“How should I sleep with scoliosis?”
I am a 23 year old female and I have scoliosis. How should I sleep with scoliosis?
10 Answers
Side sleep. Get a large longer pillow to cuddle with. (Sorry hubby)
With the high side of the curve up.
If you are a side sleeper, put a thin pillow between your knees to avoid over rotation while you rest. Otherwise, sleep however makes you comfortable while doing best to avoid flat on belly extension sleeping.
Hope I helped.
Got your back!
Dr. Todd Gewant
Hope I helped.
Got your back!
Dr. Todd Gewant
I definitely look for a really nice mattress that is both soft but supportive to your spine. It’s likely that sleeping on your back will be the most comfortable for you. One size doesn’t fit all, but that’s what I would suggest to start with.
Hello,
It depends on if you have pain or not associated with the scoliosis. The easy answer to that would be whichever position is pain free. I believe side position is the best since it offloads the spine the most. I know many scoliosis patients who prefer laying on their backs. But again, it’s going to be based on comfort levels and if you had to pick one, side sleep position. Make sure your pillow provides ample support for the head and neck too.
Vishal K. Verma, DC, CCSP
It depends on if you have pain or not associated with the scoliosis. The easy answer to that would be whichever position is pain free. I believe side position is the best since it offloads the spine the most. I know many scoliosis patients who prefer laying on their backs. But again, it’s going to be based on comfort levels and if you had to pick one, side sleep position. Make sure your pillow provides ample support for the head and neck too.
Vishal K. Verma, DC, CCSP
There is no best way to sleep with scoliosis. Without seeing your X-rays, I would say as a broad statement, you want your spine to be supported on your back, but again, it will be different for each patient.
Dr. Josh Barton
Dr. Josh Barton
Thank you for this question. The short answer is whatever is most comfortable. More importantly, you need to know—and perform—endurance and stability exercises for your spine’s supportive muscles.
I’d start with half side planks as ling as they don’t cause pain or additional pain (if you are already in pain). It’s likely that you will be stronger on one side than the other as you have structural asymmetry that is a part of scoliosis.
However, you can achieve FUNCTIONAL symmetry in the frontal plane (i.e. in the spine’s lateral benders) by doing endurance/stability exercises such as side planks.
Just start. Keep it easy, and stop if any exercise causes pain. See a sports chiropractor who does in-office therapeutic exercise.
Sleep well!
I’d start with half side planks as ling as they don’t cause pain or additional pain (if you are already in pain). It’s likely that you will be stronger on one side than the other as you have structural asymmetry that is a part of scoliosis.
However, you can achieve FUNCTIONAL symmetry in the frontal plane (i.e. in the spine’s lateral benders) by doing endurance/stability exercises such as side planks.
Just start. Keep it easy, and stop if any exercise causes pain. See a sports chiropractor who does in-office therapeutic exercise.
Sleep well!
With Scoliosis, sleeping on your side that is opposite of your spinal curve is the best.
Convex side down.
Whichever way is the most comfortable is the best way to sleep. Ideally if you know which direction your spine is curved, you would sleep in a position that straightens the spine, i.e. on the left or the right side, propping up pillows under the legs, etc.
