7 Sleep Issues Shoulder Pillows Can Fix for Side Sleepers

Side sleeping is one of the most common sleeping positions. It promotes healthy digestion, decreases snoring, reduces acid reflux and even improves circulation. This is the reason more than 69% of Americans prefer sleeping on their sides (either left or right). But, everything has its own demerits, so does side sleeping. Side sleepers often experience discomfort around the shoulders and neck. It is because when you sleep in the same position for hours, it puts pressure on the muscles and joints, which can lead to stiffness or soreness. 

So, if you ever wake up with numbness and stiffness around the shoulders and neck, even when sleeping in a correct posture, maybe your pillow is doing the harm. This is where the role of shoulder body pillows for side sleepers comes in. Unlike regular pillows, these are designed with curves and support zones that offer relief by properly aligning the neck, cradling the shoulder, and minimizing pressure on the sensitive areas. 

But what makes these pillows so special? Let's discuss the seven major issues shoulder pillows can fix for side sleepers!

Fix 1: Shoulder Pain From Direct Pressure

When a person sleeps on the side, the whole weight is put on one shoulder. Over time, it can lead to pressure in the rotator cuff muscles and the glenohumeral joint, which causes inflammation. A shoulder body pillow for side sleepers relieves this pressure by allowing the shoulders to sink into a supportive space rather than being in an upward or flattened direction. 

• They allow your shoulder to gently conform to the mattress rather than being flattened against it.

• Reduce pressure on soft tissues such as the supraspinatus and deltoid muscles.

• Support the natural shoulder curve without pushing it upward.

Without such exceptional support, constant pressure can turn into chronic discomfort and even inflammation.

Image Source: MedCline

Fix 2: Poor Neck and Spine Alignment

Side sleepers want more height and structure from their pillow than back sleepers ever needed. When too soft or too low, a pillow bends the neck downward. When too thick, it bows upward. Both are situations of misalignment of the cervical spine.

Consequences of misalignment:

• Neck stiffness, morning sensations, and upper back tightness.

• Long-term postural problems and muscular strain.

• An increased chance of experiencing cervicogenic headaches.

Why shoulder pillows gain an edge here:

• Maintain neutral alignment throughout from head to pelvis.

• Reduce tension on intervertebral disks.

• Cradle the neck in a manner that adapts to its natural contour.

Fix 3: Numbness and Tingling Sensations in the Arm

Ever had dead-arm sensations while waking up? That uncomfortable numbness and tingling, called paresthesia, is usually caused by pressure on the brachial plexus. It is a network of nerves from the neck to the arm. Side sleepers often experience this sensation as they trap their lower arm under their head or pillows.

The best pillows for side sleepers with neck pain help distribute your weight, reducing nerve compression to a great extent. Moreover, some designs come with arm channels or cutouts so that your arm may comfortably rest without being crushed under your body.

Fix 4: Aggravation of Shoulder Injuries

If you are dealing with any condition like bursitis, frozen shoulder, or rotator cuff tears, it can get worse due to poor sleeping posture. When a person uses a standard type of pillow, the shoulder is forced into an anterior position with a little extra pressure on the injured tissues.

The dangers involved without support include:

• Increasing pain and stiffness at night.

• Interrupted healing of the injured tendons and muscles.

• Poor sleep leads to fatigue and, thus, slow recovery.

What shoulder pillows can do for you:

• Stabilize the shoulder in a neutral manner. 

• Prevent excessive rotation or inward collapse.

• Relieve pressure on the capsule and the ligaments surrounding the joint.

Fix 5. Morning Stiffness in the Neck and Tension Headaches

Many side sleepers unknowingly sleep with their neck either too high or too low. It can lead to extreme tension in the Levator scapulae and Trapezius muscles. This tension travels upward and produces a dull, throbbing pain also known as tension-type headaches. 

The right pillow for sore neck and shoulders supports the head at the right angle and gently lifts the neck to shoulder height. It allows the upper-back and neck muscles to relax more fully throughout the night.

The result: 

• Reduced tightness in the morning, fewer headaches, and much more comfortable sleep.

Image Source: MedCline

Fix 6. Disrupted Breathing with Mild Sleep Apnea

Side sleeping is typically recommended for those with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but such a recommendation works only in situations in which there is proper alignment of the head and neck. Improper elevation causes the airway to at least partially obstruct, especially if the jaw is tilted downward with the neck folded.

As per a write-up by NIH, Obstructive sleep apnea, also called OSA, happens when your upper airway becomes blocked many times while you sleep. The blockage can reduce or completely stop airflow. This is the most common type of sleep apnea.

• Shoulder body pillows for side sleepers lift the head enough for the airway to stay open, reducing snoring and allowing smoother, uninterrupted airflow. 

• This becomes very necessary for those with frequent awakenings caused by breath irregularities or poor sleep postures.

Fix 7: Tossing and Turning Because of Discomfort

If you constantly change positions at night, chances are that your pillow is not providing adequate support. Discomfort in the shoulder or neck causes you to shift, leading to broken periods of sleeping and poor-quality resting.

Problems caused by sleep movement:

• Difficulty in accessing deep sleep stages, such as REM.

• Feeling tired, not concentrating well.

• Physical tension that augments day after day.

What the shoulder pillow does:

• Minimizes pressure that leads to discomfort.

• Holds the head and neck so that one remains in one position longer.

• Improves sleep stability through superior comfort.

Conclusion

A good sleep is not just about how many hours you sleep, it's more about how your body relaxes and recovers during that period. For side sleepers, it even becomes more important as they sleep in one position the whole night, which increases the chances of neck strain and shoulder compression. A shoulder body pillow for side sleepers offers an ergonomic, medically sound solution to combat a range of sleep issues, from shoulder pain to breathing disorders. 

Looking for the best shoulder and neck pillow for side sleepers? Choose MedCline Try the MedCline Shoulder Relief System. Designed to ease chronic shoulder pain and improve sleep quality. Its patented arm pocket relieves pressure by supporting your downside arm, while the therapeutic body pillow keeps your body in a natural, comfortable position all night long. Sleep better on your left or right side without the pain.