Figuring out the causes of back pain and how sleeping could be the cause?

Let’s talk about it!

We spend one-third of our 24-hour cycle sleeping, which makes us certain that this past time should always be comfortable and pain-free. And yet, so many people still wake up in the morning with terrible aches in pains that they just can’t shake.

How is it possible that when we are in our most relaxed state, we are doing some kind of harm to ourselves?

You’d be surprised by the answer.

There are a handful of reasons that you could be waking up with a sore back. In fact, you might even be partaking in more than one of them!

Qualified chiropractors in Tampa Florida see it all the time; hundreds upon thousands of people come in for back pain treatment.

The good news, is that there are solutions for your ailments. The following are the 5 reasons you’re waking up with a sore back, as well as solutions to help reverse the pain.

1) Sleeping On Your Stomach

We all have our sleep position preferences, but some of us are doing more harm than good. That’s because back pain is often caused by forcing the spine out of its natural curve, and this is common when people sleep on their stomach.

Stomach sleepers are putting their spine into an awkward position, and keeping it there for up to 8 hours at a time. Not only can this be a cause for a sore back, but it can also cause soreness in the neck and potential headaches.

Solution: Even if you’ve always slept on your stomach, now is the time to change that. To make the transition easier, utilize a pillow. When you’re on your side, put a pillow between your knees.

If you’re sleeping on your back, place a pillow underneath your knees instead. This will help to keep the spine in a more natural, curved position, and help to relieve that additional stress you’ve been putting on it.

2) Quality of Your Mattress

When you invest in a quality mattress, you’re investing in your health. That’s because the right mattress will support your back, as opposed to making it impossible for you to get comfortable or fall into a natural position.

It is suggested to look for a mattress that is medium-firm, so that you’re not sleeping on anything that is too hard or too soft. A hard mattress will make you stiff, and a soft mattress will bend your spinal curve more than it needs.

Solution: Test out multiple mattresses in-store, and choose the one that has a good balance between hard and soft. Additionally, you might try looking for eco-friendly mattress options, which can provide odor and chemical-free support that can be good for your overall health.

3) Embracing the Day the Right Way

It’s not always easy to remember, but the way you get out of bed in the morning can actually have ramifications for the health of your back.

For a lot of us, mornings tend to make us feel a little stiff. And yet, when we rise to get out of bed, we sit up straight, twist our back, and use our back to help us get out of bed.

Even the smallest movements can cause discomfort to the back, so we need to be mindful as soon as we wake up.

Solution: Be mindful in the morning. When you’re ready to get out of bed, turn onto your side, and use your arm to push yourself into a seated position. Come to the end of the bed using your legs, instead of your back.

4) Your Pillow Choice

Believe it or not, the pillow you choose to sleep with can have a negative effect on your back. That’s because a pillow that isn’t properly supporting your neck can cause you to strain your neck and shoulder muscles.

As a result, your back is forced into a tight and uncomfortable position, which can worsen over time. Keep in mind, your spine often suffers when other parts of your body are suffering, and giving your back time to rest properly is very important.

Solution: To keep your spine aligned and straight while you sleep, an orthopedic pillow can help. This particular pillow style helps to correct the placement of the neck and spine when lying in bed or on any other surface.

5) Existing Illnesses

The spine is often the truth-teller of existing illnesses in your body. Even if you sleep on a supportive mattress and use orthopedic pillows, some illnesses can cause lower back pain.

Some of these illnesses include:

• Vitamin D Deficiency (Osteomalacia): Aching back bones can be a sign of low vitamin D
• Fibromyalgia: A neurological disorder that can cause pain all over the body
• Chronic low-grade inflammation: This kind of problem can worsen with age if not treated

Solution: If you’ve tried everything to assist your back during sleep, then another unknown illness could be the cause of your discomfort. If this pertains to you, consider seeing your doctor to get to the bottom of your back pain woes.

Back in Business

We rely on our backs to help us with a whole slew of processes, including our balance, our strength, and our posture. Unfortunately, we rarely give our backs the love that they deserve for all that hard work.

Even if you’re not experiencing back pain, it’s a great idea to practice daily back health.

This includes warming up before activities, stretching, and strengthening the abdominal area to avoid unnecessary injuries. An active lifestyle can also help to keep the back limber so that when you wake up in the morning you feel strong, and ready to go!

About the author: This article was written by Jennifer Bennet from Santa Cruz Natural Mattress.