Most people look forward to waking up feeling refreshed and pain-free. But if you sleep the wrong way at night, you might deal with morning neck pain and stiffness. Fortunately, there are ways to ease discomfort and wake up feeling your best.
Make sure your pillow cradles your head. Ideally, a pillow should elevate your head about 3 inches higher than your body. This keeps the spine aligned and increases comfort while sleeping on your back or side.
Close your windows at night. Sleeping with the window open can create a comfortable nighttime breeze. But this breeze can also increase the risk of muscle stiffness, thus causing neck pain in the mornings. If you prefer sleeping in a cool room, position your bed away from open windows and air vents.
Don’t sleep on your stomach. If you’re a stomach sleeper, make a conscious effort to stay on your back or side. Sleeping on your stomach can strain your neck, resulting in discomfort.
See a doctor. It neck pain or stiffness continues despite your best efforts, make an appointment with a Tulsa chiropractor. By means of a physical examination and X-rays, a chiropractor can get to the root of the problem and recommend a treatment plan to reduce morning stiffness.
