• How Does A Hunchback Sleep?

    Having a hunchback is becoming more common so one might wonder — how does a hunchback sleep? Having a hunched back affects people in different ways, one being the ability to sleep comfortably. The bump on the back of the neck can make it difficult to lie flat on your back, while sleeping sideways can further exacerbate the condition by making the rounded back more prominent. Usually, sleeping on your back is the best position but can cause problems if you suffer from a hunchback or back pains.

    Sleeping on your back
    Sleeping on your back when you have a hunchback can be made easier by positioning the pillow under the head and neck, not under the shoulders. This allows your head to tilt in the correct position and allows the neck joints to relax. It is also advisable to sleep with a pillow under the knees to relieve pressure on the back while encouraging back lengthening.

    Sleeping on your side
    Sleeping on your side also has its pros and cons. By placing a pillow lengthwise between your legs, your spine will not rotate or bend sideways. It also stops one from assuming the fetal position which is harmful to the lower back. People with hunchbacks might find it uncomfortable to sleep on their backs due to pressure placed on the hump. Sometimes the only option is to sleep on your stomach on a body pillow and a normal pillow under the head. It is not advised to sleep flat on your stomach as you force the spine into a 90-degree angle which puts stress on the lower back.

    Sleep on a firm mattress
    It is also important to sleep on a firm mattress. Sleeping in an overly soft or firm mattress is harmful as the spine is forced to over adjust to the contours of the mattress. A mattress that’s too soft leads to lower back pain due to a lack of proper support. The spine is not aligned and stress is placed on the muscles, ligaments and spinal joints. A mattress that’s too hard places pressure on the back which leads to pain at those points. A hunchback needs proper support but not too much pressure so a medium-firm mattress is probably best.

    Use of neck pillow
    Using a neck pillow is also helpful to allow a hunchback to sleep more comfortably. There are traction pillows in the market which gently stretch the neck at night, releasing tension around the hunchback. The contours in the pillow work with the natural curvature of the cervical spine providing comfort when sleeping with a hunchback.

    Sleep with a brace
    Sleeping with a brace can reduce the pressure placed on the hunchback and works to reduce the size of the hunchback over time. The stiff bars in the brace apply external pressure that straighten curves in the spine and mould it to proper alignment.

    Sleeping in position which elongates your spine generally releases tension and pressure on a hunchback, so whichever position is most comfortable, make sure the spine is naturally curved and the neck loose and flexible. Although there is no specific science as to how does a hunchback sleep, there are methods to make sleep more pleasurable.

    December 18, 2014 / Tracey / Comments Off on How Does A Hunchback Sleep?

    Categories: Health

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