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What happens when sleep does not result in a good rest. Sometimes many people wake up with a stiff neck or back pain. A new study has identified postures during sleep that could be responsible for these discomforts.
For Infobae
Through a YouGov survey it was found that 82% of British people sleep in a harmful position that causes pain.
The survey was carried out among 2,000 adults in the UK and found that only 18% of those surveyed slept in the position known as The Dreamer (the dreamer), which is apparently the best option to put the least stress on the spine.
This position can be described as lying on its side or on its side and in a semi-fetal position, as shown in the first illustration.
The research was commissioned by pillow and mattress brand Levitex, which worked with leading clinicians, including the company’s chief medical officer, Dr Ilan Lieberman, a pain medicine consultant and physician at South Manchester University Hospitals, to understand better the importance of sleeping positions, reported Huffpost.
The medical team said The Dreamer position is best for nighttime posture because it offers the best support for the head, neck, spine, and hips, allowing the body to rest in neutral alignment without twisting or bending. overnight.
However, the survey revealed that the position called The Heavy Lifter is the most popular sleeping position, with 20% of adults resting this way at night.
Those who sleep like this are exposed to sacroiliac joint problems, shoulder instability and are likely to wake up with lower back pain, the researchers said.
The Hedgehog (the hedgehog): it is the position in which the person is rolled up like a tight ball. This is another popular position, since 15% of those surveyed said they sleep that way. But the researchers said this option can lead to tightness in the hip flexors, which can contribute to hip arthritis or pain later on.
The Applauder: It is the position of choice for 14% of adults. Sleeping like this causes the spine to rotate and lengthens the piriformis muscle, leading to pain in the hip, lower back and neck, the researchers said.
The Wrestler: This position causes spinal rotation and anterior instability of the shoulder. About 5% of adults sleep in this position, but the long-term impacts of this could include chronic shoulder pain and tingling in the arm.
About 5% of adults also opt for The Soldier (the soldier). Depending on the type of mattress, researchers say this position can cause your lumbar spine to overextend, making you more prone to back pain and general stiffness the next day.
But shouldn’t you just sleep in whatever position is most comfortable for you? Not necessarily, according to Levitex founder James Leinhardt.
“Just because it’s comfortable doesn’t mean it’s good for you,” he says. “The position in which you lie down to sleep at night could be killing the quality of your sleep, and it may well be causing more long-term impacts than you think. If you wake up with neck and back pain, this could be the reason.”
So if you wake up in pain on a regular basis, why not try falling asleep in a different position for a few days or pay more attention to your mattress and pillow which may need to be replaced.
If the back pain persists, a medical consultation is necessary.
Images: Marcelo Regalado