Sleep helps our body repair and is particularly needed after a workout session. Your sleeping posture can impact your sleep quality and, in turn, your muscle growth.
Sleeping on the back is the best sleep posture for muscle growth. Ensure that your head is facing the ceiling and your knee is supported with a pillow. Fill any gaps between your body and the mattress with pillows for additional support. This posture will optimize your sleep quality, meaning that your body and muscles will repair better.
This sleeping posture may not be your favorite, and that’s okay. Let’s look at many different sleeping positions and how you can optimize them for muscle growth.
Sleeping on your back with knee support
This sleeping position is usually considered the best when it comes to your back’s health. Your weight will be distributed across the length of your body while you sleep. With minimal pressure points, your head, neck, and spine will be properly aligned.
This sleeping position optimizes your sleep quality and, as such, is excellent for muscle growth. However, if you need extra support while sleeping in this position, place a pillow under your knees. This way, you’ll maintain your spine’s natural curve.
How do you sleep in this position? You should:
1. Lie down on your back and ensure that your head directly faces the ceiling.
2. Place a pillow under your head for support.
3. Position a small pillow under your knees.
4. Be sure to fill any gaps between your body and the mattress with pillows for additional support, for example, the gap under your lower back.
Sleeping on the side with a pillow in-between your knees
This position is comfortable, and many people lie on their side while sleeping. However, you can pull your spine out of position and sprain your lower back while lying on your side. The good news is that it is correctable.
If you sleep on the side, you should always place a firm pillow between your knees. This way, your upper leg is raised, restoring the natural alignment of your pelvis, hips, and spine. The result will be improved sleep quality and optimal muscle growth in men.
How do you sleep in this position? You should:
1. Carefully lie on one side of your bed.
2. Place a pillow under your head for support.
3. Pull up your knees slightly and put a firm pillow between them.
4. If you need additional support, you can fill any gaps between your body and the mattress with pillows.
You can also try hugging your pillow while sleeping on your side to help keep your back aligned.
Sleeping in the fetal position:
This curled-up position is suitable for people with a herniated disc. It helps bring relief while you’re lying on your bed at night. When you lie on your side and tuck your knees toward your chest, the bending of your spine reduces, and your joints open up.
This position makes you more comfortable and improves your sleep quality. That is why it is also good for muscle growth.
How do you sleep in this position? You should:
1. Carefully lie on one side of your bed.
2. Place a pillow under your head for support.
3. Now, pull your knees up toward your chest until your back becomes relatively straight.
Sleeping on your front
This sleeping position is the worst of them all. But if you’re having difficulties sleeping in another posture, you should place a thin pillow under your stomach and hips. It will help improve your spinal alignment.
This position is not the best when it comes to optimizing muscle growth. But it has benefits for those with degenerative disc disease or herniated disc.
How do you sleep in this position? You should:
1. Carefully get into bed and lie on your front.
2. Raise your mid-area by placing a slim pillow under your stomach and hips.
3. You can support your head with a flat pillow (optional).
Sleeping on the front with your head face down:
When you sleep on the front, your head is turned to one side. This is a bad sleeping posture and should be avoided. It twists your spine, adding extra stress to your shoulders, neck, and spine.
An excellent way to prevent this is by lying face down. You may use a tightly rolled-up towel or a small firm pillow to prop up your forehead. This way, you’ll be able to breathe.
This sleeping posture is not the best when it comes to enhancing muscle growth. But you can optimize it and improve your sleep quality in a few ways. Don’t forget to place a pillow underneath your stomach while lying face down.
How do you sleep in this position? You should:
1. Carefully get into bed and lie on your front.
2. Raise your mid-area by placing a slim pillow under your stomach and hips.
3. Place a rolled-up towel or firm pillow under your forehead to enable enough room for breathing between your mouth and the mattress.
Sleeping on your back in a reclined position:
Although this sleeping position is not the best for muscle growth, it is very beneficial to those with lower back pain. In fact, it is particularly ideal for people who suffer isthmic spondylolisthesis. Sleeping in a reclined position can provide relief for people with such conditions. If this case applies to you, get an adjustable bed and always position it accordingly while sleeping on it.
How do I improve my sleep quality?
As I mentioned earlier, the quality of your sleep can significantly impact your muscle growth. So, it is crucial to learn how to optimize your sleep quality.
- Reduce night-time blue light exposure
Light exposure during the night has adverse effects on your sleep quality. It has a way of impacting your circadian rhythm, causing the brain to think that it is still daytime. It lowers your melatonin level, a hormone that helps you sleep deeply.
You can reduce your night-time blue light exposure by decreasing your screen time during this period. There are other ways that you can do this. They include:
· Wearing glasses that can block blue light
· Turn off all bright lights and stop watching TV 2 hours before going to bed.
· Download an app that will block blue light on your phone. These apps are available for both Android and iPhone models.
- Increase your exposure to daytime light
Daylight exposure has many important benefits, including better sleep quality. Your circadian rhythm serves as a natural clock that tells your body the time to sleep or stay awake. It stays healthy thanks to bright light and natural sunlight.
A healthy circadian rhythm improves your daytime energy and night-time sleep duration and quality. Daytime bright light exposure can even benefit people who suffer from insomnia. It enhances sleep quality and reduces the time it takes for you to fall asleep.
You can increase your night-time sleep duration significantly by getting enough daylight. This way, you’ll get enough quality sleep and optimize your muscle growth. It doesn’t matter whether or not you have sleep issues. Anyone can enhance their sleep quality by increasing their daylight exposure.
If you cannot get enough natural light during the day, buy some bulbs. Bright artificial lighting can also help you improve your sleep quality.
- Don’t take caffeine late in the day.
Many people consume caffeine every day thanks to its many benefits. You can boost your energy, focus, and sports performance with only a single dose. So it is not advisable to take it when you want to relax. Taking caffeine at night can stimulate your nervous system, preventing you from relaxing or sleeping at night.
Avoid taking anything that contains caffeine 6 hours before you sleep. It can impair your sleep quality and, in turn, your muscle growth. Since caffeine can stay in the human blood for up to 5 hours, it is advisable not to drink coffee any later than 4 p.m. This applies more to people with sleep issues.
Sometimes you may crave coffee in the evening. In this case, you should opt for decaffeinated coffee.
- Avoid prolonged or irregular daytime napping.
There is nothing wrong with taking short power naps, but more extended and irregular daytime napping can negatively impact your sleep quality. When you sleep during the day, it may confuse your internal clock, causing you to experience trouble sleeping at night.
Taking naps during the day can even make you sleepier. The best practice would be to take daytime naps that are no longer than 30 minutes. This way, you’ll not only enhance your daytime brain function, but you’ll also optimize your night-time sleep quality. With improved sleep quality, your muscles will thrive.
For some people, a regular daytime nap does not affect night-time sleep quality. So if you’re among such people, you don’t have to worry about your sleep quality being compromised due to daytime napping. The effects of daytime napping may vary depending on the individual.
Conclusion
While sleeping on your back is the best posture, you may find it hard to fall asleep in this position. No matter what your favorite sleeping posture is, you must always ensure your comfort while sleeping. After all, more comfort means better sleep quality, which in turn means better muscle growth.
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