3 Benefits of Sleeping with a Knee Pillow

Brian Acton

The most popular sleeping position for adults is on their side, and there are some major benefits to sleeping this way. Side sleeping can help to promote better spinal alignment and avoid pain caused by back or stomach sleeping.  It can also reduce snoring and symptoms of heartburn.

But sleeping on your side doesn’t automatically mean your body is in the most optimal position. You may further benefit from the use of a knee pillow, which is placed between your legs to put some space between your knees.

Here are three benefits of sleeping with a knee pillow.

1. Pain Relief

If your current sleeping position is causing pain, one of the best ways to sleep is on your side with a pillow or blanket between your knees to give them some separation. Sleeping this way can reduce pressure on your back, hips, knees, and ankles. Symptoms of back pain, sciatica pain, joint pain, and more can be relieved.

2. Pregnancy Support

Experts recommend that pregnant women sleep on their sides during pregnancy because it improves circulation, avoids extra body weight from putting too much pressure on the liver (when sleeping on your left side), and promotes better posture. Putting a pillow between your knees, under your stomach, and even behind your back can set you up for comfort and help prevent you from rolling onto your back or front.

3. Proper Spinal Alignment

Using a knee pillow promotes better spinal alignment. Without one, your upper knee will rest atop your lower knee, which cause the spine to be misaligned with your hips (and put too much pressure on your hips to boot). A pillow between your knees can promote proper hip and spinal alignment and keep the spine in a natural position.

Why is this important? Sleeping with your spine properly aligned can help you to avoid developing neck pain, back pain, joint pain, and other types of pain caused by spending too much time sleeping in the wrong position.

How to Sleep with a Knee Pillow

Sleeping with a knee pillow simply involves placing a pillow between your knees as you sleep on your side. A regular pillow can work in a pinch, but you may be better off investing in an ergonomically designed knee pillow like The Original Wonder Disc™. Knee pillows are built specifically to fit the space between your legs and knees and built-in contours can help prevent your legs from slipping out of place as you sleep.

Sources:

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleeping-positions

https://www.webmd.com/baby/positioning-while-sleeping#:~:text=Experts%20recommend%20lying%20on%20your,is%20okay%2C%20left%20is%20best.