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A Back And Neck Pain Specialist Says Why These Famous Pillows Are Actually Worth The Investment

Poor sleep position is the number one cause ofneck- and back-related pain, according to what Ben Gruen, lead chiropractor for New York City's Move Well MD and member of the American Chiropractic Association, observes in his practice. It's also largely avoidable with the proper pillow and a little bit of education. When broaching the idea of a 'proper pillow' it's not unrealistic to think of Tempur-Pedic, a well-known mattress and sleep brand that will forever be recognized for its responsive, NASA-developed 'viscoelastic memory foam, which the brand calls Tempur-Material, an open cellular structure that instantly and precisely adapts to factors like body weight and shape. 'I myself have been sleeping with different Tempur-Pedic [pillows] for decades,' Gruen told us in an email exchange. According to him, Tempur-Pedic pillow designs are widely known to help support neutral alignment of the neck. This is important because, as Gruen explained, 'a spine that is put in a non-neutral position is putting unnecessary pressure on your neck joints and can cause muscles to compensate as a result of that change.' Gruen reminds us that it's not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to selecting the right pillow. 'For side sleepers, you would want the pillow to be supportive and fill the gap between your head and shoulder,' he said, while back sleepers should choose a thinner down-style pillow that allows your head to sink towards the bed and the pillow to surround your ears. Fortunately, Tempur-Pedic offers several pillow options for every type of sleeper, each one made with some variation of the brand's signature Tempur-Material that promises to be supportive and pressure-relieving. We laid out each of those pillows below, with information on exactly who those pillows are best designed for and the difference between each of them. 1. The most popular "Cloud Pillow" Who it's for: Back and stomach sleepers. The Tempur-Cloud is the brand's most popular pillow option for its adaptive support. It's made with an extra-soft version of Tempur-Pedic's famed memory foam that's ultra-conforming to the neck and face and low profile, which means it allows the head to sink toward the bed in back sleeping positions, a desirable factor for back sleepers according to experts. This plush pillow comes in a removable and machine-washable knit cover and is easily compressed for easy travel. 2. A contoured neck pillow Tempur-Pedic Who it's for: Side and back sleepers This specially designed contoured pillow is made from an extra-firm version of Tempur-Pedic's responsive memory foam material for optimal support for back and side sleepers, depending on which side of the pillow is used. Available in three sizes to best serve your specific anatomy and sleep positioning, this ergonomic pillow is meant to follow the natural curve of the head and neck to offer proper alignment and support and, like most of Tempur-Pedic's pillow offerings, it comes with a removable and machine-washable knit cover. Get it from Tempur-Pedic for $89+ (originally $189+; available in three sizes). 3. Tempur-Pedic Who it's for: All sleepers, especially if you toss and turn. We mentioned earlier that the Cloud Pillow is Tempur-Pedic's best-selling design, however, it's not the best option for side sleepers. This adjustable medium-soft version allows all sleepers to fluff, scrunch and fully customize the amount of fill inside the pillow to suit their positioning needs. Inside the stretchy inner liner is a proprietary blend of loose Tempur-Pedic fill, which contains a mixture of pressure-relieving foam, a pillowy soft material and high-density support foam that won't go flat over time. The brand claims it's the perfect balance of adequate support and cozy comfort, even if you're prone to tossing and turning at night. It's available in two sizes and the removable machine-washable cover is treated with an anti-allergen guard. Get it from Tempur-Pedic for $48.44+ (originally $69+; available in two sizes). 4. Tempur-Pedic Who it's for: All sleepers, especially anyone who runs hot. This is another iteration of the popular Cloud Pillow, specially meant for those who run hot. This is because of an outer layer of cooling gel that absorbs excess heat on each side of the pillow. Sandwiched in between these layers of gel is Tempur-Pedic's medium-destiny memory foam that the brand considers to be highly adaptive and suitable for all sleep positions. The removable and machine-washable cover is made from 100% cotton for added breathability. Get it from Amazon for $99+ (available in two sizes). 5. A pressure-relieving hybrid pillow Tempur-Pedic Who it's for: All sleepers. The Cloud Hybrid Pillow is an extra-plush design stuffed with not just a solid piece of the brand's signature memory foam at the pillow's center, meant to offer an adaptive and head-cradling feel. It also contains Tempur-Pedic's proprietary fill blend, a mixture of pressure-relieving foam, a pillowy soft material, and high-density support foam that won't go flat over time. According to the brand, this combination can relieve aches and pains in areas like the neck and shoulders. Get it from Tempur-Pedic for $149+ (available in two sizes). 6. Tempur-Pedic Who it's for: Side sleepers and pregnant people. This 48-inch-long body pillow provides flexible support in key areas of side sleepers, like between the knees. Its huggable design is medium firm and filled with shapeable micro-cushions that easily conform to the shape and pressure of the body. It has a removable and machine-washable knit cover. Get it from Amazon for $119. 7. A versatile support pillow Tempur-Pedic Who it's for: Frequent travelers, loungers and sedentary workers. Tempur-Pedic's versatile and travel-friendly pillow has a clever cradling peanut shape, which allows it to offer the perfect dose of support in areas like the lower back, the neck, between the knees or even propping up a book while reading. It's made with the brand's exclusive firm memory foam material and features convenient carrying and a removable, machine-washable cover for easy cleaning. Get it from Amazon for $37. 8. A travel neck pillow with Tempur-Pedic material Tempur-Pedic