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Finding a pillow for neck pain can feel like an impossible task. If you've tried endless different pillows but still wake up with neck and shoulder pain, it's about time you slept soundly.
'It’s important to get the right pillow as we spend up to a third of our life time in bed, so that’s a lot of time influencing our posture passively,' chiropractor Julian Keel told Prima.co.uk. 'Our neck has a natural C curve that needs supporting so that our neck joints are not unduly stressed if we’re lying on our back. On our sides we need enough support to maintain the imaginary line from the base of our skull to the tip of our tail bone. Pillows can definitely help cause and help cure neck problems, so getting one that’s right for you is key.
'If you sleep on your side – buy a pillow that is thick enough and dense enough to maintain its depth throughout the night. Too high and the neck will kink upwards and too low it will kink downwards.
'If you can sleep exclusively on your back then you don't need as much pillow depth as for on your side. A pillow with less density will allow you to snuggle your head comfortably so that it’s not raised up causing you to loose the natural curve of your neck spine.'
Keel recommends that you don't sleep on your front or front side, so as not to cause too much neck rotation.
'The pillow you choose will depend somewhat on the quality and softness of your mattress, your body shape and size, so try some out in the shop before buying if you can,' he explains.
Here's some of the best...
The Simba Hybrid might be pricey, but it could completely change the way you sleep. It comes with removable 'nanocubes', so you can change the depth depending on how you feel that night. It's designed to regulate your temperature, and requires absolutely no fluffing – ever.
Side sleepers will love this Tempur pillow, which is the same shape as most traditional pillows, but filled with 'visco-elastic cells' so that the pillow keeps its shape and feels supportive.
The contour pillow maintains the natural curve of the neck with cervical contour to support you properly. Your neck fits comfortably into the centre cavity, which then stops you from slouching or sleeping in a harmful position.
If you're concerned about the damage your pillow habit is having on the environment, this one could ease the guilt. Each pillow is filled with fibres that are made from recycled plastic bottles, which Silentnight says represents a reincarnation of 17 bottles per pillow. It's not too full, meaning your neck won't be too high, and feels comfortable once you're used to the change in height.
If you sleep soundly in hotel rooms, it could be because they often use goose down pillows. This M&S offering is incredibly cushiony, and is less than half the price of some similar offerings from other brands.
Designed to perfectly support your neck as you sleep, this Sissel design is a classic pillow that's got the credentials – it's been a favourite for nearly 30 years.
The shape of this pillow is designed to bridge the gap between your shoulder and neck for perfect alignment. Made from memory foam, it bounces back so well that you shouldn't need to replace it as often as other similar types.
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