A New Pillow May Fix An Old Neck Problem

Pillows are not made to last forever. Yet many New Zealanders hold onto their pillow for far too long because they’ve formed some sort of attachment to them. However, when a pillow loses its shape and ability to properly support the neck and the head, problems occur and we treat many of these issues at our clinic, particularly headaches and neck pain.

While we are happy to provide neck physio and other treatments to soothe sore heads, we believe prevention is always better than the cure. In many cases, a new pillow could be what you need to avoid that nagging neck and head pain in the future, as well as potential back issues. Take a look at this checklist and ask yourself if your pillow is able to do the following:

• Does it properly support your neck and head? Or has it become so soft that your neck and head feel like they’re sinking straight through the pillow and onto the mattress at an unnatural angle?
• Does it suit your preferred sleeping position? Do you sleep on your side, on your back, or on your tummy? Headaches, neck pain and back issues can be caused by owning a pillow that doesn’t suit your favourite sleeping position. If you’re a side sleeper, the pillow should fill in the space between your head and neck, and the mattress. If you prefer to sleep on your back, adequate pillow height is crucial for providing full support. And if you sleep on your stomach, we recommend you try and change that! By lying on your front, your neck is in a constant state of rotation as if you’re looking over your shoulder for hours on end. That’s just not good for you.
• Is your pillow able to accommodate your head, neck, shoulder shape and size?
• Is it comfortable to lie on, or are you constantly readjusting your pillow?

These are just a few of the questions you need to answer if you feel there’s a link between your pillow and your ongoing neck pain, headaches and back problems. In fact, you might not have made that connection at all. You may think that it’s what you’re doing during the day that’s causing pain. In fact,  it’s what you’re doing at night that could be the cause of it all. That’s why you should take a fresh look at your pillow. Even if it’s relatively new, it might be the wrong shape, size or style for you. That’s the problem with buying pillows at your everyday retailer. They might give you a good price but they’re unlikely to give you the valuable knowledge you require to make the best choice.

We sell pillows. Along with the product, we also give you expert advice as to what type will be ideal for you. We’ll look at all the factors that go into choosing the right pillow, including how you sleep and will help you make a decision that will let you enjoy a good night’s sleep without the pain in the neck. Contact us to find out more.