Your sleeping position plays a big role in how you feel in the morning. And if you’re a stomach sleeper, you might be more likely to experience back pain the next day—or down the line—even if you’re getting a good night’s sleep on one of the best mattresses.
Stomach sleeping can put your spine in awkward positions that can cause twisting and increased pressure on spinal joints, says Kevin Lees, D.C., Director of Chiropractic Operations, from The Joint Chiropractic, a provider of chiropractic care based in Scottsdale, AZ. The neck needs to be turned to one side or the other to facilitate proper breathing while on your stomach. “Keeping your head in this position for a long period of time can create injuries causing neck stiffness, pain, or headaches,” he says.
