Orthopedic pillow

Pillow talk: Is your pillow damaging your neck?

It’s all about pillows at Apex Clinic this month with the launch of the Apex Sleepwell Pillow range, designed by spinal physiotherapy specialist Rebecca Nelson. Rebecca explains how having the wrong pillow can hurt your neck, causing many neck-related symptoms, such as neck pain and headaches or migraines.

Health warning: soft or flat pillows may be damaging your neck

Did you know that a soft or flat pillow can have long-lasting, damaging effects on the neck joints, causing chronic neck, shoulder and arm pain, stiffness, pins and needles or numbness in the hands and arms, painful headaches and migraines and even vertigo or dizziness?

At Apex Clinic, we have over two decades’ experience of treating a wide variety of neck, shoulder and spinal pain. Over the years, we have seen how soft or flat pillows can lead to much more than a bad night’s sleep for our patients. We also know that a simple change in pillow really can begin the road to recovery from neck and spinal pain.

The Apex Sleepwell Pillow Range

The Apex Sleepwell Pillow is our very own range of orthopaedic pillows, uniquely designed in thickness and firmness to match the individual needs of sleepers according to their build. Each Apex Sleepwell pillow has been technologically innovated to include a latex high-density core that, unlike other pillow products on the market, runs throughout the pillow’s entire width. This central core provides the precise level of thickness and support to ensure the optimum sleeping position for a healthy neck.

For children (from seven years) and adults who are fortunate enough to have never suffered neck pain or headaches, the Apex Sleepwell Pillow is highly recommended to help prevent the onset of neck related pains, as prevention is always better than cure.

Why finding the correct angle is so important

Sleeping on a pillow that is too soft or flat causes the neck joints to be compressed and placed under excessive load by the weight of the head. The ideal neck position when lying down can be achieved by lifting the head very slightly to an approximate angle of between 30 to 45°. This opens up the neck joints and is physiologically the best sleeping position for your neck and spine.

Size matters when choosing your pillow

It is very important that the pillow you choose fits your body shape and size to ensure your neck is at the correct angle as you sleep. This is why our range includes an Apex Sleepwell Pillow for everyone.

Our four pillow types are dependent on the height/thickness of the pillow. Pillow type H1 is a children’s pillow for seven to 16 years; H2 is a pillow for teens (over 16s) and light-build adults; H3 is a pillow for average-sized people; and finally H4 is for larger builds, or simply for those whose sleeping preference is a thicker pillow.

Apex Sleepwell Pillow: get on the road to recovery

To book a slot for an initial physiotherapy assessment and treatment with pillow consultation, please call Apex Clinic on 028 9048 4153. The Apex Sleepwell Pillow range is now available for purchase on the Apex Clinic website at www.apexclinic.co.uk or by calling into the clinic.