Sleeping Without A Pillow.

[flobadob]

I recently read that sleeping at night without a pillow strengthens your back and neck. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this? Also then would it help to start doing it now after years of using a pillow, though not a very high pillow in my case.

[janbee]

I don't know whether or not it's true but I don't like pillows anyway and quite often turf the pillows on the floor. I have yet to find such a thing as a comfy pillow. I much prefer sleeping without.

[woofgang]

I cant see why it would. If it makes you use your back and neck muscles all night which is the only way to strengthen muscle, that's hardly going to lead to a good night's sleep. Do what makes you comfortable and gives you good quality rest.

[ummmm]

I don't know if there is any truth in it but I can't see it being true. I would have thought a pillow supported the neck.

I suppose it depends what position you sleep in.

[Sqad]

Depends:

I suppose if one is young, or even middle aged and healthy, then sleeping with a pillow may well strengthen the muscles of the back and neck.

However, if you are 60 + years of age other factors come into play which may suggest that sleeping with no pillows is a BAD thing.

Wear and tear of the cervical spine may lead to pain and indeed reduced blood supply to the brain if one sleeps flat.

The more important consideration for the "elderly" would be a compromise of the heart leading to heart failure, particularly if one had diabetes , high blood pressure or a degree of heart incompetence.

So YES and NO.

[anneasquith]

I use 3.

[Old_Geezer]

I think it more likely to give you a pain in the neck all morning every morning.

I was advised to use more pillows, not fewer, to combat acid reflux in the night.

[mastercraft]

I don't use a pillow when sleeping on my back or my front, but find it essential when sleeping on my side.
If, like me, you are used to using a pillow whilst sleeping on your side, going without, will almost certainly result in a 'crooked' neck.

[ac123]

Would find this hard to believe!

[flobadob]

Tried it for a while but back using a thin pillow again now. Didn't notice much benefit.