Pillow use: the behavior of cervical stiffness, headache and scapular/arm pain
- PMID: 21197317
- PMCID: PMC3004642
- DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s10880
Pillow use: the behavior of cervical stiffness, headache and scapular/arm pain
Abstract
Background: Pillows are intended to support the head and neck in a neutral position to minimize biomechanical stresses on cervical structures whilst sleeping. Biomechanical stresses are associated with waking cervical symptoms. This paper adds to the scant body of research investigating whether different pillow types produce different types and frequencies of waking symptoms in asymptomatic subjects.
Methods: A random-allocation block-design blinded field trial was conducted in a large South Australian regional town. Subjects were side-sleepers using one pillow only, and not receiving treatment for cervicothoracic problems. Waking cervical stiffness, headache and scapular/arm pain were recorded daily. Five experimental pillows (polyester, foam regular, foam contour, feather, and latex) were each trialed for a week. Subjects' 'own' pillow was the control (a baseline week, and a washout week between each experimental pillow trial week). Subjects reported waking symptoms related to known factors (other than the pillow), and subjects could 'drop out' of any trial pillow week.
Results: Disturbed sleep unrelated to the pillow was common. Waking symptoms occurring at least once in the baseline week were reported by approximately 20% of the subjects on their 'own' pillow. The feather trial pillow performed least well, producing the highest frequency of waking symptoms, while the latex pillow performed best. The greatest number of 'drop outs' occurred on the feather pillow. The foam contour pillow performed no better than the foam regular pillow.
Conclusion: 'Own' pillows did not guarantee symptom-free waking, and thus were a questionable control. The trial pillows had different waking symptom profiles. Latex pillows can be recommended over any other type for control of waking headache and scapular/arm pain.
Keywords: arm pain; cervical stiffness; headache; pillow type.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Pillow use: the behaviour of cervical pain, sleep quality and pillow comfort in side sleepers.Man Ther. 2009 Dec;14(6):671-8. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2009.02.006. Epub 2009 May 7. Man Ther. 2009. PMID: 19427257
-
Pillow preferences of people with neck pain and known spinal degeneration: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2019 Dec;55(6):783-791. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.19.05263-8. Epub 2019 Sep 4. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2019. PMID: 31489809 Clinical Trial.
-
Your Pillow May Not Guarantee a Good Night's Sleep or Symptom-Free Waking.Physiother Can. 2011 Spring;63(2):183-90. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2010-13. Epub 2011 Apr 13. Physiother Can. 2011. PMID: 22379258 Free PMC article.
-
The effects of pillow designs on neck pain, waking symptoms, neck disability, sleep quality and spinal alignment in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2021 May;85:105353. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2021.105353. Epub 2021 Apr 19. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2021. PMID: 33895703 Review.
-
Ergonomic Consideration in Pillow Height Determinants and Evaluation.Healthcare (Basel). 2021 Oct 7;9(10):1333. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9101333. Healthcare (Basel). 2021. PMID: 34683013 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Changes in neck pain and somatic symptoms before and after the adjustment of the pillow height.J Phys Ther Sci. 2023 Feb;35(2):106-113. doi: 10.1589/jpts.35.106. Epub 2023 Feb 1. J Phys Ther Sci. 2023. PMID: 36744195 Free PMC article.
-
Examining relationships between sleep posture, waking spinal symptoms and quality of sleep: A cross sectional study.PLoS One. 2021 Nov 30;16(11):e0260582. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260582. eCollection 2021. PLoS One. 2021. PMID: 34847195 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
The Effect of Ergonomic Latex Pillow on Head and Neck Posture and Muscle Endurance in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.J Chiropr Med. 2019 Sep;18(3):155-162. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2019.02.003. Epub 2020 Aug 21. J Chiropr Med. 2019. PMID: 32874156 Free PMC article.
-
A Survey of Koreans on Sleep Habits and Sleeping Symptoms Relating to Pillow Comfort and Support.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jan 1;17(1):302. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17010302. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020. PMID: 31906363 Free PMC article.
-
A preliminary study: The effect of ergonomic latex pillow on pain and disability in patients with cervical spondylosis.Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2018 Sep 5;32:81. doi: 10.14196/mjiri.32.81. eCollection 2018. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2018. PMID: 30643756 Free PMC article.
References
-
- McDonnell J. Sleep posture: its implications. Br J Phys Med. 1946;9:46–52. - PubMed
-
- Jackson R. The Cervical Spine. 3rd ed. Springfield, Il: Charles C. Thomas; 1976.
-
- Bland J. Disorders of the Cervical Spine. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 1987.
-
- Grieve GP. Common Vertebral Joint Problems. 2nd Edition. Edinburgh, UK: Churchill Livingston; 1988.
-
- Kramer J. Intervertebral Disk Diseases: causes, diagnosis, treatment and phophylaxis. New York, NY: Thieme Medical Publishers Inc; 1990.
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources