5 Best Pillows for Shoulder Pain

Our Reviews of 5 Best Pillows for Shoulder Pain Relief

Best Overall - Codi

The Codi is one of the best pillows for shoulder pain thanks to its adjustable design and the combination of materials used. It can mold to your neck and shoulders and offer painless sleep in any position.

The pillow is filled with shredded gel memory foam. This material has all the advantages of standard memory foam, meaning it cradles your pressure points while supporting your neck. Along with that, it doesn’t have the main issue of memory foam — heat retention. 

The manufacturer enhances cooling effects by offering you a breathable inner case and a Tencel pillow cover. Tencel naturally feels cool and wicks away moisture. The cover is also washing machine friendly for easier maintenance.

The Codi has an adjustable loft, which makes it suitable for any type of sleeper. The manufacturer will send you an additional package with filling, so you can change the pillow’s thickness based on your preferences.

To sum it up, I really enjoyed sleeping on the Codi. It has a great hug yet supports your head and neck properly. Combine this with a good cooling effect — and you’ll get a perfect pillow for literally anyone.

Best Value for Money - PureComfort

Best for Adjustable Loft - Eden by Coop Home Goods

Best for Moldability - Queen Anne

Does Your Sleep Position Affect Shoulder Pain?

The way you sleep can either give you the best shut-eye in your life or turn you into an aching and grumpy human being. When it comes to choosing a good pillow for shoulder pain relief, your sleeping position should be the first thing to consider.

So, let me briefly explain to you how each sleeping position affects your shoulders:

• Back sleeping. This sleeping position is considered the healthiest for your spine, as it helps maintain proper alignment and relax all the muscles. Speaking of shoulder pain, sleeping in the supine position on a slightly elevated surface — say, by using a wedge-shaped pillow — may decrease the pressure on the scapulas and reduce shoulder pain, even if they are caused by arthritis or another chronic condition. The optimal firmness level for back sleepers with shoulder pain is medium.
• Side sleeping. There’s a hypothesis that the lateral sleeping position is the most detrimental to your shoulders, and I agree with that. When you sleep on your side, you literally put your body weight on the shoulder. And if you’re a large sleeper — or, if your mattress is on the firmer side — your shoulder will have to withstand even bigger pressure. The good news is, if you choose a thick and firm pillow, the impact of the body weight on your shoulder belt will decrease, helping you sleep comfortably. Note that the width of your shoulders matters — your pillow should fill the space between your head and the mattress surface completely.
• Stomach sleeping. This position has a highly negative impact on your lower back and neck. Since overstrained neck muscles and pinched nerves in the cervical spine may indirectly affect shoulders, it’s better to avoid stomach sleeping at all. If you can’t do so, at least use a thin and moldable pillow to ensure that your neck won’t be awkwardly curved.

“Mixed sleepers can monitor what sleeping positions they choose more often and choose the pillow based on that.”

Best and Worst Types of Pillows for Shoulder Pain Reviewed

Most of the manufacturers today update their pillow line-up from time to time, which can turn the process of finding the best pillow for shoulder pain into a daunting task.

I’ve got a pro tip for you.

Start with defining the materials!

That’s what never changes. Here are the most common materials used in pillows, listed starting from the one that works for shoulder pain most effectively:

• Memory foam shreds. Standard viscoelastic or gel-infused shredded foam is the most popular filling for pillows. There are several reasons for that: this material has all the advantages of the standard memory foam, such as pressure relief and moldability, but it won’t disappoint you with poor thermoregulation. Also, shredded memory foam is fluffier and can adjust to your head shape better than the solid foam chunk.
• Latex shreds. Very similar to the previous material, latex shreds can be made either from natural latex or latex blends. The latter is not so different from the standard memory foam and has roughly the same features and downsides. Natural latex shreds, on the other hand, can offer you much cooler sleep, as well as better durability and moldability, which could be a plus for individuals with chronic shoulder pain or those who are prone to hot sleeping.
• Natural down and fiberfill down alternatives. Natural and synthetic down pillows are incredibly lightweight and fluffy. They create a soft cocoon around your head and neck, adapting to your body temperature so that you wouldn’t sleep hot. Many sleep experts recommend natural down and its alternatives for individuals with neck and shoulder pain caused by arthritis and other bone and joint diseases. But if you’re a side sleeper, such pillows might appear to be too soft.
• Buckwheat hulls. Odorless, hypoallergenic, and breathable, buckwheat hulls can mold to your head and neck and give you great pain relief. It may take time to get used to their specific feel, as the hulls may seem a bit too rigid at first. Not everyone likes this.
• Solid latex. A solid chunk of latex may offer the right amount of comfort and support for your head and neck, but it will limit your choice of sleeping positions during the night. 
• Solid memory foam. Solid memory foam is cradling and comfortable. But the problem is that it has a fixed height and cannot be fluffed to contour your head more closely. Also, solid foam pillows typically are made for one or two sleeping positions and may not suit mixed sleepers.

Bottom line?

I’d recommend you to go for shredded memory foam or latex. You will be able to easily fluff such a pillow and adjust it to get the comfort and shoulder pain relief you want.

Things to Consider When Shopping for a Suitable Pillow for Shoulder Pain

Finally, let’s add some final touches to the idea of your perfect pillow, which you have probably formed in your mind by now. 

Here are a few more things you should consider to tailor your choice to your sleeping needs:

• Adjustable loft. Pillows with the regulated height and firmness level are the best, in my opinion. You can adjust them to any sleeping preferences in minutes, which lowers the chances of waking up with shoulder pain. 
• Gusset. A gusset is a piece of fabric around the perimeter that allows you to make the pillow higher. This may result in better pain relief for side sleepers who are more prone to experiencing shoulder pain. Pillows with a gusset can also distribute your head’s weight better. Aside from that, they often come with an adjustable height. You may want to choose models with mesh gussets for additional air circulation during sleep.
• Firmness. Now, I have mentioned how your sleep position could be connected with your pillow’s firmness level earlier. But let’s sum it up. Side sleepers typically need a firmer pillow that won’t give in under their head’s weight, causing misalignment. Stomach sleepers benefit the most from a thin soft pillow that won’t create awkward curves in their neck, thus straining shoulder muscles. Back sleepers are recommended to use medium firmness to keep their shoulders relaxed.
• Thermoregulation. Low temperatures make sleep more restorative, which can help you heal faster and reduce shoulder pain, especially if it was caused by an injury. Give your preference to natural materials, or choose gel-infused synthetic foams that have a better cooling effect than non-infused ones.

Summary

Shoulder pain can be unbearable sometimes, I know. But here’s the good news: A properly chosen pillow may help you significantly reduce the symptoms (if the pain is caused by a medical condition) or even get rid of the pain completely (if it was provoked by misalignment due to an unsuitable pillow). Now, all the models I’ve reviewed feature incredible contouring properties and can help alleviate the pressure in your shoulder area. But if I had to choose the most comfortable one of them, it would be the Codi pillow. It has a perfect loft — which you can change if you want to — it sleeps cool, and it’s made of durable and quality material that can withstand active use. How do you cope with shoulder pain? What is important for you when choosing a pillow for shoulder pain relief? Share with us below!