What Makes a Good Pillow?

A Good Pillow is designed to keep the spine in natural alignment.
The human neck should curve slightly forward (called a cervical lordosis), and it is very important to maintain this curve when in a resting position. If the height of the pillow is too high when sleeping sideways or on the back, the neck is bent abnormally forward or to the side, causing muscle strain on the back of the neck and shoulders. This type of position may also cause narrowing of the air pipe, resulting in obstructed breathing, and sometimes snoring, which can hinder sleep. Conversely, if the height of the pillow is too low, the neck muscles can also be strained.

A Pillow must feel comfortable.
A large part of what makes a good pillow is personal preference. If the pillow feels comfortable, it is likely to help one relax, get a good night’s sleep, and feel well rested in the morning.

A Pillow should be adjustable to the individual and the sleep positions.
To help the pillow conform to various sleep positions, it is best if the pillow can be adjusted to fit the unique shape and curves and sleeping position of the user. A pillow should mold to one’s individual shape and alleviate any pressure points.

Pillows for each sleep position.
One’s sleep position will dictate how a pillow can be used to provide the appropriate support.

·         Using a pillow while sleeping on one's back. When lying on the back, a pillow should support the natural curvature of the cervical spine, with adequate support under the head, neck, and shoulders.

·         Using a pillow while sleeping on one's side. When lying on one’s side, a pillow should support the head and neck such that the spine maintains a straight and natural horizontal line. Weight should be evenly distributed so as not to create unnatural bending or pressure. Some people may prefer placing a small pillow or rolled up towel under their waist while lying on the side for additional support.

·         Using a pillow while sleeping on one's stomach.  This is the absolute worst position to sleep, it irritates the neck and lower back simultaneously. There is no pillow on this planet that will help neck or back problems in a stomach sleeper.  Switching to your side or back will help prevent / reduce sleep related spine pain.

There are a plethora of cervical ‘orthopedic’ pillows in the market place – much of it has to do with personal preferences.  I would stay away from ‘gimicy’ pillows – water pillow and tempur-pedic pillows fall into this category.  No one I know uses a ‘water bed’ anymore, and I’m sure the water pillow will disappear soon enough as well.  As for ‘space age’ ‘NASA’ developed foam – sure NASA invented it… for zero gravity environments, not here on earth.

Personally I recommend the Ortho-Cerv pillow, and here is why:

It comes in not only different sizes, but different thicknesses as well.  This allows for all the different shapes and sizes people come in.  You wouldn’t expect a 300 pound football player to sleep on the same pillow as a 90 pound ballerina would you?  And stacking multiple pillows on top of each other isn’t a good idea as they can easily shift during the night.

It has a slight depression in the center which accommodates the head when sleeping on the back and is a little thicker on each side to accommodate side sleeping.

It’s hypoallergenic and made of a resilient fiber which holds shape and is durable.

They retail for $89.95 (+shipping) CDN from the company’s website individually, but due to a special bulk rate I can provide them to patients and the general public for less.  If you are interested, send me an email or call either of my offices.