Ever wondered how to pick the best pillow?
Everyone needs a good one!
Whether crashing on a friend’s couch, sleeping on a budget hotel bed, or using the same pillow you’ve had since college, we have all experienced the effects of a bad night’s sleep.
But if you’re consistently waking up with more neck issues or headaches than you went to bed with, or you’re waking less rested, then there is likely an issue with your neck or it might be time to find the best pillow for you.
How to pick the best pillow
Ultimately, I can’t really tell you what the BEST pillow for you is. There are so many options but here are some guidelines on how to choose a good pillow:
- Your pillow should be big enough to fill any gap between your shoulders and the bed so that the spine is nicely supported and the muscles are relaxed.
- Your neck should be in a straight neutral position if you sleep on your side and relatively flat or angled slightly up if you are on your back.
- If the pillow istoo large it will push your neck forward too far and could strain your spine.
- If the pillow is too small it might not support the neck enough and the muscles could tighten up trying to lend support. This is going to give you a stiff neck.
- In general, you should use one pillow and if you prefer sleeping on your side it should be larger to support the larger gap between your neck, shoulders and the mattress.
What pillow do we recommend
The pillow we carry in our office is the Chiroflow Professional Premium Waterbase Pillow.
I know, the name is a mouthful.
We carry it because the waterbase design allows you to customize the pillow to your comfort level. Whether that’s soft, medium or firm, by simply adding and removing water.
Another pillow I like is the Killapilla. It’s made in Australia, where I used to live.
The price tag is quite a bit higher but it was designed by a chiropractor to be spinally supportive. You can also customize the neck support to reduce tension on the spinal cord.
I love it because it is constructed from all natural and organic materials. These don’t outgas VOC’s (chemicals that are known to be toxic) like you find in most pillows, so there’s less chemical stress during sleep.
Picking the best pillow for you
But even with reviews and recommendations your pillow is a personal thing that has to fit your body and you have to do some research on your own and test a few options. You’re going to spend more time sleeping on your pillow than you will driving in your car. You should test drive your pillow just like you would a car.
Go to department and bedding stores. They’re the best because they have pillows laid out for you to try and experience.
You spend 6-8 hours a day on your pillow, so make sure it’s the right one for you. If it isn’t, invest in yourself by getting a good pillow.
If you find that NO pillow seems to help, it is likely that your neck is what needs the investment….we can help with that.
What are you looking for in a pillow?
Have you found the best pillow for you?
Let us know.
Dr. Derek Gallant
Dr. Derek Gallant has committed himself to helping others live the best life possible. After graduating from Wesleyan University, he received his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Life Chiropractic College West where he finished 2nd in his class. He is the owner of Beverly Family Chiropractic and co-founder of The Well Family Foundation. Dr. Gallant is certified through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) in the Webster technique, an analysis focused on assisting pregnant women in a healthy pregnancy and natural birth. He has inspired thousands of people to take control of their own health using the Life By Design method. Apart from full time practice you can find Derek at the parks and coffee shops around Beverly with his family, training hard at the gym, or at the beach surfing.