Every day someone comes into the clinic with pain because they “slept wrong.” Here are some tips on how you can sleep right and avoid some pain. Determine what is your normal sleeping posture? Do you sleep on your back, your side or on your stomach.

1. Stomach sleeping is generally discouraged, because you can end up extending your back too much which will lead to pain. Try using a body pillow and become a partial side sleeper instead.
2. Your pillow can make a huge difference. Shop around for the best pillow for you. You want your head to remain in a neutral position when you sleep; not too bent up and not sagging too much. If you are a back sleeper, you shouldn't need too thick of a pillow. If you are a side sleeper, then your pillow thickness may depend on how broad of shoulders you have.
3. If you are a side sleeper with hip problems you may consider sleeping with a pillow between your knees. Back sleepers may consider sleeping with a pillow under their knees to take some strain off of their backs.
4. When travelling, strongly consider taking your favorite pillow with you. You never know what will be available at your destination.
5. Regular adjustments will keep your spine flexible so you can adapt to various sleeping postures.