I’ve always read and been told that sleeping on your stomach is bad for your spine and neck but after a workout or long day at work, I find that laying on my stomach for an hour or so while I read or scroll on my phone makes my back feel so much better. Am I doing more long-term harm than good with this? Why does it feel so good on my back but is bad for it? Is it just not recommended for long periods of time but beneficial for shorter periods?
I’ve had no problems after sleeping on my stomach for multiple decades.
I believe that feeling is decompression and depending on your body different positions will decompress the spine and thus feel good
It probably depends on your specific physiology and also what you’re doing all day
I highly doubt it’s bad for you to temporarily lay on your stomach. Like any posture you should shift position somewhat often just to relieve and shift around the compressive forces on various parts of your body.
For example, I know someone who sat cross legged for too long and it compressed a nerve in their ankle causing permanent nerve damage.
I can’t say more than anecdotal, but after a broken neck and back (shoulder blades and up), I cannot sleep on my stomach at all. I haven’t been fused or anything, but I lost around 1/2-1/3rd of my neck rotation to the left.
Sleeping on my stomach used to be a thing, but now it will leave me in terrible shape for days. The deviation in alignment of the spine is more significant than it seems. When your range of mobility is reduced significantly, the effect is far more noticeable as abnormal. It is about like falling asleep in a yoga pose. Those are some of the most fatigued muscles in the body, just to hold up your head. Damage some and it becomes extremely evident.
If it feels good for you, it is probably good. The warnings are about the sleeping position, which is unnatural (meaning your body wasn’t built for it) and may lead to pain, joint ache, breathing problems etc.
However, laying on your back can be a huge relief for your back, I know that from experience. Especially if your lower back hurts, it’s a very good way to work against the painm but I guess your reading position is also different to a sleeping position, your neck is bend upwards and also you push your back more through.
Laying on the stomach can also help with stomach pain and ingestion problems.
In the end everybody is different. Carefully listen to your body and how it responds.
Also I can really recommend going to the gym and strengthen your torso, especially back and stomach muscles. I feel so much better than before, I think I can never go back to not working out.
If it feels good for you, it is probably good.
(For the record, I do think it’s really good advice but that instantly came to mind) :)
As a programmer I can relate :D
But honestly, at the desk what counts is moving and changing your posture from time to time. Nothing worse than sitting or standing 8 hours in the same position.
