Best Sleeping Positions for Back and Neck Pain
Waking up with a stiff neck or aching back? Here are the best sleeping positions for back and neck pain — plus the pillow setup that keeps your spine supported all night.
Use the Form Below to Get Them All Sent to You for FREE
When you have a lack of stability and strength in your back and shoulder muscles, it causes neck pain, stiffness and cervicogenic (referred
pain from the neck) headaches.
But what causes it? And how can Osteopathy help?
It might feel like the pain is coming from a problem with your neck – and it might be. But in most cases, neck pain is caused
by an issue further down, in your middle to upper back and shoulders – where weak and unstable muscles are causing postural strain.
Postural strain is the stress that your daily life places on your neck when you regularly use a desk or computer at the wrong height. Sleep with more than one pillow, sit awkwardly at work or spend all day looking at your smartphone.
It’s also caused by your body’s natural adaptation to accidents, injury, repetitive movements, and historical surgeries. But whatever the
cause or catalyst was for you. The resulting postural strain from these activities, injuries or operations causes weak and shortened
muscles, compressed nerves and pain in the upper cervical spine and the neck.
For you, neck pain could be mildly uncomfortable. For others, severe and unrelenting daily neck pain, stiffness, and immobility limits their activity and leave them unable to do much at all. In addition, you may have headaches and migraines, shooting pains, and muscle spasms accompanying the pain in your neck.
It's there every time you turn your head – and it seems to get worse when you get into bed and try to sleep. Exercise aggravates it but lying down hurts too. So the gym and playing sport are out of the question – and you're popping pain pills every couple of hours to get through the day. The pain consumes every waking moment and stops you from doing everything you love.
If it does, don’t worry.
Osteopathy can help you get your life back.
We see treat patients with neck pain all the time. It’s one of the most common pain problems we see in the OSTEOWORKS clinic.
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Everyone has a sore neck sometimes (especially past a certain age), right? Wrong. Your neck and shoulders should be flexible, pain-free, and supple, regardless of age. But whether you're young or old or somewhere in between, the pain won't just disappear if you leave it. It's tempting to believe it will if you rest and take it easy. But in our experience, it doesn't. Instead, in most cases, the pain gets worse.
If you’ve had neck pain for longer than a week, you’ve probably already been to see your GP. They likely told you to rest, take anti-inflammatories and take it easy. Then escorted you out of their office with the age-old, “Come back and see me if it doesn’t get better”.
Unfortunately, most of the patients we see end up back in their doctor's office (before they come to us). They told them to take more painkillers and get more rest because things didn't get better.
If they do, you don't have to endure neck pain indefinitely. We can help.
To find out whether Osteopathy is suitable for you. Why not start with a Free Telephone Consultation with one of our Osteopaths to talk about the neck and shoulder issues you're experiencing and get some free advice on the best treatment.
Just click the link to request your free call. We'll be in touch ASAP to arrange an appointment at a date and time that suits you. These calls are free – with zero financial investment on your part. But we only offer a limited number of them each month, so don't delay. Book yours now.
If you have been in pain for a while, there is no immediate fix. It takes time. But you can reduce your pain and discomfort with these tips:
If you would like to learn how the Osteopaths at Osteoworks can help you correct your posture and help you get rid of neck and shoulder pain, you can book a Free Discovery Session at the Kangaroo Point clinic to meet the team, view our facilities and talk to us about your back issues.
So the next question is:
Here’s just a few of the things our Specialist Physical Therapy team can do for you:
If you want to find out how much Osteopathy costs – or what availability we have at our Kangaroo Point clinic, please click the link, and complete the form. We’ll get back to you with costs and availability.
Best Sleeping Positions for Back and Neck Pain
Waking up with a stiff neck or aching back? Here are the best sleeping positions for back and neck pain — plus the pillow setup that keeps your spine supported all night.
TMJ and Jaw Pain: Can an Osteopath Actually Help?
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Text Neck: How Phone Use Is Changing Your Spine
Text neck is real: hours of looking down at your phone loads your neck like never before. Here's what it does to your spine — and how to undo the damage.
Crooked Neck? WE can help that with ease
A crooked or tilted neck can cause discomfort, stiffness, headaches and restricted movement — but it doesn't have to stay that way. Our
osteopathic approach gently addresses the underlying muscular tension, joint restriction and postural imbalance contributing to your
condition. Through hands-on treatment tailored to your body, we aim to restore alignment, ease pain and improve mobility so you can move
freely and comfortably again.
Difficulty lifting your shoulder?
Difficulty lifting the shoulder? Don't worry it is not usually as difficult as it feels. Shoulders are a complex joint and can be hard on your own to figure out why they are sore, but your osteopath has great insight as to the anatomy to be able to fix things quickly and explain how to manage your shoulder pain. Continue reading…
Neck pain? Confused by the advice?
Beyond addressing immediate discomfort, osteopathic treatment emphasizes the interconnectedness of the body's systems. By focusing on the relationship between structure and function, practitioners work to restore balance and facilitate the body's innate ability to heal itself. This holistic perspective ensures that care extends beyond symptom management, targeting the root causes of imbalance to support long-term health and mobility. Continue reading…
Persistent Headaches? Migraines? your osteopath can help
Persistent headaches and migraines can significantly impact your quality of life, often stemming from complex interactions between muscular tension, spinal alignment, and nervous system function. Osteopathic care offers a comprehensive approach to understanding and treating these debilitating conditions by examining the underlying structural imbalances that may be contributing to your pain. Rather than simply masking symptoms, osteopathic practitioners assess how restrictions in the neck, shoulders, and cranial structures can create patterns of dysfunction that trigger headaches and migraines. Through gentle manual techniques and targeted treatment, osteopathy addresses the root causes of your pain, helping to restore proper function to the musculoskeletal system and reduce the frequency and intensity of headache episodes. Continue reading…
Neck Mobility Exercises for a Tight Neck
Extremely useful and easy gentle neck mobility exercises to help restore normal neck movement following common complaints like ‘sleeping wrong’ (facet sprains). These exercises are easily performed while sitting at your work desk or even on your couch. Perform approximately 20 reps in each direction shown (or more if you feel it is helping) will assist in Continue reading…
Wake Up With a Sore Neck? Here's How You Can Control It
I had a patient come in during the week and present with a sharp pain within the neck itself.The onset was that she woke up with it and ‘slept awkwardly’. While unfavourable positioning of the neck during sleep may be a common trigger for general neck pain, this may not always be the primary cause.In her Continue reading…
Have Tight shoulders & Headaches From the Computer? Let’s Fix That.
Do You Spend a Lot of Time at The Computer?How about the tight shoulders, traps and headaches that come with it? Let’s fix it. I had a patient this week with pain running through the trapezius muscle – which goes from the shoulder up into the neck. She spends a lot of time at the computer with Continue reading…
“A single part of your body doesn’t fail on its own…” Dr John WhiteOsteoworks When people have pain, they don’t realise that something can’t fail on its own. For you to have a failed tissue, a muscle soreness or a ligament strain – something else has let that happen. For that to have happened, there has to Continue reading…
Pectoral Minor Stretch & Posture Recharge
Here’s a Pectoral Minor Stretch that will instantly improve your posture. Building on last week’s desk posture exercise, this pec-minor stretch will further enhance your posture, by helping open your upper-thoracic spine. By maintaining your pec-minor, not only will this help posture – but will also help prevent shoulder injury. Inquire About Cost and AvailabilityClick Continue reading…
Shoulders Rolled Forward? Here's How to Set Them Back
A lot of our patients come in with asking how they can train themselves to have better posture. Here’s an easy exercise using a thera-band that you can do a few times a day in order to help open up your shoulders. Talk to a Osteopath Continue reading…
Tech Neck | How Looking Down at Our Phone Makes Our Head Over 6 Times Heavier
23 Days a Year is Spent Looking at Our Phones “Looking down at our phone can add anywhere between 8-23kg to the existing average head weight of 5.5kg.”Kenneth Hansraj Chief of spine surgery at New York Spine Surgery and Rehabilitative Medicine Phones Don’t Have to be a Pain in The Neck1View all screens at eye-level. Raise Continue reading…
Ready to move better and live pain-free? Book an appointment with Osteoworks today.
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Comprehensive, Hands-On Care for Lasting Results
Osteopathy is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal problems. Unlike treatments that simply address symptoms, osteopaths work to identify and treat the root cause of your pain, helping you achieve long-term relief and better overall health. Whether you're dealing with chronic discomfort or a recent injury, an experienced Brisbane osteopath can provide personalised care tailored to your specific needs.
Osteopaths use a variety of hands-on techniques to improve mobility, reduce tension, and restore balance to your body. These include gentle stretching, massage, joint mobilisation, and manipulation. Each treatment is carefully designed based on a thorough assessment of your posture, movement patterns, and medical history. This comprehensive approach means that osteopathy can effectively address a wide range of conditions, from acute injuries to ongoing pain management.
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek osteopathic care. Whether it's lower back pain from sitting at a desk all day, a sports-related injury, or chronic stiffness, osteopaths have the skills to help. By releasing tight muscles, improving joint mobility, and addressing postural imbalances, treatment can significantly reduce pain and help you return to your normal activities. Many patients find that regular osteopathic sessions prevent back problems from returning.
Neck pain is another frequent complaint, often caused by poor posture, stress, or prolonged computer use. Osteopaths gently work on the neck, shoulders, and upper back to relieve tension, improve range of motion, and reduce headaches that often accompany neck problems. Treatment may also include advice on ergonomics and exercises to strengthen supporting muscles.
Hip pain can be particularly debilitating, affecting your ability to walk, sleep, and enjoy daily activities. Osteopaths assess not just the hip joint itself, but also the lower back, pelvis, and legs, as hip problems often stem from or contribute to issues in surrounding areas. By addressing the whole kinetic chain, osteopathic treatment can provide lasting relief and improve your overall mobility.
One of the key benefits of osteopathy is its focus on prevention. Rather than waiting for pain to return, your osteopath will work with you to identify factors that may be contributing to your problems. This might include postural habits, workplace ergonomics, exercise techniques, or lifestyle factors. You'll receive practical advice and exercises to help you maintain improvements between sessions and reduce the risk of future injury.
If you're in the Brisbane area, seeing a local practitioner offers significant advantages. A Brisbane osteopath understands the lifestyle factors common to the area—from active outdoor pursuits to commuter stress—and can provide relevant, practical advice. For residents in and around Kangaroo Point, convenient access to quality osteopathic care means you can easily fit treatment into your schedule, whether you need a single session for an acute issue or ongoing care for chronic conditions.
Our clinic provides a welcoming, professional environment where your health is our priority. We take the time to listen to your concerns, explain our findings, and involve you in your treatment plan. Many patients are surprised by how quickly they notice improvements and how much better they feel with regular care.
Don't let pain limit your life. Whether you're experiencing back pain, neck pain, hip pain, or any other musculoskeletal issue, osteopathy offers a safe, effective, drug-free approach to relief. With the right treatment and guidance, you can move better, feel stronger, and enjoy life more fully. Contact us today to book an appointment and discover how osteopathy can help you achieve lasting results.
Speak directly with an osteopath to ask questions
and understand your options before booking.
Call the team (07) 3217 3131
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Best Sleeping Positions for Back and Neck Pain
Warm-Up Routine to Prevent Lower Back Injury Before Exercise
How to Set Up an Ergonomic Home Office (Osteopath-Approved)
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