Experts say there is a unique sleeping position that helps relieve back and hip pain. That is, sleeping with a pillow between your legs.
This position can help relieve back and hip pain when sleeping on your side. It helps keep the pelvis and spine aligned while sleeping. Proper alignment can also help reduce stress and back pain caused by a herniated disc or sciatica.
Place a pillow between your knees when sleeping on your side to help reduce pressure on your lower back and hip joints
Benefits of sleeping with a pillow between your knees
Reduce back and hip pain. A good solution to maintain stability and reduce back and hip pain is to sleep with a pillow between your knees. This will neutralize the position of the pelvis by slightly lifting the upper leg. This helps reduce pressure on the lower back and hip joints while sleeping, leading to reduced pain in these areas while sleeping.
Reduce sciatica pain. Sleeping with a pillow between your knees can help relieve sciatica pain. It helps avoid twisting the back, rotating the spine or tilting the pelvis while sleeping - positions that can compress spinal nerves, making pain worse, according to Verywell Health.
Reduce pain caused by disc herniation. A herniated disc can put pressure on the spinal nerves, leading to significant pain and numbness.
Sleeping on your side can worsen pain from a herniated disc. However, placing a pillow between the knees can help relieve this pain by keeping the pelvis in a neutral position and preventing rotation of the spine. Sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees can also help reduce pressure on the discs.
Detect sleeping position to help reduce back and hip pain
Benefits for pregnant women. Doctors Pregnant women with hip or back pain are often advised to sleep with a pillow between their knees to reduce pain.
Keep your back neutral. Even for back sleepers, placing a pillow under the knees is still helpful. This sleeping position can help maintain the natural curve of the spine, reducing stress on the back while sleeping.
How to sleep with a pillow between your legs
Lie on your side, placing a pillow vertically between your legs. Keep your knees stacked on top of each other, with the pillow in the middle, according to Verywell Health.
