Is it bad to sleep on my stomach?

Yep. Sorry.

What a shame, right? It’s comfortable—sometimes the most comfortable position for certain sleepers. Sleeping partners of those who chronically snore often report that snorers are often quieter when sleeping on their stomach. But the lower part of your spine curves towards your stomach, and sleeping on your stomach puts pressure on that curve. You could wake up with an irritated back.

If you sleep on your stomach for a long time, your neck is stuck in almost complete rotation. That can irritate your joints and nerves to the point where you wake up with a stuck facet joint, or a very painful pinched feeling. Your arm, whichever one is raised above your head, does not appreciate that elevated position. If you wake up with numbness or aching in your hand, that’s due to an irritated ulnar nerve from sleeping with your arm up.

It’s hard to break a habit, but if you need help or other suggestions on how to sleep comfortably, talk to a physiotherapist. We can help.