Sleeping should be on your back or side, never on your stomach. The sleeping platform needs to
be firm and supportive, and the pillow soft but supportive.

When sleeping on your back a thinner pillow is called for, with the leading edge rolled slightly to
support the forward curve of the neck, and the head resting in the narrower pocket of the pillow’s
center. When sleeping on your side, a thicker pillow is used, with the pillow pulled into the gap
between neck and shoulder, so that the head remains in neutral alignment with the spine.

If low back pain is a problem while sleeping, a pillow beneath your knees when on your back, or
between your knees when on your side will often give relief. Successful mattress and pillow
combinations vary for different body types, and sometimes experimenting with mattress firmness
by selecting a different bed, placing a 5/8″ piece of particle board between the mattress and box springs, or by setting the mattress directly on the floor, is necessary. Conventional mattresses are usually good for five years or so before spring sag and material degradation make them poor sleeping platforms.