Here's How To Keep Your Sleep Position From Screwing Up Your Neck

If you wake up in pain, this is for you.

Waking up after a night of tossing and turning, only to feel a crick in your neck, is an all-too-common experience for many adults.

There are a host of reasons why this happens, but one main culprit is sleeping in a position that puts strain on your neck, or using a pillow (or even a mattress) that messes with your alignment.

While there isn’t a quick fix for neck pain after sleeping, there are some helpful strategies that can help prevent it. Here’s what to know.

When you’re sleeping, you should aim for neutral neck alignment.

“There definitely are certain ideal sleep positions,” said Dr. Elizabeth T. Nguyen, a physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, noting that those include “lying flat on your back or side,” sleeping with your neck in a comfortable neutral and straight position.