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Chronicle Live
Health
Catherine Addison-Swan

Expert's 'worst' sleeping position warning as simple mistake can cause back pain

We all know the benefits that getting a good night's sleep can have on our health - but we all have different methods when it comes to nodding off, from memory foam and eye masks to pillow mists and soothing waterfall playlists.

Many of us differ when it comes to the position we sleep in, too - but there is a wrong way to snuggle down under the duvet, according to a sleep expert, and it's bad news for anyone out there who sleeps on their stomach. James Leinhardt, founder of pillow and mattress brand Levitex, took to the brand's TikTok page to explain the impact that sleeping on your stomach can have on your body.

Demonstrating the position by lying on his stomach, James said: "This is the worst ever sleeping position. You're rotating your neck, you're twisting it. You're putting your head up.

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"You're fighting all the natural curves of your spine. You're compressing your vertebrae. You're getting pins and needles, neck pain, back pain, and you still do it every night. Why? It's not comfy - it's just what your body is familiar with," he added.

The clip quickly went viral on the social media platform, amassing over 55 million views. However, not everyone welcomed the news that their favourite sleeping position wasn't doing their body any favours.

"It's the only position I can sleep in," one person said of lying on their stomach in bed, while someone else protested: "It looks so comfy though."

A third TikTok viewer said: "That [position] looks fantastic to me - and I would rather sleep like that than not sleep at all." And a different sleeper said: "Believe me, I've tried to sleep other ways but I just can't."

James protested in response to the comments: "Guys, I'm really not trying to upset you or ruin your sleep. I'm trying to improve the quality of your sleep."

He elaborated: "When you go to sleep, this is the only position you're familiar with that lets you get there - but the second you fall asleep, you start to toss and turn and wriggle around because you're uncomfortable. It's not comfy, it's just familiarity."

The expert advised in a follow-up video that sleeping with a pillow between your knees and ankles at night helps to "support and stabilise" your hips, and prevents you from swinging one leg over the other. Additionally, James recommended hugging a pillow for 30 minutes when you go to bed can help to prevent you from rolling into the so-called "car crash" stomach position.

James also said it's important that your pillow fills the space between the tip of your ear and the tip of your shoulder. According to Levitex, the "ideal sleep posture" is one that achieves neutral spine alignment and requires the least tension - this is easiest to achieve by sleeping on your side in a semi-foetal position.

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