How to Treat Neck Pain Caused by Sleeping

It can be frustrating to spend your daytime working on posture and alignment then wake up after a night’s sleep and feel the tell-tale twinge of neck pain.

If you’ve been experiencing neck pain from sleeping, you are far from alone. Up to 15% of Australians report neck pain and the number is growing. Let’s look into how to treat neck pain caused by sleeping. 

What is neck pain from sleeping?

While the spine is strong and designed to keep you moving at all hours, its individual parts can be quite delicate.

The cervical spine, found in the neck, is what holds your head up. Unfortunately, the human head weighs between 10-12lbs – the same as a bowling ball! That weight means the muscles that support your neck are forced to work much harder and this makes for tired, sore muscles. Add in misalignment when sleeping and you’ve got what’s known as torticollis.

Torticollis is a condition where the neck is twisted at a funny angle. It can be just a single case but can also be chronic and last much longer.

What causes torticollis?

There are usually two possible reasons for waking up with neck pain, a poorly suited pillow or an unnatural sleeping position that is aggravating your neck.

A firm pillow will keep your spine in a straight line from your first cervical vertebra down to your tailbone. Always make sure your pillow is of good quality to enjoy a good night’s sleep and avoid torticollis.

The position in which you sleep can also have a lasting impact on the way you wake up. The best sleeping position for neck pain is generally on the back. But this can trigger sleep apnea for some people and may not be comfortable for others.

 How to treat neck pain – next steps.

Chiropractic care is an option that many Australians are now turning to.

Routine chiropractic care provides people suffering from neck pain from sleeping a safe, non-invasive, non-addictive alternative to prescription medicines and over-the-counter painkillers. Chiropractic adjustment could help relieve swelling and discomfort, reducing joint restrictions and misalignments in the spine.

MyChiro offers walk-in adjusting times so you can move freely between chiropractors for maximum flexibility. Or book an appointment online at https://www.mychiro.com.au/.