Get better sleep with an orthopedic pillow

Your body needs a good night’s sleep in order to restore itself and maintain good health.

If your sleep is often disrupted or you’re always tired in the morning, you may benefit from getting an orthopedic pillow. These pillows are designed to help with many sleep problems, such as back and neck pain, muscle stiffness, difficulty breathing, snoring, and poor blood circulation.

Orthopedic pillows differ from ordinary pillows because they are made from fiber or foam—making them firmer. Therefore, you won’t crush or reshape them while sleeping. These pillows, which are available in various shapes for a variety of body parts, are shaped to support your body in a position that will help you to sleep as soundly as possible.

Here are some of the available options:

Body pillow

This long, curved pillow provides full body support because it cradles your head, neck, shoulders, back, lower back, legs, and knees. It can help people who sleep on their side and wake up feeling stiff.

Cervical/contour pillow

This pillow is ideal if you sleep on your back or side, because the pillow’s curved design shapes itself to your sleeping position. It’s also a good choice if you wake up with a stiff neck, frozen shoulders, or get headaches. It helps to keep your airways open, so use it if you have breathing problems, sleep apnea symptoms, or snore.

Knee/contour leg pillow

Place this hourglass-shaped pillow between your legs to elevate your lower body and maintain a straight-side sleeping position. It will improve circulation in your legs.

Lumbar/half-moon shaped pillow

This pillow is a good choice if you’re looking to relieve lumbar pain or back pain. It will also help you to maintain a correct sitting position. You can also put it underneath your knees to elevate your legs or use it as a neck support for relaxing or during a massage.

Neck pillow

This is a great choice for people who travel a lot. It keeps your neck straight while sleeping in an upright position and supports your neck’s natural curve. It will help to clear your breathing passages and prevent tension in your back. Shaped like a horseshoe, you just put the pillow around your neck.

Wedge pillow

This triangular-shaped pillow is used to raise your head and upper body from a horizontal position. This can help to relieve symptoms of acid reflux and GERD disease while you sleep. You can puff up the pillow to use it in an upright or downright position. When you reverse its position, it elevates your legs and feet.

Karen Appold is a medical writer in Lehigh Valley, PA.