Content
- 1 Why do the Japanese sleep on the floor
- 2 Is it harmful to sleep on a soft surface
- 3 The benefits of sleeping on the floor
- 4 Who benefits from sleeping on the floor
- 5 Preparation of a sleeping place
- 6 How to sleep on the floor properly
- 7 Who shouldn't sleep on the floor
- 8 The opinion of doctors
- 9 Conclusion
Not only the quality of his rest, but also the state of the musculoskeletal system, as well as the organs and systems associated with it, depends on how comfortable a person feels in a dream. For health benefits, doctors advise sleeping on a hard surface. One option is to sleep on the floor. The question of what are the benefits and harms of sleeping on the floor is therefore worth considering in more detail.
Why do the Japanese sleep on the floor
The Japanese preferred the floor as a sleeping place, first of all, because of the climate: in the warm season in Japan it is very hot, as well as stuffy due to high humidity. It is difficult to fall asleep in this weather. Given the properties of cold air - to move downward with concentration in one place under the pressure of its own gravity - the floor remains the only place in the house where you feel cool, so the Japanese have long used it for sleeping.
Instead of a mattress, it was covered with special covers made of straw. Poor people had matting, coarse fiber mats, while wealthier people had comfortable and high mats (tatami). From above, the tatami was covered with a futon - a mattress filled with wool or cotton, which has properties such as softness and the ability to keep warm.
An additional benefit is in the correct formation of posture, which is especially important in childhood, and natural fiber floor coverings will help good air ventilation.
Is it harmful to sleep on a soft surface
A mattress that is too soft is harmful to the body. Rest is beneficial when the mattress is properly supported by the spine. A soft surface does not have these properties because it cannot hold the body in the correct position for relaxation. Insufficient fixation leads to the following consequences:
- Painful sensations in the morning.
- Pain in the cervicobrachial region, compression of the nerves.
- Spinal curvature development.
- The load on the internal organs due to its incorrect position.
If you sleep only on a soft bed for a long time, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems can develop.
The benefits of sleeping on the floor
The main beneficial property of resting on the floor is that the body, by distributing its weight over the entire surface, recovers well after a day's load.
In addition, sleeping on the floor is beneficial due to the unique properties of hard surfaces:
- the curves of the spine remain in their natural state, the curvature does not develop;
- even distribution of body weight does not overload individual organs, which helps prevent the development of diseases, especially of the heart and pelvic organs;
- solid, even support for the back allows you to relax better - and therefore get a good night's sleep;
- the vertebrae of the cervical spine are fixed so that there is no squeezing of the nerves and blood vessels: the blood flows to the brain in sufficient quantities.
Who benefits from sleeping on the floor
Sleeping conditions on the floor, due to the even distribution of body weight on a hard surface, allow you to relieve tension from the musculoskeletal system and return the vertebrae to a natural position.
The benefits of sleeping on a hard floor will be especially noticeable for people who have:
- spinal hernia;
- scoliosis;
- osteochondrosis;
- curvature of the bones of the lumbar spine;
- spinal cord injury.
The decision to sleep on the floor can also be made by a healthy person for reasons of the benefits of preventing spinal disorders.
Preparation of a sleeping place
Mandatory preparation conditions: the floor must be thoroughly cleaned and the room must be ventilated. After airing, it is necessary to close the windows, as well as the balcony and interior doors. Do not place a sleeping place near windows, balconies, doors, heaters, fans and air conditioners.
If the surface is concrete, care must be taken that the mattress is high, warm and protected from contact with the cold mat. You can buy an inflatable bed, Japanese tatami, or use a wooden base.
The mattress can also be placed on a carpet or carpet. To ensure sufficient rigidity, it is better to purchase a special orthopedic mattress. A travel mat can also be used as a base between the mattress.
A classic down pillow won't be useful. It is better to replace it with a special roller or a small flat pillow with silicone or foam filling. After all, the cervical spine should not be too high and at the same time be well fixed, and large and soft pillows do not have such capabilities, therefore they can harm the neck.
But it is also impossible to completely abandon the pillow: for beneficial relaxation, the muscles of the neck must have support. The correct position of the head on the bolster and pillow is shown in the pictures.
How to sleep on the floor properly
Switching to a new rest regimen can initially cause discomfort and pain. So that the “moving” from the bed to the floor does not become a shock for the body, it is recommended to purchase a hard orthopedic mattress for the bed in advance. When the body adapts to rigidity and gets used to it, you can try to arrange a sleeping place on the floor.
Comfort depends on the posture. The best position is on your back, with your knees bent. The beneficial properties of this posture are maximum relaxation and comfort. The benefit of lying on the floor on your back is also manifested in the distribution of the load on the organs during sleep.
The position on the side and on the stomach have their own characteristics. If you sleep on your stomach, then the neck takes the main load, while the position of the body on your side will affect the heart or lungs.
Who shouldn't sleep on the floor
If a person has chronic diseases, especially of the genitourinary, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, then he should first consult with a doctor about the benefits and harms of sleeping on a hard surface: each case will have individual recommendations.
In general, contraindications will relate to:
- obesity;
- rehabilitation period after surgery;
- late pregnancy.
Until the 13th week, it will be useful for a pregnant woman to sleep on her back, and after this period, to prevent squeezing of the kidneys, sleep on the left side is recommended.
In order for sleep to benefit not only the expectant mother, but also the child, it is advisable to put pillows under the stomach and under the legs. A special maternity pillow can be purchased.
The opinion of doctors
Doctors recommend sleeping on a hard surface for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Sleeping on the floor is considered as an adjunctive therapy and prevention of spinal diseases.
However, doctors note that sleeping on the floor alone is not enough.To achieve the result, you need medical or surgical treatment, a visit to the massage room and the pool, wearing corsets.
Experts assign an important role to an orthopedic mattress and a roller: a competent selection of special useful accessories for rest helps to eliminate the harm of osteochondrosis, scoliosis, arthrosis and a number of disorders in the proper functioning of the body.
Conclusion
The benefits and harms of sleeping on the floor depend on medical indications and the correct approach to organizing it. Sleeping on the floor is beneficial for the musculoskeletal system and the whole body as a whole, but if this method is used as a complex therapy for spinal disorders, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of the attending physician exactly.
