Back pain is very common and affects people of all ages. While it generally improves in a few days, or sometimes weeks, back pain can continue for a long period. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 1 in 7 Australians (13.6%) are reported having back pain problems – that’s 3 Million people. Over 2 in 5 people with back problems (44%) have difficulty in activities associated with mobility, communication or self-care.

Several things can cause it, including a sudden movement or fall, an injury, a medical condition or your sleeping positions. The pain is usually due to the way the bones, discs, tendons, muscle, and ligaments work together.

Your sleeping pose can have a major impact on your slumber—as well as your overall health. Poor sleeping posture could potentially cause back and neck pain. As well as fatigue, sleep apnea, muscle cramping, impaired circulation, headaches, heartburn, tummy troubles, and even premature wrinkles.

Here’s our recommended sleep positions to help fix lower back pain faster.
1. On Your Back
Though it’s not the most popular position—only eight percent of people sleep on their backs—it’s still the best. By far the healthiest option for most people is sleeping on your back. This allows your head, neck, and spine to rest in a neutral position. Also, this means that there’s no extra pressure on those areas, so you’re less likely to experience pain.

Sleeping facing the ceiling also ideal for warding off acid reflux. Just be sure to use a pillow that elevates and supports your head enough. You want your stomach to be below your esophagus to prevent food or acid from coming up your digestive tract. However, snoozing on your back can cause the tongue to block the breathing tube. Making it a dangerous position for those who suffer from sleep apnea (a condition that causes periods of breathlessness). This position can also make snoring more severe.

2. On Your Side
This position (where your torso and legs are relatively straight) also helps decrease acid reflux. And since your spine is elongated, it wards off back and neck pain. Plus, you’re less likely to snore in this snooze posture, because it keeps airways open. For that reason, it’s also the best choice for those with sleep apnea. Fifteen percent of adult choose to sleep on their side, but there’s one downside: It can lead to wrinkles, because half of your face pushes against a pillow.

3. In the Fetal Position
With 41% of adults choosing this option, it’s the most popular sleep position. A loose, fetal position (where you’re on your side and your torso is hunched and your knees are bent)—especially on your left side. This position is great if you are pregnant. That’s because it improves circulation in your body and in the fetus, and it prevents your uterus from pressing against your liver, which is on your right side.

This pose is also good for snorers. But resting in a fetal position that’s curled up too tightly can restrict breathing in your diaphragm. And it can leave you feeling a bit sore in the morning, particularly if you have arthritis in your joints or back. Prevent these woes by straightening out your body as much as you can, instead of tucking your chin into your chest and pulling your knees up high. You can also reduce strain on your hips by placing a pillow between your knees.

4. On Your Stomach
While this is good for easing snoring, it’s bad for practically everything else. Seven percent of adults pick this pose, but it can lead to back and neck pain, since it’s hard to keep your spine in a neutral position. Plus, stomach sleepers put pressure on their muscles and joints, possibly leading to numbness, tingling, aches, and irritated nerves. It’s best to try to choose another position, but if you must sleep on your stomach, try lying face down to keep upper airways open—instead of with your head turned to one side—with your forehead propped up on a pillow to allow room to breathe.

Adjustable bed will improve your quality of sleep, better preparing you for the day ahead!