Pillow Types to Consider By Ron Miller, PT

When determining personal preference, the following features should be considered:

• Cervical pillows, also sometimes called orthopedic pillows, have a distinctive shape. There is a higher area where the neck is supported, then the pillow dips where the head is supported. The pillow may be made with memory foam. For some, these cervical pillows are more comfortable if they are turned upside down—so the concave side is flipped to face down at the mattress. These pillows tend to draw strong reactions, with some people enthusiastic about the results and others finding them uncomfortable.
• Feather pillows can be easily manipulated to offer support where it is needed. This can be especially helpful for those who change sleep positions frequently.
• Memory foam is designed to conform to the head, holding it in place.

Whatever pillow is selected, it should be flexible enough to move with the body. The body should not have to adapt to the pillow.

Finally, for those recovering from a neck injury or flare-up of a cervical spine condition, different types of pillows may be more comfortable at different stages of the recovery, so it is a good idea to have multiple pillows to choose from to allow for change.