"Sleeping Positions" - Dr. Eric Falcon

Dr. Falcon has a new report up on his website - http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

Thanks to our own San Fran Gal for suggesting the name of Falcon Position - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36738&p=319170&hilit=falcon#p319170

Just makes sense--not good to sleep on one's back! I use a modified Falcon--both arms up around the pillow. Works for me :<)

I do the one arm up and one arm down...partly to ease neck strain....and partly so my hand can guide hose so to avoid leaks and keep vent clear and pointed right.

Though keep my legs together.

The Dreamer.

I avoid sleeping on the stomach like the plague. If I get on my stomach I feel like my back is broken the next day. The arching of the spine is a no no for low back sufferers. Bringing one leg up will help but I don't see this position as gaining much support for people with low back issues based on past experience.

On a side note I have finally found something that will keep me off my back that is a lot less intrusive than a water or back pack. I took a back support like people wear who have to lift things during the day...about 6 inches wide... elastic with velcro on the front so you can cinch it tight. I then cut a slit in a bicycle helmet so the back support will slide through the two slits on each side of the helmit. I then put it just under my arm pits which locates the bicycle helmet in the center of my back and it stays there all night.

Until that darn whiplash messed w/my neck I spent my entire life sleeping almost on my tummy, slightly off to one side or the other. That side's leg stretched out and arm under the pillow or above my head w/the opposite side's leg curled up close to the fetal position and that arm curled down, often w/the hand under the pillow and my chin. *sigh* I so miss that. So it was the "falcon position" except w/a pillow, a THIN down filled pillow that I could punch into any position or shape I needed.

track wrote: ........On a side note I have finally found something that will keep me off my back that is a lot less intrusive than a water or back pack. I took a back support like people wear who have to lift things during the day...about 6 inches wide... elastic with velcro on the front so you can cinch it tight. I then cut a slit in a bicycle helmet so the back support will slide through the two slits on each side of the helmit. I then put it just under my arm pits which locates the bicycle helmet in the center of my back and it stays there all night.

You are my man, Track!

Let me report a little good news. I have been using my CamelBak backpack to accomplish the same thing for about a year. I would not dare sleep without the backpack because if I roll onto my back I am having 30+ AI.

It has taken a long time to feel comfortable sleeping on my sides all night because I was such an inveterate back sleeper. Now just in the last few days, if I awaken a couple of hours before dawn, I have been taking the backpack off and sleeping comfortably the remainder of the night on my sides. I check my data upon awakening and can see that I did not roll onto my side because there is no period of high AI.

This is encouraging that the training for side sleeping is taking effect and someday I may be able to go without the backpack all night. Sleep doc said maybe I would eventually get to the point where I only used the backpack one night per week to reinforce the habit. I scoffed at the idea at the time but maybe I will get there.

Track, Good luck with your new configuration.

track wrote:I avoid sleeping on the stomach like the plague. If I get on my stomach I feel like my back is broken the next day. The arching of the spine is a no no for low back sufferers. Bringing one leg up will help but I don't see this position as gaining much support for people with low back issues based on past experience.

.......

I have been able to sleep for 60 to 90 minute spells on my stomach after learning the Falcon position. I actually found the opposite of what you found. There is no arching of the spine and the Falcon position seems to give relief to my lower back especially if I have done some weight lifting that fatigued the lower back muscles. Remember you should not use a pillow for your head in the Falcon position. A pillow will, of course, bend the spine at the neck.

The problem I have with the Falcon position is the mask causes some strain on my neck. In order to be comfortable all night long, I feel like I need to cut a cube out of the mattress for the front of the mask to rest in. My wife would kill me!

I wonder why the sleep centers insist that people test while sleeping on their back, since it is know that this worsens apnea and is the position NOT to sleep in for us?