Does Sleeping On The Floor Help Your Back? [ANSWERED]

After long working hours or hunching on your computer all day, the chances are that, at some point, you might have back issues. Pain medications, massage, and chiropractic interventions work for a short time, and without consistency, you'll go back to your excruciating back pain. Does sleeping on the floor help your back permanently?

People have stated that sleeping on the floor has helped them with back pain, though there is little research on the matter. They claim that the floor offers even more support than most surfaces. The floor cannot sink or cause your spine to curve.

Research shows that if your mattress is too soft, consider placing plywood under it to improve firmness. If you do not have the plywood, the next best option is to put your mattress on the floor. If you are uncertain about this option, read on to determine if sleeping on the floor helps your back.

Why Sleeping On The Floor Helps Your Back

The reason people buy mattresses is to ensure they are comfortable when sleeping. But the challenge is that everyone wants a too comfortable mattress and sleeps in awkward positions, which leads to misalignment of the back spine. Here are reasons to consider sleeping on the floor.

Keeps The Spine In Line

When you sleep on the floor, it will help keep your spine aligned. As a result, you help your body maintain a natural curve that ensures you do not put unnecessary strain on your back. As you sleep on the floor, the best way to ensure that the ligaments and muscles do not strain is by placing a small pillow underneath your legs and neck. This sleeping position helps to reduce back pain complications.

Keep Your Body In A Natural Plane

Sleeping on the floor helps keep your body in a natural plane, thus limiting the chance of back pain and improving your posture. On the floor, your sleeping mat or mattress will not sink or cause your body to get whack. The hard surface keeps your body in check, and you can be sure you will not have some pain complications.

Improves Your Posture

Using the hard floor to sleep helps offer added alignment assistance to your body. As a result, you will not have to worry about your back sinking and, therefore, dislocating the position of your spine. Having spine dislocation could lead to unwanted complications such as poor posture. Most people with poor posture have it due to poor sleeping positions arising from poor quality mattresses.

You Get Sufficient Energy

You will feel more rested and rejuvenated when you sleep on the floor. That will give you ample energy when you wake up in the morning. At times, sleeping on your couch can be too comfortable, and you might feel like waking up in the morning. It is no wonder the use of the snooze button is popular. Note that sleeping on the floor ensures ample sleep, but that does not mean that you will get too comfortable to want to lay there in the morning.

Why Does Sleeping On The Floor Help Your Back? More Facts

It is not easy to accept that sleeping on the floor benefits your back since relief from back pains is a slogan that mattress companies have used to sell their products. So, to help you decide if this is the best option, here are more facts on how sleeping on the floor benefits your back.

Reduces The Back Pains

When you use the right technique to sleep on the floor, it will help decompress the sacrum. The reason is that it aligns the triangle bone found between the pelvis and the lower back. This enables the decompression to be equally stabilized on the lower back.

Avoids Tossing And Turning

When you sleep on the mattress, you are likely to get overheated, leading to you tossing and turning. This might seem normal, but at times, tossing and turning could strain your spine, exposing you to complications such as back pain.

Moderates The Sciatic Nerve

The other reason to sleep on the floor is that it will help soothe the burn caused by sciatica. Sciatic pain is known to get complex and worsen in the morning. This is a sign that poor sleeping posture impacts the pain. But if you sleep on the floor, it can help in reducing the impact.

Is Sleeping On The Floor Good For You? How To Do It Right

Most people spend eight hours a day sleeping, a quarter of their lives. So, it is vital to sleep correctly with the right posture; otherwise, you might end up with unwanted health complications. Here's how you do it!

Prepare

Before you consider sleeping on the floor, prepare for the process. The initial step of sleeping on the floor is mental. In fact, the first few days might be uncomfortable as your body attempts to get used to sleeping on a hard surface. But once you get used to it, this will not be your concern anymore.

Choose The Surface

Though you are sleeping on the floor, it does not mean that you should sleep directly on it. You can put a rug or a mat to make the experience better without compromising on the benefits you are likely to get. When you choose the right surface, you will have an easy time with the transition and experience.

Use A Pillow

Most people assume that if you are sleeping on the floor, you do not need to use a pillow. You might prefer the natural way of sleeping that involves using your arms to elevate your head. However, if you want to offer support for your head or neck without you having to do much, consider using a thin pillow.

Benefits Of Sleeping On The Floor For People With Back Problems

Here is a look at the benefits that people with back problems get when they sleep on the floor.

• Pain relief
• Improved posture
• Aligning the neck and the spine
• Help with the lower back issues

Is Sleeping On The Floor A Good Idea? The Side Effects

There are numerous benefits of sleeping on the floor, but that does not mean there is no negative side. Here are some of the side effects you might get if you do not do it right.

Worsen Back Pain

If you have joint pain or arthritis, sleeping on the back could cause unwanted complications. Doing so could increase pressure on certain joints that might end up worsening your condition.

Increase Allergies

Another reason why sleeping on the floor is not a good idea is that it might increase your allergies. The reason is that at times the floor can be dirty or dusty and that could lead to issues such as:

• Rashes
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Difficulty sleeping
• Watery eyes
• Running or blocked nose

Conclusion

In the past, people used to sleep on the floor, which led to fewer issues and complications. However, when people prioritized beds and mattresses, back pain and other problems escalated. Many are now opting for quality mattresses and mats for sleeping on the floor.

But sleeping on the floor does not have the same impact as it did in the past. The reason is that in the past people used to sleep on dirty floors. But today, people are sleeping on tiles, carpets, and hardwood floors. So, you need to take the time to choose the right surface when planning to sleep on the floor to reap numerous benefits.

Also read:

• How Long Should I Wait to Lay Down After Eating? (Solutions)
• Sleeping On Couch – How Bad Is It? [ANSWERED]

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