Males (especially those aged under 35) tend to be most restless, with more position shifts, and arm, thigh, and upper-back movements during the night. One study of 664 sleepers found, on average, that participants spent about 54% of their time in bed sleeping on their side, about 37% on their back, and about 7% on their front. In most cases, we tend to move around quite a lot during the night. Manage Preferencesįrom RTÉ Radio 1's Today With Claire Byrne, behavioural neuroscientist Andrew Coogan from Maynooth University on how much sleep is enough Please review their details and accept them to load the content. We need your consent to load this rte-player content We use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. This is good to hear, as those who lie on their backs are more likely to be poor sleepers or have breathing difficulties during the night. Most people prefer to sleep on their side. Even though sleep may be, as one researcher put it, "the only major behaviour in search of a function", it clearly does matter for our health and wellbeing.īut are we doing it right? What does the research say about sleeping position? Is there a correct position to sleep in? This should be done at least once or twice a year.Analysis: here's what decades of research into how we sleep has to say about these vital issuesīy Christian Moro, Bond University and Charlotte Phelps, Bond UniversityĪfter 50 years of research, eminent Stanford University sleep researcher William Dement reportedly said the only solid explanation he knows for why we sleep is "because we get sleepy". Rotating the mattress can help with its longevity and improve comfort. If your bed is sagging, has lost its firmness, develops noisy springs, or shows clear signs of wear and tear, consider changing your mattress. During sleep, your body will keep track of any pain or discomfort and adjust position accordingly (Photo: OsakaWayne Studios/Getty/Wayne Wilson) With everyone sleeping differently, this would be hard to compare over the long term. Unfortunately, science has not given us an answer on what is the optimal mattress. A U-shaped pillow may help you have a longer night’s sleep, and a roll-shaped pillow can reduce morning pain and bedtime pain in those suffering from chronic pain. Instead, the shape and the height is what matters. Promisingly, the pillow material does not appear to affect the spine. My vegetarianism never made sense to my grandma – since her death, I’ve given it up 29 September, 2022 There is still a female orgasm gap because women are taught to feel shame 30 September, 2022 Why you should make friends with people from different generations 29 September, 2022 What pillow should I choose?Ĭhoosing the right pillow is vital for a good night’s sleep.Ī lack of support for the head and neck during sleep has been found to severely impact spine alignment, and cause muscle problems such as neck pain, shoulder pain and muscle stiffness. Nonetheless, although some forms of side-sleeping may cause a bit of load on the spine, it appears the side positions, in general, are still better than the other options. In one study, people who rested in a position where there is a rotation of the spine (such as the unsupported side position), woke up with more pain in the morning. Ideally, we can find a position that helps us get a good night’s sleep, and one that avoids us waking up in any pain.Įven with our chosen position, some layouts are better than others. Your age, weight, environment, activities and whether you’re pregnant, all play a role in which sleep position is best for your body. There is no quality research providing clear evidence for an “optimal sleep position”. If you find you can’t move because your partner, or dog, is taking up too much room in the bed, consider switching sides, or getting a larger bed.Īnd don’t tuck yourself in too tightly give yourself some room to move around on either side.īeing comfortable is key. This is why we usually avoid developing bedsores (or pressure ulcers) in everyday life. One study of 664 sleepers found, on average, that participants spent about 54 per cent of their time in bed sleeping on their side (Photo: Neil Davis/Getty)ĭuring sleep, your body will keep track of any pain or discomfort and adjust position accordingly.
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