One might find themselves in many different sleeping positions throughout the night. Like most, it may take a couple of minutes of tossing and turning to find the right spot. However, did you know that some positions are more harmful than others? We’re looking at you, stomach sleepers. But just how bad can sleeping on your stomach be?
Is Sleeping On Your Stomach Bad?
To understand why this question is relevant, it's important to first understand why our sleep position matters in the first place.
Sleep allows our bodies to repair any strain or injury that may have occurred during the day, and the position we sleep in can help or hinder this process. An ideal position helps relieve stress on the spine, while an unhealthy position can increase pain or stiffness in the back, arms, or shoulders.
So, why exactly should you avoid sleeping on your stomach?
The biggest reason sleeping on your stomach is bad is the unnecessary strain it puts on your back and neck. Ultimately, this position leads to discomfort throughout the day and poor overall sleep quality.
Ideally, the best sleep position is one that promotes healthy spinal alignment from your hips to your head.
Sleep Position and Personality.
We all sleep differently, and most people would assume we choose a position that feels most comfortable, but there may be more to it than just comfort. Some sleep psychologists and experts have suggested that personality can factor into sleep positions and offer insight into our traits and behaviors.
A survey of around 1,000 British adults, conducted by professor and sleep expert Chris Idzikowski, aimed to uncover any links between sleep position and personality. He then used these results to draw connections between common sleep positions and personality traits.
Here are a few of his findings:
- The fetal position is the most common, and even more common for women. This position may link to shyness and sensitivity.
- Side-sleepers may be more open-natured, suspicious, and decisive.
- Stomach sleepers may be more sociable and express a dislike of criticism.
Given this, we’d like to reiterate that surveys aren’t the same as controlled trials and scientific studies, and there is no proven link between sleep and personality.
In conclusion, while sleeping on your stomach may not be inherently bad, finding a more comfortable position may save you from unnecessary neck and back pains.
Getting a mattress that supports your spinal alignment will do far more to help than the position you sleep in. MLILY is honored to have the endorsement of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA). Through a series of tests, the ICA confirmed that all MLILY sleep products allow for proper spinal position while also supporting the body as a whole throughout the night.