Is it true that sleeping on the floor can solve back pain?

You may have often been forbidden by your parents to lie on the floor for fear of catching a cold. But in fact, sleeping on the floor can be an effective yet inexpensive way to relieve back pain.

Sleeping on the floor helps with back pain

Quoting Women's Health, Jennifer L. Solomon, M.D., a physiotherapist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, United States, says that lying on the floor can be a short-term solution to relieve back pain.

Back pain is generally caused by poor posture or lack of movement. This habit will continue to put a great deal of stress on the spine, muscles, and joints which will thereby alter the normal curvature of the spine. As a result, aches and pains appear in your back area.

Well, lying on a flat and hard floor surface is believed to help improve spinal alignment.

Even so, this method may have different effects on each person, said Jennifer. Some people may feel more comfortable sleeping on the floor, while others find sleeping on a soft mattress to be more effective in relieving their pain.

The best way to decide which sleeping surface is right for your back pain is to try it yourself. That way you will find out which one is best for your bones.

Tips for sleeping on the floor for back pain relief

Sleeping on the floor is a great way to help stretch the muscles and joints in your back.

Here are some simple tips for getting the most out if you want to try lying on the floor to heal your back:

• Choose a completely flat floor surface.
• Lie down with your legs straight. If you can't, place a pillow under your knees.
• Extend your hands to the sides with palms pointing upwards
• Close your eyes and focus on all body contact on the floor
• Inhale and exhale deeply, slowly.
• Spend five to seven minutes in this position.

Back pain cannot be relieved just by lying down

If you feel uncomfortable sleeping on the floor, you can sleep lying on your back on the mattress with a pillow behind your knees to achieve proper spinal alignment. Or if you prefer to sleep on your side, slide a bolster between your knees.

When sleeping at night, don't use a head pillow that is too high as this can cause neck pain that radiates to your back. Also, don't sleep on your stomach to avoid putting too much pressure on your back.

However, your sleeping location and position are not the only things that affect your spine.

"There is no one panacea for getting rid of back pain once and for all," says Jennifer. "Sleep habits are just one of many other aspects."

According to him, spinal health is also determined by how regularly you exercise, how well you eat, and how you manage daily stress.