What Causes Back Pain After Sleeping?

Pain in the spine can be a terrible experience since it will make simple tasks like changing posture, taking turn while sleeping or sitting up from sleep extremely difficult. Degeneration of the spine is the cause for the spinal pain. This is more prominent at night or at the time of waking up as compared to the pain experienced during the day. Those suffering from spinal pain after lying down are those who have severe problems in their postures or environment of sleep. Anxiety and stress cause tension in the muscles prompting curled up position for sleep causing pain in the shoulders, neck and back.
The primary cause for back pain is incorrect posture for sleep. The studies of the National Sleep Foundation suggest that exercising late, snacking, or consuming caffeine, alcohol or nicotine before bed time can also have adverse effects.
Mattresses that sag misalign the head, neck and spine. The other extreme of selecting very firm mattress can also cause harm. Depending on one's pattern of seep and type of body, selection of the suitable matters has to be done. A mattress which does not sag but soft is suitable for people who have narrow waist compared to their hip. Such mattresses assist in maintaining correct posture for sleep by absorbing most of the pelvic weight. Individuals having equal proportions of their waist and hip can opt for more firm but not hard mattresses.
Studies by the American Physical Therapy Association state correct posture for sleep depends on the pillow which supports the neck and curvature of the spine. Using many pillows or using pillows, which are over-stuffed, can induce back pain. Some of the materials used to stuff pillows are feather, foam or fiberfill. These break down over a period of time inducing pain in the neck and back. Pillows made by filling refillable water, foam, memory or viscoelastic material assist in maintaining correct posture. Pillows should be replaced periodically. People who are mostly back or side sleepers have thinner centre portion as compared to the ends.
Sometimes back pain gets triggered if the individual sleeps on the stomach. This posture is not recommended by the American Chiropractic Association since it lays undue stress on the natural curves of the spine, namely; cervical, lumbar and thoracic portions. Sleeping on the side can result in pain due to pelvic tilt. Sleeping on the back stresses the lumbar portion of the spine. Place a pillow between your knees while sleeping on the side or below the knees when you sleep on your back.