My ‘puppy paws' trick works like a charm when I can't sleep — other people call them ‘T-Rex arms'

New York Post

a day ago

Who sleeps deeper or sweeter than a puppy?
This essential truth is at the heart, or paw, of a viral sleeping hack.
Pablo Herrera demonstrated the canine-inspired trick — also known as 'T-Rex arms' — on TikTok. Looking restless in his frightfully bright bedroom, the influencer rose, removed his pillow, and, folded his hands into paw position, tucking his wrists under his chest and settles down for sleep.
'This works like a charm, I don't know why,' he wrote in the caption for the video, which has amassed more than 2 million likes.
Pablo Herrera demonstrated the canine-inspired trick — also known as 'T-Rex arms' — on TikTok.
@pabloherreratk / TikTok
But sleep experts have some thoughts on why puppy paws may pave the way to slumberland.
'If this position reduces anxious thoughts about sleep, it may be a helpful distraction,' psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist Dr. Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, told The Post.
'Anything that has a calming effect, and takes your mind off of the 'why can't I fall asleep!??!' type of thinking is helpful.'
Changing positions when you're feeling fitful can often operate as a reset button for the central nervous system, relieving pressure on joints and muscles, disrupting spiral thinking, and bringing the focus back to the body.
The puppy paws position can be accessed by lying on the stomach or side and mimics the feeling of being contained and restrained as swaddled infants, creating a sense of comfort and subverting the body's stress response.
Similar to the effects of a weighted blanket of gentle pressure therapy, puppy paws puts light compression on the torso, which can activate the body's 'rest and digest' mode.
The hack is inspired by the deep, unbothered sleep of pups.
shellybychowskishots – stock.adobe.com
While Herrera ditches his pillow in pursuit of puppy paws, the hack is bettered by a bolster.
To sleep max with the power of the paws, experts recommend placing a thin pillow or blanket under the arms to reduce wrist pressure and eliminate neck strain. Paw participants should unclench their fists, allowing their hands to relax.
The hack is particularly effective for stomach sleepers who don't require as much mid-sleep shuffling to assume the puppy paws position.
However, experts warn that there are drawbacks, or barks, to the benign-sounding puppy paws hack.
'Sleeping on your stomach is the most risky for breathing — the airway can be blocked and the diaphragm cannot move as well,' dentist and sleep expert Dr. Stephen Carstensen told The Post.
He noted that the tucked-in hand positioning can cut off blood flow, leading to painful cramping or tingling.
In that vein, experts caution the puppy paw curious to be mindful about excessive strain or pressure on the wrists.
Indeed, the comments section of Herrera's post is rife with reports of waking up with numb hands and sore wrists, with some users suggesting the pose can contribute to the very real nightmare of arthritis and carpal tunnel.
When it comes to puppy paw sleeping, if it doesn't feel right, it isn't right for you.
'There is little harm in this approach. However, it has not been studied or proven,' cautioned Dimitriu. He recommends that those struggling to sleep follow the protocol for more proven methods like Yoga Nidra meditation and the lauded military method.