Expert reveals the worst sleeping position – and how to stop doing it
An expert has revealed the worst position for sleeping, and how you can correct it.
James Leinhardt, founder of pillow and mattress brand Levitex Sleep, said sleeping on your stomach with your leg raised to the side is the worst position you can sleep in.
“This is the worst ever sleeping position,” Leinhardt said as he demonstrated the position in a TikTok video that has been viewed over 53.9 million times.
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“You’re rotating your neck, you’re twisting it. [The way you position your head] is fighting all the natural curves of your spine, you’re compressing your vertebrae,” he explained.
“You’re getting pins and needles, neck pain, back pain, and you still do it every night, why? It’s not comfy, it’s what you’re familiar with, it’s what your body is used to.”
According to a recent YouGov survey, just 8% of Brits say they sleep on their stomach. A quarter (27%) sleep on their right side, while 23% sleep on their left side, and 7% sleep on their back.
If you are a front sleeper and want to transition out of this position, Leinhardt advised trying to sleep on your side with pillows to act as support.
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“You want a pillow between the tip of your ear and the tip of your shoulder, one that fills that space,” he said in a separate video viewed over five million times.
“You’re going to put a pillow between your knees and ankles, that’s going to support and stabilise the hip and keep you feeling safer, and you’re less likely to bring that leg over.”
He then recommends hugging another pillow with your arms to release weight from your shoulder, as this again makes you more stable and less likely to roll over.
“Try this for half an hour. If you don’t like it, if it doesn’t work out, go back to that car crash of a sleeping position,” he joked.
TikTok users were quick to comment on the video, with one user stating: “It's comfy in the beginning. Morning is full of regrets though.”
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“My favourite position, but I started getting intense and painful knee cramps during sleep. Had to change positions,” another added.
According to the NHS, sleeping on your side or back is most recommended as these positions allow your spine to stay as straight as possible.
It recommends using just one or two pillows to support the neck, and to avoid sleeping on your stomach as this can place “great strain” on your neck.
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