Lordosis Advice (sleeping) ?

[mug2k]

Hi

Someone on another forum linked me to the awesome lordosis article, if had known of the word 'lordosis' I could of tried to fix this problem long ago.

Anyway I'm gonna start the exercise techniques straightaway but I have another question. I've just come back from a holiday in India and had been sleeping on an extra extra firm bed. My bed at home is pretty soft and I sink a little when I lie down, this bed in India was essentially and slab of wood with a 3-4 inch comforter on top. At first the bed was a little uncomfortable but after a few days I got used to it and during my 2 weeks of holiday I never had a bad back at all. The same can't bed said for when I came back, my back was killing after my 1st nighs sleep on my old bed. Its taken about 5 days and only today have I noticed the pain subsiding.

Would a hard bed be a good tool in the fight to fix my lordosis or more of a hinderance ?

Thanks,
Marcus

[izzostrength]

Hmmmm...are you trying to "flatten" out your lordosis? Becuase I wil tell you, that a natural curve to the spine is normal. if you think you have excessive lordosis (and I don't think you should be self diagnosing yourslef), yuo probably have a SLIGHT anterior pelvic tilt. It can be rectified with simple hip flexor stretches and hamstring strengthening, with core work.

[mug2k]

Hmmmm...are you trying to "flatten" out your lordosis? Becuase I wil tell you, that a natural curve to the spine is normal. if you think you have excessive lordosis (and I don't think you should be self diagnosing yourslef), yuo probably have a SLIGHT anterior pelvic tilt. It can be rectified with simple hip flexor stretches and hamstring strengthening, with core work.

I'd love to flatten my curve a bit because I do think its pretty excessive, lots of people throughout my life have asked me why stick my ass out when I walk . The point of my question was to find out if a firmer mattress is more beneficial than a softer one.

[Monk]

I agree with Izzo.

Curves are good, much stronger than straight lines. An excessive lumbar lordosis is a very rare condition which I see mainly in Affro-Caribean females.

The rule with beds is easy: Try properly before you buy!! Go with what you find comfiest! The last time I bought a bed it was because I had slept on the bed in a hotel. I took the covers off found the Manufacturer details and went from there.... think out the box and try PROPERLY before you buy.

Lying on a bed in a showroom is tantamount to kicking the tyres when you buy a second hand car!!

[mug2k]

I agree with Izzo.

Curves are good, much stronger than straight lines. An excessive lumbar lordosis is a very rare condition which I see mainly in Affro-Caribean females.

The rule with beds is easy: Try properly before you buy!! Go with what you find comfiest! The last time I bought a bed it was because I had slept on the bed in a hotel. I took the covers off found the Manufacturer details and went from there.... think out the box and try PROPERLY before you buy.

Lying on a bed in a showroom is tantamount to kicking the tyres when you buy a second hand car!!

I'm partly Afro Caribbean so maybe thats where the curve comes from, but my 2 brothers have much straighter backs. Hopefully with the exercises I'll see some progress. Got any idea how long on average it takes to see some difference ?.

Trying a bed properly doesn't seem like a viable option, what am I gonna do sleep in a bed showroom for a couple of nights ?

[jakemcmillan]

The exercises prescribed by mehdi for lordosis helped me feel improvement in my lower back within 2 weeks. I also sleep with a pillow underneath my knees when I sleep which seems to align my pelvis better. My back feels better when I get up in the morning because of this.

[MrWalk]

I, for one, was definitely helped by a firmer mattress. I had developed pretty bad lower back problems and eventually figured out that the sloping sleep on a soft mattress was the main contributor. Your experience in India seems to suggest the same might be true for you.

If you feel like you might have Lordosis then you can do the exercises and free your mind of worry over it. If you need them, great. If not, you aren't hurting anything and your mind is free.

[hemram4u]

I am not sure why but by switching from back to side sleep is helping me lot

also add 2 more things to mehdi suggested exercises:

1. Vaccum exercise
2. Pelvic tilt
basically you have to target transverse abdominus, which I wasn't doing ...
http://www.performbetter.com/catalog/matriarch/OnePiecePage.asp_Q_PageID_E_79_A_PageName_E_ArticleBoyleAreYouDown
http://www.hesfit.com/men/comment/losing-your-gut-anterior-pelvic-tilt/

Be patience u will get there!

[HarrisonSL]

I disagree with izzo and monk. A firmer mattress is better for your back regardless of whether you have lordosis or not. I know people who have cured back pain by placing a wooden board under their mattress.

Also i assume you know but sleeping on your back is best.
You will know if you have lordosis, your ass and belly stick out more than they should. I don't think self diagnosis is so preposterous, I think ignoring the bad posture is worse.

You cannot flatten out your back by sleeping on something flat. Sleeping on something mushy on the other hand will make the the problem worse

[bkklift]

I think HarrisonSL is right but another very important factor is sleeping position.

Avoid sleeping on your front. Like jakemcmillan said, sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees or sleep on our side, again with a pillow between your knees.

[HarrisonSL]

but another very important factor is sleeping position.

Avoid sleeping on your front. Like jakemcmillan said, sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees or sleep on our side, again with a pillow between your knees.

Thats why I said sleep on your back. ^^

[bkklift]

Thats why I said sleep on your back. ^^

Whooops And right you were too Harrison

[StevieB]

its true about sleeping position, but its not always fully within your control.

I go to bed on my front, but my girlfriend says I actually sleep on my back