Shoulder pain can be hard to deal with in your everyday life. However, it is even more excruciating at night. Have you ever struggled to find a comfortable position in bed because of shoulder pain? If so, you need one of the best pillows for shoulder pain.
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In this article, we provide a top five list of our favorite pillows. Plus, we tell you all about shoulder pain and how you can find a great product that will work for your sleeping style.
Contents
Details about shoulder pain
The human shoulder does not just encompass the shoulder joint. There are a number of muscle and tendons in the entire shoulder complex. Doctors consider the shoulder joint, acromion, clavicle, coracoid, rotator cuff, bursa, and labrum as part of the shoulder.
With so many parts to it, it’s not surprising that many people get shoulder pain at some point in their lives. Shoulder pain can be caused by a pulled muscle, torn tendon, broken bone, or anything else that causes damage to the shoulder area. As people get older and it becomes harder to heal quickly, shoulder pain is even more common.
If you have shoulder pain, there are a few things that you should do to manage it.
- Consult with your doctor to discover the cause of your shoulder pain. It doesn’t do any good to just treat the symptoms of shoulder pain, you need to fix the underlying cause as well.
- Take pain-killers—as long as your doctor gives you permission. These will help keep the swelling and pain to a minimum. Ibuprofen and Advil work best for pain management, just make sure to follow all printed instructions.
- Use a special pillow to help manage your shoulder pain.
Benefits of owning a pillow for shoulder pain
Why do you need a special pillow when you have shoulder pain? That is a good question, and it has a very simple answer. Pillows that are specifically designed to relieve shoulder pain will help you get a good night’s rest.
These special pillows take some of the pressure off of your painful shoulder. That in turn allows you to sleep without feeling pain or reinjuring yourself. Getting the right amount of sleep is vitally important to healing. We know now that sleeping at least seven hours a night helps to increase your immune response, which in turn helps to speed up healing.
Characteristics of the most comfortable pillows for shoulder pain
If you are looking for a pillow to help manage your shoulder pain, you need to find one with the following characteristics.
- They are designed for side sleepers. You don’t have to be a side sleeper to get benefits from a pillow for shoulder pain. However, they should be designed for side sleepers because that way you know that they will support your shoulder properly.
- The pillows have a high loft. Loft describes the thickness of the pillow, and the thicker the better with shoulder pain. Thick pillows protect your shoulder as you sleep.
- These pillows will keep your head and neck in the correct position throughout the night. Proper alignment will cut down on the amount of shoulder pain you experience.
Buyer’s Guide for choosing the right pillows for shoulder pain
So, now you’re ready to find a great pillow for shoulder pain. Keep the following factors in mind as you research your options.
Size
Type of Size | Dimensions | Cons | Pros | Good for shoulder pain? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 20 inches by 12 inches | Too small to sleep on. | Great decorations. | No. |
| Standard | 20-inches x 26-inches | Can be too small for side sleepers | Very easy to find | Somewhat. |
| Super Standard | 20-inches x 28-inches | Not many brands manufacture this size. | Great for shoulder pain. | Yes. |
| Queen | 20-inches x 30-inches | Too large for some beds. | Ideal for shoulder pain. | Yes. |
| King | 20-inches x 36-inches | Too large for some people. | Perfect for big and tall people. | Yes. |
Size describes the length and width of the pillow. There are five standard sizes of pillow that you will find in the United States: small, standard, super standard, queen, and king. All of these sizes have a width of twenty inches, but the length varies significantly.
If you have shoulder pain, you need a larger pillow. The longer the pillow, the more it will support your shoulder as you sleep. Length is especially important for combination sleepers with shoulder pain. A combination sleeper use more than one sleeping position throughout the night. So, you need a pillow long enough to support your shoulder as you turn.
Shape
Type of Size | Pros | Cons | Good for shoulder pain? |
|---|---|---|---|
Rectangular | #1 most popular choice | Can be too many options. | Yes. |
Square | Lofts of patterns and covers to choose from. | Not considered a sleeping pillow. | No. |
Wedge | Supports specific body parts. | Must have another shape of pillow as well. | Yes. |
Cervical | Supports you in all positions. | Can be hard to sleep on. | Yes. |
Roll/Bolster | Supports specific body parts. | Must have another shape of pillow as well. | No. |
The shape is another important consideration for anyone looking for their next pillow. Like the standards sizes, there are five standard shapes of pillow in the U.S.: rectangular, square, wedge, cervical, and roll/bolster. Rectangular pillows are by far the most popular pillow shape. And, as long as they have enough length, they will help soothe your shoulder pain.
Square and roll/bolsters should not be used to treat shoulder pain. Square pillows are not used for sleeping. And, roll/bolsters are primarily used under the low back or knees.
The best pillow shapes for shoulder pain—other than rectangular—are wedge and cervical. Wedges support a specific body part, but can be found to support your head, neck, and shoulder. Cervical pillows are specifically designed to support and cradle your neck and shoulder, which makes them one of the best options for people with painful shoulders.
Loft
Type of Loft | Thickness | Sleeping type? | Good for shoulder pain? |
|---|---|---|---|
Low | Less than 3-inches | Stomach | No. |
Medium | 3-inches-5-inches | Combination | Somewhat |
High | More than 5-inches | Side/Back | Yes. |
Loft describes the thickness of a pillow. There are only three potential lofts for you to choose from: low, medium, and high. Low loft pillows will stand under three inches high. High loft pillows stand over five inches high. And, medium loft pillow fall in between.
The best loft for managing shoulder pain is a high loft. The thicker your pillow, the more your shoulder will be supported. But, high loft pillows may not be appropriate for certain sleeping styles. Stomach sleepers especially need lower loft pillows because they keep the sleeper’s head and neck in the correct position. If you are a stomach sleeper with shoulder pain, try a medium loft pillow.
Sometimes pillows also come with adjustable lofts. This means that you can take out some of the stuffing material in order to customize the loft to your sleeping style and body. Adjustable loft pillows are wonderful for shoulder pain because you can play around with the loft—just don’t throw away any material you have removed—until you find a loft that will reduce your pain.
Materials
Type of Material | Pros | Cons | Type of sleeper? |
|---|---|---|---|
Buckwheat | A renewable and sustainable choice | Costs a lot. | Back and side sleepers. |
Down | The softest pillow material. | Costs a lot. | All sleeping types. |
Down Synthetic | Great for people on a budget. | Not very durable. | Stomach sleepers |
Feather | Quite soft. | Not very durable. | Back and side sleepers |
Latex | An all-natural pillow material. | Hard to find. | Back and side sleepers. |
Memory Foam | Adjusts to your unique shape. | Overwhelming options. | All sleeping types. |
Probably one of the most important factors to consider when you choose your next pillow is the material that it is made from. Material here mostly refers to the material used as the stuffing. The cases for your pillow are, obviously, made out of materials. But, these parts of the pillow are usually either cotton or bamboo-derived rayon.
There are a number of different modern stuffing material choices. The most traditional of these choices is down. Down is made from the down feathers of either duck or geese. Down feathers are the softest features on those birds, which creates an extremely soft and comfortable pillow.
The biggest drawback to down pillows is that they can be quite expensive. So, you can always choose the more affordable down synthetic, which feels like down but is made from synthetic materials. If you go with a down synthetic pillow just keep in mind that the material breaks down easily, and you will need to replace the pillow often.
If down and down synthetic pillows are not for you, but you want a soft pillow, then try a feather pillow. This material comes from the outer feathers of ducks or geese. Usually, the stems of the feathers are removed before they are put in the pillow so that they do not poke you.
Buckwheat and latex are all-natural materials that many people enjoy for their sustainable and eco-friendly nature. However, both of these materials can be too hard for some sleepers. Therefore, you should try out a pillow with these materials before you commit.
And finally, there are the memory foam pillows. These have become extremely popular because they conform to the shape of your head. Most memory foam pillows do not have an adjustable loft. But, they are still a great choice for people with shoulder pain.
Cost
Material | Cost |
|---|---|
Buckwheat | $100 or less |
Down | $100 or less |
Down Synthetic | $30 or less |
Feather | $50 or less |
Latex | $60 or less |
Memory Foam | $200 or less |
The cost of a pillow is determined by a few factors. The pillow’s size and shape are a factor. For example, smaller pillows typically cost less than large pillows. But, it is the materials that really factor into the pillow’s cost.
As you can see from the list below, the different materials vary wildly in price. Knowing the general cost of each of the pillow materials will help you narrow down your choices.
As a final note for cost: some materials, memory foam specifically, vary in their expense. So, some memory foam pillows will cost around $200, while others may only be $50.
Moldability
Moldability measures the pillow’s ability to hold its shape. If after you sleep on it the pillow does not go back to its original shape, it is not very moldable. But, if it bounces right back into shape, it is extremely moldable.
Some materials have more moldability than others. For example, memory foam is very moldable, but down is not. Down synthetic, especially, will eventually loose its shape as you continue to sleep on it. And down must be fluffed regularly in order to keep its shape. You don’t have to worry about any of that with memory foam or buckwheat.
Best Pillows for Shoulder Pain Reviews
Now, you are ready to find your next pillow to help stop your shoulder pain. Anyone of these five options will serve you well. Continue reading to find the product that will change your life.
1. EPABO Contour Memory Foam Pillow
EPABO’s Contour Memory Foam Pillow is a cervical shaped pillow that comes in standard, queen, and king sizes. The size options and cervical shape make this an extremely good option to reduce your shoulder pain. Plus, the pillow can be used by all sleeping types, but maybe a little high for stomach sleepers.
If you want a pillow made from high-quality and durable materials, then this is the product for you. It is hypoallergenic, chemical free, and EPABO even backs it with a thirty-day satisfaction guarantee. Your entire purchase is protected when you try this pillow, but you won’t need to return it as it will fix your shoulder pain in no time.
2. Coisum Cervical Pillow
Coisum’s Cervical Pillow is a great choice for anyone with shoulder pain. It can be purchased in a pack of one or two pillows. But, it does only come in one size. Because it is a slightly smaller pillow, it may be hard for some people to adjust to sleeping on it.
Yet, the contoured and ergonomic shape of the cervical pillow by Coisum is extremely helpful in solving shoulder pain. It cradles your head while also supporting your shoulders in back and side sleeping positions. This helps position your shoulders correctly and reduce the pain you feel as you sleep.
3. Simply Sova Memory Foam Pillow
Simply Sova has designed a hotel-quality, soft pillow that will reduce your shoulder pain. If you do not like sleeping on contoured pillows, this is the product for you. It is a queen sized, the rectangular pillow that is comfortable and cleans easily. Plus, as a CertiPur-EU certified pillow, you know that this product is hypoallergenic and mite and bacteria resistant. The best part about the Simply Sova pillow is that it comes with an adjustable loft. So, no matter your sleeping style or body, you can adjust the pillow in order to completely remove your shoulder pain.
4. Kloudes Adjustable Pillow
Kloudes has also designed a rectangular pillow. It comes in standard and king sizes. This pillow is a little bit more expensive than others. But, the foam used is CertiPur-US certified safe, and it does its job of reducing neck and shoulder pain well.
Kloudes have created their pillow with an adjustable loft, so that it can support and align your head and neck in the correct position no matter how you sleep. Additionally, they offer a money back guarantee if you don’t love the pillow. So, even the product is more expensive, your purchase is protected.
5. Aquapro Chiropractic Pillow
Aquapro gets the prize for the most unusual pillow on this list. Their Chiropractic Pillow is not meant to be used all night. Instead, it is a specially designed therapeutic pillow that should reduce head, neck, and spine pain. The cradle positions your neck in the correct position, which allows you to feel relief after just fifteen minutes.
You can use the Chiropractic Pillow anywhere and at any time. It is lightweight and easy to carry around, and small enough to fit most places. So, if you have a serious shoulder pain issue, you may want to consider this product in addition to your regular nighttime pillow.
Conclusion
If you have any kind of shoulder pain, you need one of the best pillows for shoulder pain available. You will be amazed at the way these simple items can make such a difference in your pain management. By using our buyer’s guide and the top five list above, you have all the tools you need to find a great pillow for shoulder pain today.
Try one of these products for yourself and be amazed at how quickly your shoulder pain goes away.
