As the Mobile Chiropractor of Dallas, PEAKiropractic, keeps getting calls from people that are stuck in bed due to back pain. Most of the time, the conversation includes their mattress and what changed over the past few days/weeks. They always end up asking us the question “Should I sleep on the floor?” or “what are the benefits of sleeping on the floor?”. On the other hand, there are patients that ask us “why is sleeping on the floor comfortable?”. Below, we’ll give you the 5 benefits you may experience when sleeping on the floor.
1. Hard surface for proper support
To begin with, it’s obvious that the floor is a hard surface. Unlike mattresses that are soft and curve around the body, the floor remains unchanged! This provides the body with the support it needs.
Over time, the larger areas of the body, such as the hips and shoulders, sink into the mattress, creating divots. This does not provide the body with the necessary support and may over time lead to poor posture and back pain.
That will not be the case with sleeping on the floor. You will always have the necessary support to avoid bad posture and back pain. No wonder why sleeping on the floor is comfortable…
2. Reduce back pain
There are both kinds of people. The ones that claim sleeping on the floor made their backs’ hurt and the ones that swear it helps them every time! I guess the difference between the two, lays in the level of comfort and mattress softness they are each used to.
The cold-turkey transition from a soft mattress to the floor can be brutal and should be avoided. If you are combatting back pain and want to give the floor a chance, you should take easy with the transition. Here are a few things you can do to make the transition easier:
- Use a yoga mat or a folded blanket to separate you from the floor. This will act as an insulator and padding for certain areas of your body like the hips.
- Begin by taking naps on the floor, instead of spending all night. This will allow you to get familiarized with the changes but also discover the most comfortable position for you.
- Prepare yourself mentally. Often people create a negative experience in their mind before they even experienced that thing. Sleeping on the floor is one of those “things”! Keep an open mind, take the necessary steps towards it and go for it.
3. May help improve posture
Because of the support the floor provides when you sleep on it, your body can fully relax. When it doesn’t have to fight divots in the mattress, the body is able to relax and help the spine realign itself. This symmetrical relaxation of the body’s muscles can help over time improve one’s posture. When people sleep for years in a twisted posture, it could lead to scolisis and poor posture.
4. Stay cooler throughout the night
This will be a relief for the people that heat up during the night. Study shows that the core body temperature is reduced during restful sleep. If you’re able to facilitate this reduction in core body temperature and maintain it, you might be looking at a great night’s sleep.
Sleeping on the floor is quite a bit cooler than sleeping in bed. In fact, we would recommend you take your blanket to the floor with you just in case. Do this, even if you don’t lower the temperature of your air condition unit.
Unlike sleeping on a mattress, the floor does not retain our body’s heat. This allows our bodies to remain cooler throughout the night and wake up more refreshed instead of sweaty.
5. Get more restful sleep
If you’re looking for ways to improve your sleep quality, try sleeping on the floor. When ones consider all of the above points, it is evident that sleeping on the floor could provide you with more restful sleep. Having good support, to alleviate back pain and improve your posture, while staying cooler throughout the night, sounds like a recipe for restful sleep.
Although not everyone will take on the idea of sleeping on the floor, and it’s not for everyone, we believe that everyone can benefit from a nap or two on the floor.
If you do decide to give the floor a try, remember our 3 recommendations for a smooth transition: Prepare yourself mentally, use a mat or a blanket, and start with small duration naps. You will soon find out why sleeping on the floor is comfortable, and you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it yet!
If you end up sticking to that same old soft mattress and you have a hard time getting out of bed, don’t say we didn’t warn you…
You can also check out our article on home remedies for better sleep, and then contact us to set up your appointment to get you straighened out.
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