Hi, this Andrew Arnold, Chiropractor, Cranbourne Family Chiropractic and Wellness Ctr. and today I’m talking about shoulder pain during sleep.
The good news is there is a solution.
It’s true the shoulder is a complex joint. In fact, it comprises 4 joints and 17 muscles all acting on it.
Any one of these structures including ligaments and other joint related structures cannot work properly.
So, here’s a question?
How old is your mattress? If it’s more than 7 years and you didn’t pay much for it in the first place, then it’s likely a mattress problem. An ill-fitting pillow is a close second.
A properly fitted mattress should be zoned. This means there are parts of your anatomy that need to more and less padding. The shoulders and hips need less padding, the mid-section and legs need more. This is because your shoulders need to fall into the mattress further to avoid compression. Your pillow must also be the right height, i.e. your head must be in line with your spine.
If your shoulder is compressed your collar bone will compress at the sternal joint. The small disc at this joint then becomes dysfunctional, i.e. altered joint movement and this then causes a chain reaction with the rest of the shoulder creating pain and discomfort when sleeping.
As Chiropractors we are helping restore proper joint function at this joint all the time however, if you’re mattress and pillow are not right it becomes a vicious cycle.
The final step is specific exercises to help keep your shoulder moving well.
Talk to your Chiropractor or our partner Regal Sleep Solutions for more information.
About the Author:
Dr. Andrew Arnold is a Chiropractor at Cranbourne Family Chiropractic and Wellness Centre.