We all strive to live a happy and healthy life, but many of us don’t realise that a huge part of this is connected to the quality of our sleep. If you’re one of those who want to graduate from compromising their rest, it’s necessary to also upgrade your bed and pillows.
One of the common causes of neck pain during sleep is the lack of proper head and neck support and improper posture during sleep.
The right pillow should support your sleeping posture and prevent neck soreness and discomfort caused by pressure. While a standard pillow may sometimes fail to provide these, all the necessary features can be found in a specialised type of pillow, the contour pillow.
But are the promises attached to a contour pillow real, or is it just another uniquely designed piece with no concrete benefit? Let’s find out in this guide.
What is a Contour Pillow?
Based on its name, a contour pillow is a type of pillow that is ergonomically designed to fit the natural shape of your neck and head, giving you tailored sleep support.
This pillow has a "dipped" design to keep your head low and supported while filling the gap between your head, neck, and shoulders with its curved design. This specialised design helps reduce the pressure exerted on your neck by your sleeping position.
With a contour pillow, you can enjoy a full night’s rest without the risk of waking up with aches and pains.
Contour pillows in Singapore are usually made of adaptive memory foam or a more breathable latex.
Benefits of Using a Contour Pillow
A contour pillow provides ergonomic support for your body during rest. Moreover, it promotes the neutral alignment of your spine, which can also prevent lower back issues.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of a contour pillow:
Superior Head and Neck Support
A good pillow should keep your head comfortable without too much or too little support that can bend your spine and hurt your neck. A contour pillow is designed to adapt to the natural shape of your head, neck, and shoulders to reduce the pressure these parts receive when lying down for prolonged periods.
When lying down on your back, a contour pillow keeps your head low to prevent your neck from being stretched out or strained while giving your neck a hugging feel. When sleeping on your side, this pillow bridges the gap between your neck and shoulders to prevent unnecessary pressure.
Cooling Comfort
Many premium contour pillows are made from latex and feature an open-cell design that allows air to circulate the pillow. This allows you to stay cool and comfortable throughout the night.
Full Body and Posture Support
It’s no secret that poor spine alignment is the cause of many issues that we have during sleep. Sleeping on a wrong or unsupportive pillow doesn’t only result in neck and head pain; it can also affect the alignment of your spine, causing soreness and pain when you wake up.
With a contour pillow, your upper body is adequately supported, and your spine alignment is maintained. This means you can enjoy a whole night’s sleep without hurting your spine.
Practical Remedy for Snoring
Aside from aches and pains, snoring is one of the most common problems sleepers face. If you’ve been dealing with snoring with your standard pillow, a contour pillow may help. Because of its ergonomic design, your head and neck are supported, and your air passages are not blocked, so you can breathe fine when sleeping.
Well-Maintained Form
Compared to many standard pillow types, a contour pillow can maintain its ergonomic form throughout the night, so you don’t have to worry about a sudden lack of support when you shift positions.
Hypoallergenic
Modern contour pillows are made from high-quality materials with anti-dust mite, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that are helpful for people with allergies and asthma. These also inhibit the growth of bacteria that usually cause acne breakouts.
Who Should Use a Contour Pillow?
A contour pillow is helpful for many sleeping positions.
For side sleepers, a contour pillow can fill the huge gap between the neck and shoulders to prevent the neck from being stretched or strained. The centre of the contour pillow is dipped down, giving the head a place to rest.
For back sleepers, a contour pillow can again provide the right amount of elevation without straining the neck. However, a contour pillow will not be your best choice if you are a stomach sleeper.
How to Sleep on a Contouring Pillow
How you can healthily sleep on a contouring pillow should depend on your sleeping position. A contour pillow is engineered with two humps of different heights to accommodate various sleeping needs.
Side Sleeping
If you are a side sleeper, make sure to use the higher hump to bridge the gap between your neck and shoulder while your head rests on the hollow part of the pillow. This can provide the maximum amount of support while accommodating your air passages to prevent snoring.
To maintain the neutral alignment of your spine, the upper ridge must be as close to your shoulder as possible, and your back must be kept in a neutral and relaxed position.
You can also try a leg contour pillow to provide extra support to your legs and calves during sleep. Placing a pillow between your legs is proven to reduce the strain your lower back receives when you sleep.
Back Sleeping
If you feel more comfortable sleeping on your back, use the lower hump of the contour pillow to let your head rest comfortably while avoiding stretching your neck. This also reduces the amount of pressure that is exerted on your lower back.
Like a new mattress, it may take some time to feel comfortable using a contour pillow, especially if you are used to sleeping on a standard pillow.
Improve Your Sleep With a Somnuz Contour Pillow
The Somnuz contour pillow is uniquely designed from breathable and durable latex to give you the best sleep support and comfort throughout the night. Say goodbye to pillow distortion and sweaty nights with its reliable features. The Somnuz latex pillow also contains natural anti-dust mite properties, making it a safe choice for various sleepers.
If you’re ready to upgrade your night’s rest, invest in a healthy sleep with the Somnuz latex pillow.