Want fewer morning aches? You might have to change the way you sleep

"Sleeping in an awkward position tends to create gaps between your body and your pillow or mattress, Wermter says. "Your soft tissue is going to want to sag into those gaps, and the muscles tense to make up for that" in order to protect against potential injury. Over the course of a night, that muscle tension can cause inflammation and pain."

"When you sleep in a position that follows the natural curvature of your spine, it reduces the possibility of muscle strain. While lying down, your body should form a straight line from the top of your head to your tailbone. Wermter suggests placing your ears over your shoulders and your shoulders over your hips. Point your chin straight ahead, not tucked into your chest or stretched up toward the sky. Aim for symmetry with your arms for proper circulation."

Morning muscle pain along the spine often results from hours of improper support while sleeping. Sleeping in awkward positions creates gaps between the body and pillow or mattress, causing soft tissue to sag and muscles to tense to protect against injury. That muscle tension over a night can cause inflammation, pain, and disrupted sleep from tossing and turning. Sleeping with spinal alignment that mirrors standing posture reduces muscle strain. While lying down, the body should form a straight line from head to tailbone, with ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips, a neutral chin, and symmetrical arms. Back sleepers find alignment easier, while side or stomach sleepers may need to adjust the sleep surface or retrain their position. Avoid sleeping on the stomach.

Read at www.npr.org