Orthopedics is the branch of medicine that deals with correcting pain, injury, or disorders that affect the skeletal system, especially the spine and joints, and the muscular system. Though many of us would associate such injuries and disorders with movement, some of the most helpful treatments can occur when the sufferer is completely still: when they are sleeping or sitting. Though it might seem counter-intuitive, many sufferers of orthopedic conditions find sitting down and lying down to be more painful than walking.
Since such a large portion of most people’s lives are spent either sleeping or sitting, the body’s alignment and position while doing these things can have a major effect on one’s orthopedic health. These activities result in a lot of pressure falling on certain parts of the body and can cause or exacerbate orthopedic conditions. Even those who don’t experience pain while sitting or sleeping may find that the pain they experience throughout the day can be related to the way they slept. To make sure sleeping and sitting are times of true relaxation and not times of stress on your body, a wide variety of orthopedic pillows and cushions are available to meet your needs.
Proper alignment of the head,
The main goal of orthopedic sleeping pillows is to encourage proper alignment of the head, neck, and back during sleep and to provide full, even support to these areas. They are often made from dense foams, memory foam, or may also be water-filled. These materials are selected for their ability to provide more firm support than traditional pillows and even their ability to encourage the head and neck into appropriate alignment.
Though some are traditionally shaped, others are designed with special features, such as a raised bump to follow the lines of the neck more closely. An indented area for the head is sometimes provided, to encourage keeping the head still and properly aligned. Some are wedge shaped to facilitate a gradual incline to a more upright sleeping position.
Beyond the orthopedic pillows designed just for your head, a variety of other areas can be supported by orthopedic pillows as well. Knee pillows are designed to be placed between the knees for side sleepers to avoid twisting of the spine and uneven pressure on the hip. Wedge pillows to elevate the legs are also available, claiming to reduce spine pressure, address back pain, and increase circulation. Pillows to be placed around the back and hips can also be found, sometimes independently and sometimes attached to a head pillow for a larger, all-encompassing pillow meant to support and align the entire upper body.
With all of these options available, it’s important to know a few things about yourself and your needs in order to choose the correct one. A visit to a doctor to discuss and diagnose the source of any orthopedic issues can help define what area of your body needs the most attention and support. They may even be able to recommend a type of orthopedic pillow that would be best for you. When you read product descriptions of different orthopedic pillows, they often specify what area the product is designed to support or ease pain in. It’s also important to keep your sleeping position in mind. Some orthopedic pillows are specifically designed to provide support in specific positions, and others are designed to encourage you to sleep in certain positions.
Orthopedic Seat Cushions – Sit Comfortably
Besides sleeping, sitting is another everyday activity that could be painful or damaging for those suffering certain orthopedic conditions. Sitting places a lot of weight and pressure on a relatively small pressure point. Some people suffer pain directly at the sitting point, others experience back pain, and still others suffer from leg pain when sitting. Orthopedic seat cushions can reduce pressure and encourage proper posture and alignment. An orthopedic seat cushion isn’t simply designed to make the sitting area softer—it is designed to strategically remove and redistribute pressure and provide support where it’s needed most. In the same way that talking to your doctor could help you choose the right orthopedic pillow, a conversation with your doctor may also put you on the right track in searching for an orthopedic seat cushion.
Many orthopedic seat cushions are designed to take pressure off the coccyx, more commonly called the tailbone. This may be done by eliminating direct contact between the tailbone and the seating surface or by tilting the body forward to encourage proper posture, thereby distributing pressure more evenly. Some are ring-shaped, providing a buffer between the sitter and the seat while allowing for airflow. When selecting a cushion, consider any special circumstances that may help define which one you need. For example, some are designed for prolonged sitting, good for those in wheelchairs or who do a lot of seated work. If you experience pain in certain sitting situations, such as cars or hard flat surfaces, there are cushions especially for those locations. If you anticipate using your seat cushion in several different locations, you should consider the cushion’s ease of transportation, too.
Sitting and lying down should be relaxing and comfortable, not painful. Explore the world of orthopedic pillows and cushions to remove the pain and bring back the comfort to your chairs and your bed.
