Why does sleeping on your stomach cause pain when you wake up?

In fact, sleeping on your stomach is one of the sleeping positions that is not recommended by sleep experts and should be limited. In particular, muscles are easily stretched in this sleeping position, so it is not surprising that people who sleep on their stomach will wake up with a feeling of muscle tension and pain, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

Vì sao ngủ nằm sấp lại gây đau mỏi khi thức dậy?- Ảnh 1. — Sleeping on your stomach can strain your muscles and cause fatigue in many areas of your body.

One of the first effects to mention when sleeping on your stomach is lower back pain. Meanwhile, the lower back is a position that is often under pressure from daily movements, from bending down to pick up objects, going to the gym to lifting heavy objects. Sleep is an important time for the lower back to rest and recover.

However, lying on your stomach stretches your lower back muscles and doesn’t give them a chance to rest. In addition, lying on your stomach causes your entire spine to curve and no longer be in a comfortable position. This position, if maintained for 2-4 hours a night, will stretch not only your spine but also many other areas of your body.

Additionally, turning your head to the side to avoid suffocation when lying on your stomach is essential. However, this neck position will strain the neck muscles. Not stopping there, sleeping on your stomach with your arms raised straight up or tucked under your pillow will also put more pressure and strain on the muscles in your shoulders.

Symptoms of this condition include tingling or numbness in one arm. This is due to compression of a nerve in the arm, which causes a temporary tingling sensation.

Some stomach sleepers adopt a 3/4 side-lying position with one leg bent to the side. This is also bad for the muscles as the pelvis, lower back, and even leg muscles can become strained throughout the night.

The best way to prevent muscle fatigue from sleeping on your stomach is to change your sleeping position, switching to sleeping on your back or side. If you still want to sleep on your stomach, experts recommend placing a pillow under your pelvis, not using a pillow, and doing gentle stretches when you wake up in the morning, according to Healthline.

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