Elevation During Sleep?

Off Topic
1

I wasn’t sure where to start this thread. It is about sleep.

I had a heavy day at the gym the other day and got one of those mad headaches due to the strain and the heat.

One of the trainers told me to sleep with my head and chest elevated where I am almost sitting up to alleviate the pressure of blood to my head and will help with the headache.

I tried it I have no idea if it was the elevation or the Aleve but my headache was gone when I woke up.

He also said that on heavy leg days you should sleep with your legs elevated.

Now… wouldn’t you need the extra blood going to your legs to work on your abused muscles?

Has anyone else heard of this sleep elevation?

2

With all my back and glute issues lately, I’ve been sleeping with a pillow under my knees. I have to say it’s helped a lot. I don’t seem to have as much lower back soreness as I used to when I get up in the morning.

I haven’t had any experience with sleeping with my head elevated like what you described, but that’s been my experience with elevating my legs.

3

[quote]AngryVader wrote:
With all my back and glute issues lately, I’ve been sleeping with a pillow under my knees. I have to say it’s helped a lot. I don’t seem to have as much lower back soreness as I used to when I get up in the morning.

I haven’t had any experience with sleeping with my head elevated like what you described, but that’s been my experience with elevating my legs.[/quote]

Thanks Vader,

I was planning on giving the leg elevation a try at least once to see if that helps.

I definitely see how a pillow under the knees would help with back issues.

I just wasn’t sure how elevation would go to help with muscle repair but it might help with any inflammation.

4

I believe I’ve read pillows under the legs just puts the back in a more comfortable position. I don’t know if it will help recover the legs, but I do know that it will help your back feel a lot better–which you probably want after a day of squats and deads. The worst way to sleep is on your stomach, that kills your lower back.

Now if I can only find out what the pillows under the head would do…

This is total speculation, but I’m guessing the upright position reduced blood pressure in the head. Heavy lifting and holding your breath builds pressure in the head, which may have caused the headache. Sleeping elevated may reduce the pressure, while the Aleve may have helped thin the blood.