Julien's Journal September 2016 (Volume 41, Number 9) | Page 43

SEPTEMBER 2016
Where there is anterior head carriage, for
every inch we deviate from this ideal gravity
line, there is 25 pounds worth of stretch on
the spinal cord. This stretch on the spinal
cord interferes with the transmission of
wellness messages from the brain to the
body and back again. This is why people
with posture deformities are often tired and
why they have so much more energy after
an adjustment.
If you are a side sleeper or, even worse, a
stomach sleeper, sleeping on your back may
seem impossible.

Just as one can change eating habits, exercise habits, and smoking habits, changing
sleeping habits is very much possible. A
method of autosuggestion has been very
effective for many in my practice. This very
simple method involves telling yourself before you go to bed at night, “If I go onto my
side or stomach tonight I will wake up and
roll onto my back.” Before long you will have
created a new habit and back sleeping will
be comfortable.
Other ways to aid this transition is to sleep
with a small pillow under the knees (not
appropriate for certain kinds of musculoskeletal issues, but okay for most) and a
heavy quilt or regular pillow on top of your
body. This helps with the vulnerability some
feel sleeping with their stomachs exposed.
If you absolutely must sleep on your side,
pillows should be properly fitted so that the
head and neck remain neutral and do not
bend either down or up and shoulders are
squared not collapsed.

Most pillows are not constructed for side
sleeping. Some die hard side sleepers find
support with Therapeutica pillows, which
are sold by some chiropractors. These are
most effective when a person is properly
measured and fitted. While picking an ideal
pillow is a personal experience, it should
be an informed decision, balancing comfort
with a choice that supports spinal health.

If you’ve had poor sleep habits for a while,
know that your posture does not line up
with the gravity line mentioned above, or is
asymmetrical in any way, changing your pillow and sleep habits alone will not correct
this posture and spinal distortion. To correct
the damage already done you will need to
consult with a corrective chiropractor. But
changing your sleep habits may prevent
them from getting worse. Teaching our children and teenagers about the importance
of proper sleep habits is another aspect of
preventative healthcare. If you are having
challenges in changing your sleep habits,
consult a chiropractor or other practitioner
with experience in such matters. v

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