The best sleeping positions for shoulder pain are typically on your back or on the opposite side of the affected shoulder. Sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees or on your side with a pillow between your knees can help relieve pressure on the shoulder.
Sleeping On Your Back
For back sleepers, it's important to position a pillow or towel under one elbow. This elevates the ball and socket joint of the shoulder, providing proper anatomical support and reducing strain on the muscles, ligaments, bursae, and joint structures.
Sleeping on your side can worsen or exacerbate rotator cuff injury symptoms, including dull pain or aches in the shoulder and reduced range of motion from stiffness. Rotator cuff injury pain may cause disrupted sleep and worsening pain when using the shoulder.
We typically recommend a memory foam or hybrid mattress to people with shoulder pain. Both mattress types contain foam comfort layers, which help cradle the shoulders and relieve pressure.
The best sleeping positions for shoulder pain are typically on your back or on the opposite side of the affected shoulder. Sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees or on your side with a pillow between your knees can help relieve pressure on the shoulder.
The best mattresses for shoulder pain are typically soft to medium-firm and offer pressure-relieving contouring and support that keeps your spine aligned.
Support your shoulders – During back sleep, neck support is at least as important as head support, so the tops of your shoulders should reach your pillow. Be wary, however, of sleeping too elevated on the pillow, as any gap between your shoulders and the bed can cause back and shoulder pain.
"Sleeping on the side seems to have the least negative impact on health," Dr. Pirtle says. Side sleeping is associated with several potential health benefits. Interestingly, the side of the body a person sleeps on can affect what benefits they may receive.
In infected bursitis patients usually experience excessive warmth at the site of the inflamed bursa. They often complain of a great deal of tenderness, pain, and fever. The swelling and redness may spread away from the affected site and go up or down the arm.
Best Overall
The Saatva Latex Pillow is an excellent choice if you're looking for a pillow that cushions the shoulder while still offering great support for the neck and head. It's also very good at keeping cool at night.
Like the position above, sleeping on your back with your arms stretched above your head or under your head can help reduce pressure on your shoulder muscles, tendons, and fibers. However, this position may not be comfortable for everyone throughout the night.
Voltaren works on sprains, strains, or sports injuries, that have caused trauma to a tendon, ligament, muscle or joint in your shoulder. To be sure this product is right for you always read and follow the label. Voltaren works as they are formulated with the active ingredient Diclofenac.
Sleeping on your side is both a cause and cure for shoulder strains. An arm under your head pinches nerves, but hugging a pillow in front of your chest helps support your upper arm.
Sleeping on your front is considered unhealthy because it can inhibit breathing and cause irregular curvature of the spine. The turning of the head to one side when sleeping in this position is another cause of such a curvature.
The best sleeping position for your shoulders is on your back, with your spine in a neutral position. This position removes excess pressure and strain from your shoulders, which should be parallel and your arms down by your sides. You can also sleep in a healthy side position with your shoulders at a parallel angle.
The familiar adjustment of putting an arm underneath the pillow can usually be traced back to one primary problem – compensation for an unsupportive pillow. The person finds that their arm is more supportive than their lying surface.
Use a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel to avoid direct contact with the skin, preventing potential ice burns. Apply the ice pack to the affected shoulder for 15-20 minutes at a time, repeating every 2-3 hours during the initial 48-72 hours post-injury or during periods of heightened pain and inflammation.
If your mattress doesn't offer adequate pressure relief, the delicate shoulder areas are put under strain. Shoulder pain at night could be the result of the mattress being too soft. If your mattress is too firm it pushes against your shoulders, aggravating the symptoms further.
The firmness level of a mattress is key to personal comfort and support. It can vary widely depending on the type of mattress and personal preference. Many people with arthritis find that a medium-firm mattress offers a good blend of comfort and support.