Speaking of restful relaxation, your spine must be in proper alignment while you are lying down, whether for a rest, nap or good night’s sleep. After all, we spend about a third of our lives sleeping! Sleeping on the wrong kind of mattress can throw your spine out of alignment. A soft, sagging mattress fails to give proper support to the heaviest part of the body, the pelvic region and thus causes the spine to curve toward the side on which the person is sleeping. A completely rigid mattress causes curvature in the opposite direction because it does not give sufficiently to accommodate the wider hip and shoulder areas. Neither gives the back or spine the proper kind of support when lying on the back or stomach. Before buying a mattress, lie on it – see how you like it. You don’t need box springs; just put your mattress on a wood platform. An egg-crate foam mattress cover can also greatly increase comfort, I just got one. It’s great!

Look for a semi-rigid mattress, firm and flat (one with sufficient resilience to allow shoulder and pelvic bones to form their own natural hollows), that will help keep the spinal column in natural alignment. Placing a wide, smooth bed board between mattress and springs will convert most any mattress (except an innerspring mattress) into the semi-rigid type that your spine needs. Noting that one doctor called the innerspring mattress the devil’s own work and a misbegotten gift of civilization. The well-known orthopedist Dr. Philip Lewin, in his book The Back and Its Disorders, recommends a mattress of felted cotton, hair or sponge rubber. He also advises to stand tall, sit tall and adds, lie tall and on back is best to align spine. Sleep with slanted, cradle pillow that elevates the head (it’s healthier). Let all muscles be relaxed when you go to sleep. Go limp and let yourself feel heavy on the bed. Never let one part of the body press on the other as this will impede circulation; keep arms and legs apart. Neck tension is often due to tensed facial muscles, so think pleasant thoughts that make you feel like smiling.

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