If you're waking up with neck pain in the morning, chances are you're not getting the support you need from your pillow. If you've been in our office lately, you may have noticed the product display in our front lobby. In this display are pillows — contour pillows to be more exact.  If you're tired of the pain, it's time to give one a try. Here are 4 reasons why...

1. Contour pillows help keep the neck and back correctly aligned.
Proper body alignment is essential for warding off muscle pain and relieving muscle tension headaches. Without a contour pillow, you may sleep at an odd angle, creating or making existing pain worse. By placing a contour pillow under your neck, you maintain proper alignment.

2. Contour pillows retain their shape.
Traditional pillows work fine at first, but then they flatten out and stop providing support for the head and neck. If you've ever woken at night to re-puff or re-fluff your pillows, you know what we mean. Contour pillows are made from memory foam, which has chemical properties that allow it to mold to your body. After you get up, the pillow returns to its original shape. This means that a contour pillow will provide consistent support and help prevent neck pain.

3. Contour pillows reduce snoring and can improve the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Some people snore because their airways become partially obstructed while sleeping. This obstruction is especially prevalent in people who sleep on their backs. Raising the head slightly, with a contour pillow, may prevent partial obstruction of the airway, which reduces snoring and may help prevent the episodes of interrupted breathing that occur in people with sleep apnea.

4. Contour pillows reduce pressure on the joints.
Pressure on the joints is one of the primary causes of soreness and stiffness upon waking. When joints are stiff or sore, you may have a hard time getting out of bed or starting your day. Contour pillows cushion the joints, reducing the likelihood of soreness and stiffness.

Which way do you sleep on a contour pillow?
Place the flat side of your pillow down and orient the pillow with the larger of the two curves toward the foot of your bed. This placement will provide maximum support for your head and neck, regardless of whether you sleep on your side or your back. Settle into your pillow and let your head sink in. It will feel different at first, but you'll get used to it soon enough.

If you are experiencing neck pain, we encourage you to see us for an evaluation, and we'll discuss options for pillows, treatments, etc. so you can get relief and start feeling better. Call us at Pure Life Chiropractic today to schedule an appointment. 541-343-5633

According to data gathered by Flurry Analytics, the average US consumer is spending five hours per day on their mobile devices. That’s five hours per day hunched over a screen, increasing the load that your neck must support. This strain, over time, can lead to significant pain in your neck and a long list of possible medical complications. With good posture, the human neck is designed to support the weight of your head which, on average, weighs between 10 and 12 pounds. Studies show that looking at our phones can shift the head forward and down, in turn increasing the amount of weight that the neck must support up to 60 pounds or more. It is critical to realize the potential impact that this habitual increase of pressure on our necks can have so we can make change for the better. 

Here are some tips to reduce and prevent the pain caused by increased time spent looking at mobile devices. 

Retrain yourself.
We are so used to looking down at our devices. Start training yourself to hold your device at eye level to reduce the potential health complications of using mobile devices. 

Stretch.
Posture correcting stretches will prove tremendously effective at reducing the pain caused by misalignment. Here is a link to a video that shows an example of one such stretch. 

Take a break.
Other behaviors such as reading don’t seem to have as much of an effect on the spine. Why? The answer is simple; when reading, it is common to look and move around frequently. Taking breaks and being mindful of how long you have been looking down will help reduce the chances of long-term problems. 

Exercise.
Like stretching, it is important to do exercises that will help improve posture. Especially important are exercises that improve core and shoulder strength. This article provides examples of posture-improving exercises that you can do in the comfort of your own home. 

These tips should help you develop strategies to limit the pain and long-term complications caused by mobile device usage. In addition to these tips, visit us at Pure Life Chiropractic, located in downtown Eugene! We can help by crafting personal care plans to improve posture and return your body to its natural alignment. Call to schedule your appointment today: 541-343-5633.