What position do you sleep in? One may indicate a hidden illness
Do you wake up at night and find yourself in this position?
TL;DR
- The 'flamingo' sleep position involves sleeping on the stomach or side with one leg bent and the other extended, or on the back with one foot resting against the calf of the other leg.
- While social media claims link it to stress or hip pain, experts state it's not always a cause for alarm and can simply be a comfortable position.
- This position is often seen in individuals with hypermobility, a condition where joints extend beyond the normal range of motion, and is sometimes associated with neurodivergence.
- Chronic pain or physical injury can also lead to adopting this sleeping posture.
- For some, sleeping in this potentially unstable position may lead to joint strain or muscle stiffness.
- Sleeping on the side with one leg raised, a variation of the flamingo pose, might reduce the risk of sleep apnea and other breathing problems.
- The focus for somatotherapists is on understanding why a position is comfortable, rather than assuming it indicates stress or underlying issues.