Can Your Sleep Position Cause Shoulder Pain?

Getting enough sleep each night is an essential component of good health. However, if you’re not mindful of how you’re sleeping, you might be putting yourself at risk for persistent shoulder pain.

At AABP Integrative Pain Care, we specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic shoulder pain.

Our experienced pain management specialists focus on integrative, nonsurgical therapies to ease your pain and address its underlying cause.

How your sleep positions trigger shoulder pain

A good night’s sleep can help you feel refreshed when you wake up in the morning, but certain sleep positions can also leave you waking up with pain.

One of the most common sleep postures that people have is a side sleeping position. When you lay on your side, you may be putting too much stress on your shoulders and neck. Over time, this stress can cause inflammation in the fluid-filled sacs around your shoulder joint, a condition known as bursitis.

Constant stress on your shoulder joint during sleep can also prematurely wear away the protective cartilage that lines the end of your joint bones, a painful condition called osteoarthritis.

Side sleepers can also be at risk for shoulder impingement, which develops when the tissues around the shoulder's rotator cuff rub against nearby bones or tissues.

Tips to improve your sleeping position

If you’re already experiencing shoulder pain, changing the position you sleep in can minimize your risk for additional complications.

The goal is to find a position where your shoulder isn’t trapped under the weight of your body as it is when you sleep on your side. Often, this involves sleeping on your back to keep your upper, middle, and lower spine in proper alignment.

At first, adopting a new sleeping position can seem difficult, especially if you’ve been sleeping on your side for many years. Here are a few tips to help you make the necessary adjustments to prevent your shoulder pain from worsening:

Use a lower back pillow

If lying flat on your back causes lower back pain, you might naturally roll over to your side. Try placing a pillow under your back that offers extra cushioning to your lower spine. You may need to try different-sized pillows before you find a comfortable fit.

Elevate your knees

Putting a pillow under your knees to keep them in a slightly bent position can relieve pressure on your lower back and improve the overall alignment of your spine. There are pillows designed especially for knee support or find a size that feels right for you.

Make a pillow barrier around your body

If you’re a restless sleeper, try placing several pillows around your body, especially near your upper legs, hips, and torso. The pillow barrier can keep you from rolling over on your side when sleeping.

When to get help for your shoulder pain

Persistent shoulder pain may be a warning sign that something more serious is going on with your shoulder joint. Because this joint is complex, delaying treatment can increase your risk for worsening pain, chronic inflammation, and soft tissue damage. 

Our pain management team offers on-site diagnostic testing to better understand the source of your pain. The earlier you seek medical attention, the less invasive your treatment will be.

Our providers customize a targeted treatment plan to ensure you can achieve long-lasting shoulder pain relief so you can continue to live a physically active life.

Call the AABP Integrative Pain Care office in Garden City or Brooklyn, New York, today to schedule a shoulder pain evaluation or book an online consultation.