"I Feel Like I'm Sleeping The Wrong Way, Is There A Right Way To Sleep?"

"Is there a right way to sleep?" Yes and no. There's your answer, goodbye! Just kidding, yes there is a right way to sleep...kinda. So first off, I just want to say that you aren't exactly conscious when you're sleeping, so it's a little hard to correct the way you sleep, and I feel like you shouldn't have to, but I digress.
     I'll start with the most basic answer:

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sleeping on your stomach is the worst way to sleep. It puts pressure on the stomach, which restrict how much air can enter your diaphragm, in other words it's harder to breathe while sleeping on your stomach.

     Secondly, it you sleep on your stomach it puts your neck in an awkward position, you have to lay your head on either side, which puts a strain on the neck muscles. You're more likely to pull a neck muscle while sleeping face down (prone) on your stomach. Over time, this cause numerous neck issues. 

     And lastly, it's a very bad idea to sleep on your stomach if you're a woman who is in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. There is one pro to sleeping on your stomach however, but the good doesn't outway the bad. According to an article from 'Healthline', it states: "Although sleeping on your stomach can reduce snoring and diminish sleep apnea, it’s also taxing for your back and neck."

     Next up: sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your back is definitely better than sleeping on your stomach, but it's still not the best position to sleep in either. It can put a lot of pressure on the lower back. One solution to this is to get a fluffy, thick pillow or cushion of some sort and put it under your knees when you sleep on your back. This can help take the pressure off of the lower back. According to webMD, sleeping in supine (on your back) helps with acid reflux. 

     Moving on  to the third position: Sleeping on your sides. Sleeping on your sides is better than both sleeping on your stomach and sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your side where you are relatively elongated and stretched out rather than being curled up is good for decreasing acid reflux. It also helps decrease snoring. It's also the best position for those with sleep apnea. 

     Sleeping in the fetal position. It's apparently the most popular sleeping position.  'Sleeping in the fetal position, especially on your left side—is great if you're pregnant. That's because it improves circulation in your body and in the fetus, and it prevents your uterus from pressing against your liver, which is on your right side (Sleep.org)'. Sleeping in the fetal position is also a great sleeping position for people who snore. 

     Sleeping in the fetal position is one of the best. However, when you are curled up in the fetal position, every part of your body is in flexion. Your in spinal flexion, your shoulders and arms are in flexion, your hips are being flexed, and your knees are in flexion. This means your whole body and all your joints are being flexed all night. This can cause some muscle tension over time. But as long as your exercise and stretch, this con is negligible. 

     Last note on sleeping on your sides, like in the back position, if you put a pillow between your knees when you're are sleeping on your sides in the fetal position, it can help keep your pelvis more level and will reduce the chance of getting tight hips as a result. "If you sleep on your side, a firm pillow between your knees will prevent your upper leg from pulling your spine out of alignment and reduce stress on your hips and lower back (Rochester Uni Medical Center)".

     So now you know the pros and cons of each of the main sleeping positions. I hope you found this article value packed and I answered the question in a clear way. If you found this article helpful, please let me know in the comments, I would love to hear any and all feedback. 
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​     If you're looking for a massage therapist who knows his stuff and can help get you out of pain and into a state of total relaxation, then you're in the right place. If you slept wrong and tweaked a neck muscle or if you have chronic back pain, then book your massage now and we get you on your way to better health and wellness. 

Cheers, 
Alex S.