Why Does My Body Ache When I Wake Up

Do you ever wake up in the morning and feel like every muscle in your body is sore? Or do you often wonder: why does my body ache when I wake up? 

You’re not alone. Statistics show that 1 in 10 Americans wake up sore every morning. Waking up with body aches can drain the energy and positivity out of your day. Furthermore, if you don’t address the soreness and discomfort, the chances are that they will escalate into fatigue, undermining your overall productivity. 

This blog post explores why people experience body aches when waking up and recommends an effective solution to the problem. Keep reading for more information. 

6 Common Reasons for Waking Up With Body Aches

Type of Pillow

Why am I so sore when I wake up? If you often ask yourself this question in the morning, the culprit could be the pillow you sleep on every night. 

If the pillow has no contours or curves, your head may not get sufficient support. The chances are that your head sinks into the pillow when you sleep, causing morning stiffness that you often feel in the neck and spine. 

You can avoid uncomfortable stiffness by investing in a contoured pillow that provides sufficient support for your shoulders, neck, and head. Ensure the pillow is as thick as the distance between the outside shoulder and your ear. Such a pillow will adequately support your neck and head alignment. 

Mattress Quality

According to the Sleep Foundation, sleeping on a low-quality mattress is among the top reasons for waking up to body aches. Some of the features of a poor-quality mattress include the following:

  • Age
  • Sagging 
  • Poor support
  • Dust and allergen buildup

Consider replacing your mattress if it’s over seven to ten years old without good support. Answering these questions when shopping for a new mattress will help you choose the best one for your needs:

  • Do you need a mattress that helps ease back pain?
  • Do you want a mattress with exceptional point relief?
  • Which mattress will provide better support for your weight?

Sleep Posture

Why does my body hurt when I wake up? The answer could be poor sleep posture. It often causes shoulder, neck, and back pain, which can persist throughout the day. 

Maintaining neutral spinal alignment is critical while sleeping to minimize the risk of morning pain. The following sleeping postures will keep your spine in a position that causes the least strain and stress on the body, preventing pain:

  • Side sleeper: If you often sleep on your side, place a pillow between the knees and keep your legs and hips aligned. The pillow should not be too thick to avoid exerting strain and pressure on your spine. 
  • Back sleeper: If you usually sleep on your back, put a pillow below your knees. This practice helps ease pressure on the lower back and ensure proper spinal alignment. 
  • Stomach sleeper: You should avoid sleeping on your stomach as it exerts too much stress and pressure on the spine, causing neck and back pain. 

Excessive Weight

Why do my muscles hurt when I wake up? This question is common among overweight persons. Being overweight puts much stress and pressure on your muscles and joints. 

The more your weight, the harder your body needs to work. Unhealthy eating, a sedentary lifestyle, and lack of exercise usually go hand-in-hand with excessive weight. 

These factors can aggravate the issue of waking up with a sore body. Due to excess weight and lack of exercise, unused muscles become tough, stiff and susceptible to injuries. 

Excessive Exercise

Regular exercise is essential for your overall health. However, working your muscles leads to tearing, and they grow stronger as they repair. 

During this process, you may experience sore muscles when waking up. The soreness often wears off within a few days. The soreness sometimes results from an injury or lack of warming up or stretching. 

Existing Medical Conditions

Why does my body ache when I wake up? Why am I sore when I wake up? If you have an underlying medical issue, you’ve probably asked either of these questions several times. 

Waking up with aches and sore muscles could indicate various underlying medical issues, including the following:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Arthritis
  • Pneumonia
  • Anemia
  • Lupus
  • Dehydration
  • Infection or virus
  • Stress or anxiety disorder
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Histoplasmosis
  • Lyme disease

Some of these conditions are temporary, and you can easily find treatment. However, others can be serious and require lifestyle changes and lifelong medication. It’s advisable to consult a medical professional when you persistently experience body aches and soreness in the morning. 

Waking up with body aches can negatively impact your mental well-being and overall health. The first step to treating the morning aches is determining the cause. An experienced medical professional can help you find the cause of pain in your neck, back, shoulders, feet, and other areas of your body and recommend the best solution. 

Can a Chiropractor Help with Morning Body Aches?

Chiropractic adjustments can help you find long-term relief if your body hurts when you wake up. These treatments help improve and correct your posture to ease pressure in your neck and middle and lower back. 

A chiropractor can help improve joint and spine movements using various techniques. After the adjustments, you will no longer worry about waking up to uncomfortable soreness and stiffness. 

Besides recommending the best sleeping position for your spine, the chiropractor may assess your mattress and pillow to see if they are the reasons behind your morning aches and suggest better options. 

Highly Experienced Chiropractors in the Sacramento Area

Why does my body ache when I wake up? Now that you have the answer to this question, you should find a reputable chiropractor to help you deal with your morning aches. 

If you are looking for reliable chiropractic services in the Sacramento area, look no further than Sunrise Chiropractic. 

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Doug Loehrer of Sunrise Chiropractic prides himself on offering high-quality chiropractic care to athletes, weekend warriors, families, and other patients in Citrus Heights, CA. 

So, does your body hurt when you wake up and seek long-term relief? If so, contact Dr. Doug Loehrer at (916) 727-6400 to schedule a consultation to see if chiropractic treatment can help relieve your morning body aches.

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