Orthopedic Pillows

Orthopedic Pillows - Remedy For A Good Nights Sleep And Support

Sleep and good posture are two mainstays that ensure a healthy body and mind, and in conjuncture with each other can reduce stress, fatigue, and pain caused by poor circulation or other ailments such as arthritis.

A good pillow for support and comfort can aid in maintaining a good posture, good circulation, and better sleep. All of which can have a greatly positive effect on the body.

Often using a wide range of pillows for support and comfort can yield the best results and provide the most support so you can rest or relax in comfort. But choosing the right pillow types in critically important.

For example, most of those made with down or feathers provide minimal structural support, while those made with moderate to high density foam do. Typically those with spinal disc ailments, back muscle pain and stress, and those with spinal stenosis benefit more from a firmer more sturdy design, while those with minor stress and discomfort may benefit from a softer or more plush pillow design.

So, where to start? What kind of pillows should you look for? Support designs, foam cushions or down, firm or soft, orthopedic or standard? Well, we have provided the following overview to help you resolve that dilemma.

Let’s begin with the types of pillows you can use and then work our way into how to best utilize them for better health and comfort.

Knee Cushions:

Utilizing a form of support between your legs or knees while sleeping, especially while sleeping on one’s side, can aid in reducing strain on the lower back and lumbar region. This is especially useful for those who wish to reduce lower back pain.

In most cases using a more firm pillow between your legs provides more stable support throughout the night and prevents your upper leg from rolling forward or backward. A more firm cushion will also keep your legs in alignment throughout the night and your spine in a completely neutral position, whereas a soft lower back or knee cushion may collapse or sink in. if this happened, your upper leg would move downward with the force of gravity which would strain the pelvis and disturb the spine’s natural curvature.

Another use of a knee support pillow is placing the cushion underneath the back of your knees while lying on your back. This will elevate the knees slightly and will flatten the lumbar spine which will reduce tension and stress between the spinal discs.

Lower Back Support Pillows

These provide support for the inward curvature of the lumbar spine. This is the curve in your lower back and is the area a majority of individuals have problems with. These can be very usefull for individuals who work in an office or sit in a chair all day.

Sitting for extended periods of time without proper support can cause muscle tension, pressure and inflammation that can cause pain and general discomfort. Pillows that support the lower back can help to reduce such discomfort by providing support and maintaining the natural curvature of the spine.

Donut or coccyx cushion

These rounded cushions are typically used to provide extra padding for your bottom. They are most often placed on the top of chairs and usually have either a depression or a hole in the center. This depression allows for less pressure to be placed on the coccyx or “tail bone” when sitting. These work extremely well for those suffering from a bruised or broken tailbone, or have undergone surgery.

Body Cushions

As their name suggests, these types of pads or forms are elongated and often stretch the full length of ones body. Body pillows have a variety of functions and can be used in many different ways to suit the user’s needs. Most body pads are round, but some designer ones may be rectangle in shape.

Neck Pillows

These support pillows are contoured in such a way as to circle around your neck and provide a full range of support and comfort. You may also hear these called cervical or orthopedic pillows as they are commonly used to alleviate stress, neck tension, and chronic pain caused by disc degeneration or arthritis.

Typically these have a depression where your head would lie, and extra support under the neck itself. Just like with the lumbar support back pillow they are meant to keep the neck in alignment and help to maintain normal spinal curvature.

Lumbar Roll

Lumbar rolls are typically compact and easy to travel with and are most often filled with a medium-to-high density foam depending on you needs. As the name suggests, lumbar rolls are typically cylindrical in shape and are designed to support the lumbar spine.

The most common way to use them are while sitting up, or partially laying down (such as in a recliner). Many people take these with them in the car when traveling long distances to provide extra support and comfort.

Leg Pillow

These are designed to fit the contour and curves of your legs while you are in a laying down position. They can be used while on your back, but work best for those who sleep or rest on their sides. These allow your lower back, hips, and knees to be set in a “relaxed” and natural position.

Additionally, they help to relieve stress in joints from your hips to your ankles and will allow muscles to relax and lengthen. Becauuse of their “fitted” designs, they are very easily accommodated and fit nicely under the sheets even if you have a partner next to you.

Contour Pillows

These come in all shapes and sizes, and their uses can be virtually endless. Many “contour” to the shape of your body parts when pressure is placed on them. Most are made of flexible foam or memory foam and are best suited for those who do not need more firm or hard support.

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