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This article explains the advantages and disadvantages of soft pillows, how to choose one, and more, for those who dislike hard pillows and have been using soft ones, but are experiencing neck and shoulder pain and suspect their pillow might be the cause.
What is a soft pillow?
The sensation of a pillow's firmness or softness, as well as individual preferences, vary from person to person. Generally, soft pillows give a feeling of gently cradling the head, so many people probably prefer "cushiony soft pillows."
With some exceptions, the softness of a pillow is fundamentally determined by its material. Choose a material that allows you to relax most, considering not only firmness and softness but also touch and scent.
Main materials for soft pillows
Here are seven representative materials for soft pillows. Learn about their characteristics and find the material that suits your preferences.
Wool
A natural material made from sheep's wool processed into spheres. It is highly cushioned, excellent at retaining heat, and boasts high resilience.
Disadvantages include heat retention and susceptibility to insects because it's a natural material. Some products are washable at home, while others are not.
Polyester fiberfill
A synthetic fiber made by processing polyester into a cotton-like form. Its excellent elasticity provides a fluffy sleeping experience. Being a chemical fiber, it's resistant to insects, many products are machine washable at home, and they are often inexpensive.
However, it has disadvantages such as low absorbency and a tendency to flatten.
Down
A natural material made from the feathers of waterfowl. If the down ratio is 51% or more, it's a down pillow; if it's 50% or less, it's a feather pillow. The higher the down ratio, the more resilient it becomes.
Its high heat retention keeps you warm in winter, and excellent moisture absorption and release prevent the pillow from feeling stuffy even if you sweat, making it easy to use throughout the year.
Disadvantages include feathers potentially poking out of the pillow and it being unsuitable for those with allergies.
Urethane
A type of plastic foam made by combining specific materials. There are various types, including seamless urethane foam, finely crushed urethane chips, and urethane gel which is a fusion of gel and urethane.
Pillows made with urethane come in two types: low-rebound and high-rebound. The material for soft pillows is low-rebound urethane. It conforms to the shape of your head, relieving pressure on the head and neck, and provides a soft and comfortable sleep. However, it also has disadvantages such as poor ventilation, leading to stuffiness, and making it difficult to turn over.
Microbeads
Pillows made from fine beads are characterized by their extreme softness. They feel good to the touch and fit perfectly to the shape of your head and neck. However, they lack resilience, causing the head to sink deeply, which can make it difficult to turn over.
Crushed latex
A material made by crushing a mixture of natural latex and synthetic rubber. It is characterized by moderate elasticity that supports the head and high resilience, offering a fluffy, soft sleeping experience.
Generally, it cannot be washed with water or sun-dried, and people with rubber allergies cannot use it.
Panya
A natural material made from the seeds of the kapok tree. It is characterized by high moisture absorption and a unique softness that conforms to the head.
Disadvantages include heat retention and a tendency to flatten slightly. It also needs frequent drying, and can harden when wet.
Advantages of soft pillows
Soft pillows, which offer an excellent fit for the head and neck, gently cradle the head, making them feel very comfortable to sleep on. They can maintain the head and neck in a correct posture, reducing unnecessary strain on the body, which is one of the advantages of less muscle burden. Furthermore, many materials offer excellent heat retention, making them recommended for colder seasons.
Disadvantages of soft pillows
While providing a comfortable, gently enveloping sensation, some people may find that their head position is not stable.
Moreover, precisely because they are soft, the head sinks deeply, making it difficult to turn over during sleep. If the number of times you turn over decreases, you remain in the same posture for longer periods, which can increase the burden on your neck and shoulder muscles, potentially leading to a stiff neck, or pain in the neck, shoulders, and lower back.
On the other hand, slightly firmer pillows prevent the head from sinking too much and guide you to a correct sleeping posture, thus supporting smooth turning over.
Reasons why soft pillows can cause neck and shoulder pain
Since pillow softness cannot be expressed numerically, it is difficult to draw a line between moderately soft pillows and excessively soft pillows. Therefore, let's check if your sleeping posture is appropriate when your head rests on the pillow.
Soft, low pillow
With a soft pillow that is too low, where the head sinks deeply, the back of the head may hit the mattress, causing a feeling of pressure. Since the head and neck cannot be properly supported, your sleeping posture can become distorted, leading to stiff shoulders and neck pain.
This is common with down pillows that have a high down ratio, such as over 90%. Check if you feel like you're bottoming out when you rest your head on it.
Soft, high pillow
Using a pillow stuffed so full of soft material that there is no room for the head to sink will raise the head's position.
When the back of the head is high, it puts a strain on the neck and shoulders, leading to stiffness and pain, and often causes a stiff neck from falling off the pillow during sleep. Also, the neck is compressed, narrowing the airway, which can lead to snoring.
How to choose a soft pillow that suits you
Here's how to choose a soft pillow that suits your physique and sleeping posture.
1: Angle when sleeping on your back
Generally, when lying on your back with your head on the pillow, the ideal sleeping posture is considered to be when the angle of inclination from your neck to your head is 10-15 degrees, and the tip of your chin is 0-5 degrees lower than your forehead.
2: Ease of turning over
Soft pillows conform well to the curve of the neck, but the head may sink too deeply or feel unstable, which can make it difficult to turn over. It's important to check whether you can turn over smoothly even with a soft pillow.
3: Choose from products designed for sleep
It's important to use a pillow that matches your physique and sleeping posture, so choose not only based on pillow softness, but also from pillows developed to provide quality sleep.
Use a soft pillow that suits you
Soft pillows, which offer a comfortable, enveloping sensation when sleeping, have both advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, choose a pillow that suits you.
It is said that "sleep accounts for one-third of life," so by being particular about the pillow you use for such a long time, you can alleviate daily fatigue and allow both your mind and body to recover. If you are concerned about neck and shoulder pain, why not reconsider your pillow?
