Have you ever woken up in the morning with a sore back, a spasmed neck, or an aching shoulder?
Likely the position you are sleeping in is poor.
This post will cover 2 good sleeping postures and 3 bad sleeping postures. Discover if your favourite position is good or bad!
There are definitely some better positions to sleep in, and some that are BAD for your spine and joints.
Let’s start with the bad ones.
- Sleeping on your stomach. When you sleep on your stomach your head is turned all night (to breathe) and your lower back is in extension. This will leave you waking up with a stiff neck and potentially aching lower back.

- Half stomach, half side position. Creates bad neck posture, and a twist through the lower back all night.

- Arms above your head will lock the shoulder joint and it is likely you will wake with sore shoulders.

How can you sleep in a better position?
I used to be an avid stomach sleeper. And I have to admit when I am feeling uncomfortable or unable to go to sleep I will revert to sleeping on my stomach. But 99% of the time I now sleep on my side. I can’t sleep on my back. In fact, I roll onto my back in the morning when the alarm goes off to ensure I don’t fall back to sleep!
Therefore (you may have worked out from my story) that sleeping on your side or back is a far better posture for your spine and shoulders.
The best sleeping postures are:
- Side sleeping. To get the best position you will need a pillow that cradles your head and neck and keeps your spine in a neutral position. If you have an injured shoulder you may want to hug a pillow with the injured side up and supported on the pillow in front of you.


- Back sleeping. When you are on your back, you don’t need a very high pillow. Just enough to cradle your head without pushing your head forward. If your mattress is quite firm you may feel more comfortable in your lower back with a pillow under your knees.

If you are sleeping in good postures, but you are still waking up sore, you may need to visit the chiropractor to have your spine assessed for spinal misalignments. Sleep is a fantastic time to heal and repair, but sometimes your body may need a helping hand.
Get back to your best.
Dr. Anthea Holder works in partnership with you to provide appropriate, tailored care as well as lifestyle advice to prevent the reoccurrence of your aches and pains.
If you’re looking to get back to your best self by sleeping better, then why not consider chiropractic?
Contact Dr. Anthea Holder to book an appointment today.
How to Make an Appointment
You can book online for a free 15-minute chiropractic discovery call. You can ask any questions you might have and find out if chiropractic may be able to help your neck pain. Or you can book online as a new chiropractic client.
As a chiropractor and nutritionist, I see patients daily that breakthrough aches and pains and reverse the signs of ageing joints with chiropractic care. With help, they can turn their life around to a happier, healthier version of themselves. Make yourself a priority today, and get back to living life at your best.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Anthea Holder
(Chiropractor and Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner)