This is why the resting position is important
Sleeping is not enough for muscle and cellular recovery; you must also sleep soundly. In fact, sleep science teaches us that restorative rest occurs during REM sleep and deep sleep, which are reached after a period of light sleep. Therefore, if your sleep is interrupted by micro-awakenings, for example because you have difficulty finding a comfortable position or because of the heat, it will take you longer to reach those sleep stages that are essential for regeneration and recovery. This is why finding and maintaining the right resting position is important.
What is the correct resting position for sleeping?
The best resting position is the supine position, as sleep science tells us. Why is it the most suitable position for rest and health? Sleeping on your back promotes:
- breathing, especially when combined with a high pillow, at least 12/13 cm;
- arterial function by easing pressure,
- venous circulation; in fact, it has no contraindications for the heart, unlike sleeping on your left side, for example;
- a reduction in tension that causes headaches and neuralgia;
- proper spinal alignment. When used with a well-calibrated mattress that offers the right balance between adaptation and support, the supine position promotes spinal decompression without compression, which would otherwise lead to aches and stiffness in the spine upon waking.
Bonus benefit of sleeping on your back? By avoiding resting your face on the pillow, you improve skin breathability, so sleeping on your back prevents wrinkles and skin breakouts.
Why avoid the prone position
Sleeping face down is the worst position, but for many it is comfortable and relaxing. It makes you feel protected, with your vital organs in contact with the mattress, and you can hear your heart beating, but there are important drawbacks to sleeping prone:
- it strains the lumbar region and hips;
- it forces an unnatural twisting of the neck, exposing us to the risk of neck pain and back pain;
- it obstructs breathing due to the compression of the airways caused by the twisting and increased contact with the pillow.
In short: with the prone position, we subject our body to adaptation strain, as it is a very unnatural position. This adaptation forces us into continuous micro-awakenings, even just to turn our head to the opposite side to avoid overstraining the cervical spine. The result is fragmented and disturbed sleep, therefore with less deep and restorative sleep.
Best resting postures: side and supine
- Side: The side position is ideal for the heart if you sleep on your right side, while it is optimal for the spine when combined with a high-performance mattress capable of adapting to the shoulders and pelvis while providing support. This is why we recommend a soft pocket-sprung mattress or memory foam, or a hybrid memory foam mattress without springs.
- Supine: as we have seen, it allows the spine to remain well aligned with the proper distribution of weight, provided the mattress support is well calibrated, with the right level of superior comfort combined with the right support.
Resting position and suitable mattress
The right mattress allows you to improve the quality of your rest by reducing nighttime awakenings, preventing muscle and fascia pain—that fibrous tissue that connects the muscles and allows movement—and spinal pain. Should it be chosen based on your resting position? It is certainly an aspect to consider when evaluating it. Which mattress should you choose based on your sleeping position?
If you sleep prone, the mattress must be firm and offer little adaptation, such as the Gransasso Gabrielli.
If you sleep on your side, the mattress should be a hybrid of pocket springs and memory foam; the best is the King 800 Superior, which provides support thanks to its 7-zone spring system with differentiated support and adapts thanks to its superior comfort zone, which combines memory foam with a soft-touch pad. This combination ensures the elimination of pressure points, providing comfort in the supine position and the side position.
