Is sleeping on your stomach bad for your back?

Sleeping on your stomach is worse for your back than sleeping on your back because of the extra pressure put on muscles and joints. In general, sleeping on the stomach is a bad posture, mainly because there is continuous tension on the spine (backbone). We are referring here to the posture you adopt to fall asleep. Because the postures you adopt during the night usually arise unconsciously.

Why sleeping on your stomach is worse than sleeping on your back:

• Neck & back pain from turning the head to the side. This strains the spine in leaves a hollow space between the vertebrae open during sleep.
• Continuous pressure on the spine, at the abdominal position, back & cervical vertebrae do not align properly.
• Possible blood flow problems for pregnant women.
• The most weight (in the middle of the body) creates an unnatural position for the spinal cord.

Can sleeping on your stomach also be good?

There are few advantages of sleeping on your stomach over other sleeping positions. Sleeping on your stomach can help against snoring and feels comfortable for some. However, the physical disadvantages such as the extra strain on the spine & pressure on muscles and joints outweigh these minor advantages of sleeping on your stomach.

In certain medical cases, there may be insufficient oxygen uptake in the body. This is one of the few cases where sleeping on the stomach is a better option than sleeping on the back.

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Is sleeping on your stomach unhealthy?

The combined factors of pressure exerted on cervical vertebrae, vertebrae and ultimately the entire spine mean that sleeping on your stomach is unhealthy relative to sleeping on your left side or preferably: sleeping on your back.

Note: sleeping on your stomach is not really unhealthy. Your body will intervene when the pressure exerted is too high, so that you often end up in a half-side position with one raised leg. During the night, you often unconsciously assume many different sleeping positions.

The 3 biggest disadvantages of falling asleep on your stomach:

Why stomach sleeping is dangerous for small children

By now we are wiser about the proper way babies and small children sleep. For me, it is still important to bring up the importance of sleeping on a baby’s back.

Sleeping on tummy is the least safe position for a baby in the first few months. Let a baby sleep on its back. This increases the airflow and the baby does not get the chance to stick their head into the mattress and suffer from oxygen deprivation. In addition, it is an immediate good start to teaching your baby to sleep on their back, which is by far the best sleeping position.

What happens in your head when you sleep on your stomach?

Sleep is important to, among other things: process the events of a day, repair muscles and produce new antibodies. You can imagine that this recovery process does not work as well when the sleeping position is not optimal. As a result, sleep will be less effective than in a better sleeping position (such as on your back) and with properly positioned sleep hygiene. A room that exudes tranquility already ensures a better night’s sleep.

Just as eating before bed usually has a negative effect on the quality of sleep, so does sleeping on your stomach.

Especially when you lead a stressful life, it is wise to optimize nutrition and sleep position before you go to sleep. This way, you improve your sleep during the times when you are still awake.

Conclusion: Is sleeping on your stomach bad for your back?

Sleeping on your stomach is, according to ergonomists, the worst sleeping position you can adopt. The extra pressure and tension on your spine (mainly neck & cervical vertebrae) make for a less effective night’s sleep.

Frequently asked questions: