UBC News

Why Do Women Have Neck Pain? (And What Actually Helps Busy Moms)

Episode Summary

Discover what causes neck pain from sleeping and learn practical tips busy moms can use at home for relief. Apply simple solutions that fit your schedule. Visit https://neck-cloud.com/products/neck-cloud for more info.

Episode Notes

You wake up before your alarm, and the first thing you notice is that familiar ache in your neck. Again. Between managing kids, household tasks, and everything else, the last thing you need is to start your day already in pain. But for many busy mothers, neck pain from sleeping has become an unwelcome morning routine. The good news? You don't need hours of free time or expensive treatments to fix it. With a few simple adjustments, you can wake up feeling better and ready to tackle mom life. So why does your neck hurt after sleeping? Your neck works hard all day supporting your head, which weighs about ten to twelve pounds. When you sleep, your neck should rest in a neutral position. But if your pillow is too high, too flat, or the wrong shape, your neck stays bent in awkward angles for hours, straining the muscles, tendons, and discs in your cervical spine. Add in motherhood demands like lifting kids, carrying car seats, and hunching over to help with homework, and your neck is already stressed before you even hit the pillow. Researchers studied five hundred fifty-five adults with neck pain and discovered something important. Proper neck support made a measurable difference. People reported less pain, woke up with fewer symptoms, and could do daily activities more easily. The key finding? The height and shape of the support mattered more than the type or brand. Your neck needs support that fits your specific curve. So what are some quick fixes you can try tonight? First, check your pillow height. If you sleep on your side, your pillow should fill the space between your neck and mattress so your head stays level with your spine. If you sleep on your back, you need less height. If your current pillow doesn't work, fold a towel to the right height and test what feels best. Second, avoid stomach sleeping. This forces you to turn your head to one side for hours. If you're a stomach sleeper, try placing a pillow under your hips to gradually shift to side sleeping. Third, support your whole spine. If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your knees. This keeps your spine aligned and prevents twisting that pulls on the neck. Fourth, create a wind-down routine. Even five minutes of gentle neck stretches before bed helps. Slowly tilt your head toward one shoulder and hold for ten seconds, then switch sides. Turn your head to look over each shoulder. Roll your shoulders backward five times. These stretches take less time than brushing your teeth but make a real difference. And finally, use a rolled towel. Roll a small towel and place it under your neck while you sleep on your back. This supports the natural curve of your cervical spine. Now, what about solutions for busy moms who can't spend an hour at the chiropractor every week? You need solutions that fit into the few minutes you have while kids are napping or after bedtime. Cervical traction gently stretches your neck to relieve pressure on compressed discs and pinched nerves. Chiropractors and physical therapists have used traction for decades because it works. Research shows it reduces pain, improves mobility, and helps tissue heal by increasing blood flow. You can get traction benefits at home. Simple cervical traction devices let you lie down for ten minutes while the device gently stretches your neck. These devices typically combine traction with acupressure to release muscle tension at the base of the skull. The key is consistency. Using a traction device for ten minutes a day helps reverse damage from poor posture and sleep positions over time. You can use it during screen time, while listening to a podcast, or right before bed. What should you look for? Adjustability matters because everyone's neck is different. Look for options that let you modify the height or intensity. Comfort is non-negotiable. The right support should feel like relief, not torture. And portability helps with consistency. Your nighttime neck pain often starts with what you do during the day. When lifting your child, squat down and lift with your legs. When texting, hold your phone at eye level. When nursing, use pillows to bring your baby up instead of hunching forward. These small adjustments mean less tension accumulating by bedtime. When does professional help make sense? See a doctor if you experience numbness or tingling in your arms, severe headaches with neck pain, symptoms that started after an injury, or pain that gets worse despite trying home remedies. So how do you make it stick? Start with one adjustment. Maybe it's setting a reminder to do thirty seconds of neck stretches before bed. Maybe it's rolling a towel to support your neck tonight. Pick the easiest change and do it consistently for two weeks. If home remedies aren't enough, cervical traction devices offer a middle ground between doing nothing and scheduling regular appointments. These tools typically require just ten minutes a day and can be used during nap time or while the kids watch a show. Your neck pain from sleeping doesn't have to be permanent. With the right support and a few practical adjustments, you can wake up feeling ready for your day. Even in the middle of busy mom life, ten minutes for your neck health is time well spent. Click the link in the description to learn more. The Neck Cloud City: Sheridan Address: 30 North Gould Street Website: https://neck-cloud.com