Why Do I Always “Sleep Funny”?
You wake up and your neck’s stiff, your back aches, or your arm feels like it doesn’t belong to you. You might joke, “I must’ve slept funny,” but when it happens again and again—it’s not so funny anymore.
So what’s actually going on? And more importantly, what can you do about it?
The Real Reason You’re “Sleeping Funny”
“Sleeping funny” isn’t just about how you slept—it’s often about what your body brings into sleep.
If your spine and nervous system are already under stress—whether from poor posture, previous injuries, long hours at a desk, or joint dysfunction—you’re more likely to sleep in compensatory positions. These patterns can twist, compress or overstretch parts of your body through the night, leading to those dreaded wake-up symptoms.
What starts as a little stiffness can eventually spiral into ongoing pain, reduced mobility, or nerve irritation. Studies show that disturbed sleep positions and poor spinal alignment are often linked with musculoskeletal discomfort and sleep quality issues (Mork & Nilsen, 2012).
Signs You’re Not Just Sleeping Funny
- Waking up frequently throughout the night
- Pins and needles or numbness in your arms or hands
- Neck stiffness that lingers through the day
- Difficulty turning your head in the morning
- Feeling more tired after a full night’s sleep
These are red flags your body isn’t adapting well while you rest. And if your nervous system isn’t functioning optimally, it can’t heal properly overnight—which is exactly when most of your repair and recovery takes place.
How Chiropractic Care Helps You Sleep Right
At our Wellington chiropractic clinic, we don’t just focus on the spine—we focus on your body’s ability to function while awake and asleep. Here’s how chiropractic adjustments can help:
1. Restore Spinal Motion and Alignment
Chiropractic adjustments help reduce joint dysfunction, restore movement, and allow your body to adopt more neutral sleep postures naturally—without force.
2. Reduce Nerve Irritation
By improving spinal alignment and decreasing pressure on the nerves, many patients report better sleep and fewer wake-ups due to tingling, numbness or pain (Martins et al., 2018).
3. Enhance Sleep Quality
Chiropractic care has been associated with improved sleep efficiency and decreased pain-related insomnia in both adults and children (Coulter et al., 2019).
4. Support Postural Awareness
We help you identify patterns in how you sit, move, and sleep. Sometimes the problem isn’t your pillow—it’s how your spine is adapting to stress during the day.
Practical Tips to Support Better Sleep
While we address the root cause through your spine and nervous system, here are a few things you can try right now:
- Pillow check: Use a pillow that supports your neck’s natural curve—especially if you’re a side or back sleeper.
- Sleep position: Avoid stomach sleeping; it puts unnecessary strain on your neck and lower back.
- Routine: Stick to a consistent sleep-wake cycle to support your circadian rhythm and spinal health.
Wake Up Well
If you’re tired of waking up tired—or with pain, numbness, or stiffness—there is a reason, and there is a solution. Chiropractic care goes beyond surface symptoms to support your body’s natural sleep posture and overnight healing processes.
At Limitless Chiropractic in Miramar, we help you stop “sleeping funny” and start sleeping well.
References
- Mork, P. J., & Nilsen, T. I. (2012). Sleep problems and risk of chronic musculoskeletal pain: the Norwegian HUNT study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 13(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-13-1
- Martins, W. R., et al. (2018). Association between sleep quality and spinal pain in adolescents. Sleep Health, 4(4), 336–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2018.03.006
- Coulter, I. D., et al. (2019). Manipulative therapies: Chiropractic and osteopathy. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 14(1), 123–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsmc.2018.09.011
Experience Limitless Movement Chiropractic Care in Wellington
If you’re in Wellington and looking for expert chiropractic care, we’re here to help. At Limitless Chiropractic, we focus on helping you move better, feel stronger, and live without limits. Book your appointment today and take the first step toward a healthier, more mobile you!
Ready to begin or continue your healing journey? Let’s work together to unlock your body’s natural potential for wellness.
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or call us at (04) 891 0911