore, for these and other reasons, it is worth paying attention to pillows made of
highly elastic foam, which always provide optimal
support and adaptation to the shape of the head and neck. This
open-cell material also allows for proper
pressure distribution, which contributes to
reducing muscle tension and, consequently,
preventing back pain.
A well-chosen
orthopedic pillow for side sleeping should also be wide enough to accommodate the
entire head and allow the sleeper to fully
comfortably rest on the bed. It's important to pay attention to the available
pillow sizes and choose the one that best suits
individual needs. Additionally, it's important to verify if the pillow has a
neck contour and a cavity for the head, which allow maintaining
the anatomical curves of the spine throughout the night.