, Teimour Allahyari, Zanyar Karimi, Hamidreza Khalkhali,
Volume 13, Issue 3 (9-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Pillows play a key role in supporting muscles and maintaining the natural posture of the neck during sleep. The present study aimed to measure and investigate the effect of pillow shape, filling material, and sleeping posture on cervical angle and perceived comfort during sleep.
Methods: A total of 10 participants (5 males and 5 females) with a mean age of 26.7 years took part in this study. Each participant used the tested four pillows (two cylindrical pillows and two rectangular pillows, one with wool content and the other with memory foam) for one hour (30 minutes in the supine position and 30 minutes in the lateral position). During the experiment, the cervical angle was measured using a Kinect sensor. At the end of each 30-minute session, participants were asked to report their perceived comfort level with visual analogue scale (VAS).
Results: Analysis of variance revealed that the cervical angle in the cylindrical wool pillow with the supine posture was significantly greater than in other conditions (P < 0.01). The smallest cervical angle was observed with the rectangular memory foam pillow in the lateral posture. Comparison of sleeping posture effects on cervical angle showed a significant difference between the two studied postures (P < 0.01). The highest perceived comfort was reported in the lateral posture using a traditional rectangular pillow.
Conclusion: The results indicate that pillow shape and material, as well as sleeping posture, significantly affect cervical angle and perceived comfort. Therefore, selecting an appropriate pillow based on sleeping posture may help improve comfort and maintain proper cervical alignment during sleep
