06/22/2026
I tell my patients not to sleep on their stomach. What's wrong with stomach sleeping?
Sleeping on your stomach means locking your head into a turned position for hours - which leaves one the muscles on one side of the neck tightened. It also closes down the holes through which the nerves coming out of the neck closed down, putting pressure on them, decreasing their function and making the muscles of the neck and shoulder tighten even more.
Side or back sleeping doesn't do that. If you sleep on your side, try to keep your head neutral (not up or flopped to the side).
It's hard to break the habit of sleeping on your stomach - but ultimately you will feel better when you wake if you don't sleep that way.