Do you experience significantly more neck and back pain upon waking than you do later the day? This could be a sign that your mattress and pillow are not doing their job.

It’s your mattresses role to support the curves of your spine, thereby, allowing your tired spinal muscles to relax and recover at night. If your mattress is on the hard side, so much that is resembles a plank of wood, there will be gaps where your spine doesn’t come in contact with the mattress (because of your spinal curves). The muscles that run down your spine will have to continue working at night to maintain the natural curves where the gaps are. In contrast, a proper mattress supports the spinal curves allowing your back to rest. It’s a good idea to replace your mattress at least every ten years if not sooner as mattress wear out.

Do you spend the first part of your day stretching out the tension in your neck? Your pillow makes all the difference. I speak from experience. Have you every gone on a holiday and forgot to bring your pillow? You wake in the morning and your neck muscles are tense after using a luxury pillow which is more like two pillows stuck together. The pillow I recommend is a water pillow. The outer plush material of a water pillow resembles a traditional pillow; however, there is a badder inside the pillow. It’s recommended you fill the pillow with two or more litres of water by opening the valve and using a funnel that comes with the water pillow. For a better night sleep and less neck discomfort in the morning, try using a water pillow.

Whether you are recovering from soft tissue injuries or suffering from chronic pain, determine if your mattress and pillow are working for you.