Sleep quality is an essential factor for human health.

Many patients present with symptoms related to the cervical and thoracic spine, like pain, rigidity, headache and pain in the scapular area. That's why many ask us for advice on choosing a pillow when they suffer from back problems or simply care about a good rest..

Currently, there is little information to guide consumers, merchants and health professionals about materials, dimensions and/or types of pillow. Furthermore, there is the handicap of infoxication that surrounds us and that often makes us feel uncomfortable when choosing a pillow or when reflecting on the suitability of the ones we have at home..

One of the interesting factors when choosing a pillow is to take into account the protagonist of the process.: the user. As Ortega y Gasset said, “I am me and my circumstance”.

In ergonomics it takes into account the individual and their context; that is to say, it's about adapting the product to the user, preventing the reverse from happening.

This brings us to the next question: the conception and measurement of comfort. Comfort can be measured at an objective level (quantitative measurement), and on a subjective level (a user's particular perceptions and tastes). But what constitutes “comfort” can vary from person to person, making the identification of criteria for pillow standardization problematic.. (1)

At Ql Clinic we have carried out a search in the current bibliography to offer our readers the data provided by the scientific evidence in this regard.. We invite you to read some interesting aspects about this topic and we commit to continue adding useful and truthful information as we find it in sources endorsed by the scientific community..
Through a laboratory study using VICON® 3D motion analysis technology , it was identified that the 70.8 % of participants takes about 10 minutes to stabilize their cervical spine 15 min .(2) Other studies determine that the time our spine needs to stabilize in bed is 10 minutes. (6)

In this (3) study, An investigation was carried out to determine if the type of pillow alters the position of the cervico-thoracic spine at rest in the lateral decubitus position.

It seems that this position is indeed significantly altered when people switch from a feather pillow compared to a latex one., foam and polyester. The shape of a foam pillow (regular or contour) does not significantly alter the slope of the cervical and thoracic vertebral segment.

(It should be noted that this study was carried out with healthy and young subjects.)

It is (4) study reported that a pillow with a uniform height is not suitable for sleeping in the supine position (face up) y lateral. The results showed that the basic pillow shape for both sexes is a U shape in the front view. ( SEE IMAGE) The middle zone of the pillow is for the supine position and the side zones are for the lateral positions.
The pillow base is a rectangle from the top view. The pillow is designed with a width of 75 y 70 cm for man and woman, and a depth of 40 y 35 cm for men and women. The height in the middle zone and both sides are 4 y 14 cm for male, y 2 y 12 cm for women.
In study number (5) we find several conclusions, in turn from other studies:

Study 1: investigated the natural positions of 40 subjects during sleep to study key points for pillow design. The results suggest that the subjects alternatively switched 24 times a night from lateral to supine position (face up). This same study concludes that current pillows are too high for the supine position and too low for lateral positions.(5)

The Studio 2 measures body dimensions related to the design of pillows 40 subjects to determine their sizes. The results suggest that pillow heights were very different in supine and lateral positions and had to be taken into consideration for their design.(5)

The study 3 creates a pillow design based on the results of previous studies. The pillow was a U shape in the front view in which the height of the pillow in the middle area was lower for the supine position, and both parts were greater for the lateral positions. The results showed that this new design significantly improved sleep quality, ( receiving an innovation patent).(5)
Image
d1, Chen HL2. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and the Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

Therefore, It seems that what is already known is that in addition to being a complex choice that must be adapted as much as possible to individual characteristics, It does seem that gender influences (be a man or woman), just like sleeping position. For both factors, a change in the dimensions of the pillow seems to be necessary and the “U” type prototype may be closer to the pillow that we recommend more in the future.. The type of material is not clear, although the support varies depending on it..

We hope the information is useful. When choosing a pillow, you must also take into account the mattress and the bed base.. In future posts we will address that topic..

Happy reading.

Bibliography
(1). Analysis of ergonomics conditions of a brand of mattress and pillows. University-industry Project, Medellín-Colombia.
Saenz Zapata LM1, Arias AM, Guzman EC, Arias by L M.

(2). Time to stabilisation of the cervical spine when supported by a pillow in side lying.
Hodkinson JB1, Gordon SJ, Crowther RG, Buettner PG.

(3). A randomized, comparative trial: does pillow type alter cervico-thoracic spinal posture when side lying?
Gordon SJ1, Grimmer-Somers KA, Believed PH.

(4). Body dimension measurements for pillow design for Taiwanese.
Chen HL1, Ca D.

(5). Ergonomic approach for pillow concept design.
d1, Chen HL2. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and the Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

(6). cervical pillows: the relationship between the pillow content and contact pressure, alignment of the cervical spine, and participant ratings of support and comfort under the head and neck.
Puntumetakul R. [MA thesis] Adelaide: School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia; 1993.