Surely you already know that the average person sleeps about 8 hours a day. That’s a third of your life right there. Doesn’t it make sense then that we should give some thought to how we sleep?
If you have been suffering from back pain, have you considered that it could be a result of how you sleep, how you spend a third of your life? Most people’s mattresses are very soft and comfortable, but is it really the best for the spine?
Many people have back pain and assume that a soft mattress is the answer to back pain relief. However, mattresses that are too soft do not provide any support and can lead to spinal misalignment and poor posture.
If you have back pain, you actually want to do the opposite. In fact, some people claim that sleeping on the floor should be used to correct some back problems. Can sleeping on the floor really help with back problems?
I’ve tried this before, and every time I’ve slept on the floor, I’ve woken up feeling great in my back and well supported. Placing a thin mat on the floor, like a yoga mat, will provide enough cushioning to help keep you comfortable while the floor gives you the support you need to help your back feel better.
To get the most out of your night on the floor, it’s best to sleep on your back. This will allow your spine to find the support it needs. Sleeping on your side or stomach will not give you this benefit.
You should also try to sleep with your knees bent. This allows the sacrum and lower back to rest on the ground and decompress. This will also allow the pressure of your body weight to be distributed over a larger area so your shoulders and hips aren’t as sore in the morning.
I know that sleeping on the floor probably won’t be comfortable at first, but try to avoid using too many pillows. Maybe only one at most. Remember that the point is to support your back, not cushion it.
Some people claim that sleeping on the floor is bad for your health. However, this is not true at all. Sure, you may feel it a bit in the morning, especially if you’re used to sleeping on extremely soft mattresses or are a little overweight. But following this train of logic, isn’t exercise also “bad for you”? After all, do you often find yourself sore the next morning?
Now, sleeping on the floor may not really be practical if you have a health condition that requires special bedding or if you live in a basement with concrete floors in the dead of winter, but for most healthy people, sleeping on the floor should be perfectly fine.
At the very least, give it a try for a few nights to see if it helps your back. The only thing you have to lose is your back pain.
