The Best Pillows For Scoliosis Relief (Reviews & Buying Guide)

Before we get into the best pillows for scoliosis on the market today, let's acknowledge that many doctors recommend that patients with scoliosis find a sleeping position that leaves them with a neutral spine, which certain pillows can help with. In most cases, that means sleeping on your side. It’s recommended not to lie on your stomach as it puts additional stress on your spine. 

Fortunately, there are specially designed pillows for scoliosis relief to help with this.

While an improper sleeping position won’t advance or cause scoliosis, finding the optimal sleeping position offers some relief. Sleeping style plays a crucial role in optimizing breathing and managing pain for people with scoliosis. Such people have some sort of abnormality in their spine, and finding a comfortable sleeping position can be a tad tricky.

That’s where your pillows come in.

Pillows provide additional lumbar support to help you maintain a neutral spine regardless of your lying position. They ensure that your spine is in proper alignment, and reduce neck pain and strain while ensuring that you can breathe freely. Your choice of pillow depends on the type of curve that you’re dealing with and can be either a thoracic or a lumbar pillow.

Here are some of the best pillows for scoliosis that are available on the market today.

Reviews For The Best Scoliosis Pillow Options

1. IKSTAR Lumbar Pillow

The Ikstar lumbar pillow is just what the doctor ordered for anyone suffering from back pain. Its ergonomic design is specially crafted to ease upper back pain, lower back pain, and mid-back pain for anyone who uses it. It’s especially handy to help you enjoy a full night's sleep.

The triangular shape of the pillow restores the spine’s natural curve as you lie down. Slipping the lumbar pillow under your back gives your back a comfy and safe S-shaped curve. That eliminates lumbar muscle strain, improves the posture of the spine, and relieves lumbar pressure as well. The signature triangular shape fits comfortably under the waist to keep the spine, hips, and legs in perfect alignment as you sleep.

With the Ikstar lumbar pillow, you don’t have to dread going to bed every evening, especially for expectant mothers. It gives you multiple options when it comes to sleeping positions and ensures that you wake fresh and well-rested every morning. Placing the pillow between the legs acts as a space to let you sleep comfortably on your side. The same case happens when you place it underneath your rib cage while lying on the side. If you spend a lot of time on your feet, setting a lumbar pillow under your calves increases blood flow to offer relief.

The pillow is designed to offer relief to just about anyone at risk of suffering from back pain. It’s the perfect accessory for long-distance drivers, office and manual workers, elderly people and pregnant women. Drivers and office workers can plop this pillow in the car seat or office chair to provide back support throughout the day, making it one of our top favorites for considering the best pillow for scoliosis relief.

The lumbar pillow is made from memory foam that adapts to the natural curve of your back to deliver the same high-quality sleep night after night. That keeps you from tossing and turning, which often gets in the way of restful sleep.

The pillow ships with a breathable hypoallergenic cover that evenly dissipates body heat as you sleep. That means you’ll never wake up soaked in sweat or get uncomfortably hot as you sleep. The soft velvet fabric cover is machine and hand washable. It also comes with a hidden zipper that won’t destroy your sheets.

Pros

• Made from memory foam
• Ergonometric triangular shape
• Hypoallergenic velvet cover
• Multiple uses
• Perfect sized for the average person

Cons

• Not suited for all back conditions
  

2. Beautiful Life Halfmoon Memory Pillow

Made from superior elastic memory foam, this half-moon-shaped pillow is the perfect alley when looking to additional support when dealing with scoliosis. The pillow provides extra support that’s necessary to relieve pain in different body parts, including lower back, hips, legs, knees, and ankles. As the name suggests, this pillow will help you lead a beautiful life.

It’s on hand to help you keep a neutral spine regardless of the sleeping position you prefer – side, back, or even lying on your stomach. The wedge body pillow measures 20.5" x 8" x 4.5", which is just the perfect size for offering lumbar support. The half-moon shape fits perfectly into the natural curve of your spine, while the foam memory cushion makes for excellent support and comfort.

In addition to helping people with scoliosis, this lumbar pillow helps accelerate the recovery process following a knee or hip replacement surgery. It also helps to relieve sciatica and lower back pains. Placing the pillow under the ankles improves blood circulation in the legs and helps avoid varicose veins.

You can also prop this pillow on your car seat to provide lumbar support whenever you’re behind the wheel. Or behind your back when reclining on a sofa. You can also use it as a spacer between your knees when lying on your side.

The pillow is made of two layers of hypoallergenic memory foam that doesn’t flatten out with continued used. Instead, the pillow molds your curvature to fit like a hand in a glove with

each use but will revert to its original position after use. It comes with a breathable organic cotton cover that’s machine washable.

Pros

• Made from hypo-allergenic memory foam
• Halfmoon shaped design
• Multiple uses
• Washable organic cotton cover
• Lifetime guarantee

Cons

Might be a bit too firm for some

3. Cushy Form Knee Pillow

If your scoliosis makes it challenging to enjoy a full night rest while lying on your side, getting a Cushy Form pillow can help change that. This contoured knee pillow is specially crafted to fit between your legs as you lie on the side.

By elevating one of your knees, the pillow eases the pressure of the spine to let it assume a neutral position. That means you can lie on your side for hours on end without discomfort or experiencing any pain whatsoever. You can be assured of having the same experience with each usage as the foam pillow will never flatten out with continued usage.

In addition to increasing your options when it comes to sleeping positions, the Cushy Form pillow also serves as an abductor pillow. It can provide relief for people suffering from hip bursitis and scoliosis, as well. It’s crucial when recovering from surgery and helps with restless leg syndrome too.

One fantastic feature of this pillow is that it responds to your body temperature. It’ll feel a little firm during colder temperatures and softer when temperatures are a bit warm. That ensures that you get custom support and firmness you need for a restful night of sleep.

The foam memory pillow is perfectly contoured to make a perfect fit between your knees as you lie on your side. The contouring gives the pillow various insertion points to suit your preferred side-lying position. That also makes the pillow useful during pregnancy and when managing other painful conditions, including arthritis, migraines, sciatica, and other postural problems.

The pillow ships in a removable, machine washable cover that is secured with a zipper. It also comes with a special travel case to let you enjoy a beautiful night's sleep during your travels. It also comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Pros

• Foam memory
• Specially contoured to fit between the legs
• Includes a free travel bag
• Multiple uses
• Small and portable
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

• The zipper isn’t hidden and can scrape your legs
• Not suited for plus-sized people
  

4. UTTU Sandwich Pillow

If you’re looking to increase your sleeping positions when suffering from scoliosis, you can’t go wrong with this sandwich pillow. This unique pillow comes with a height-adjustable design to deliver a matchless sleeping experience.

A removable middle layer gives users four height options. Inserting the middle layer gets a 4.7-inch high contour and a 3.5-inch low contour. Removing the middle gets you a 3.5-inch high contour and a 2.8-inch low contour. The variable heights let you pick the perfect sleeping position when sleeping on your back, side, or stomach.

Since the sandwich pillow is made from high-quality memory foam it adapts to your body curvature while supporting your neck and head for all night sleeping comfort. In addition to helping you manage scoliosis, this pillow’s unique composition helps to relieve pain. It helps to combat shoulder stiffness, ease stiffness in your back and neck, and relax your body muscles all the while keeping your spine in a neutral alignment.

Unlike other pillows, the UTTU dynamic foam used in this pillow keeps it firm and soft. It won’t become stiff and hard in cold weather, giving you a reliable and consistent firmness throughout the four seasons. It means you can count on the pillow to let you enjoy a restful night's sleep each day and wake up feeling refreshed and recharged.

It comes with a unique pillow cover that is 40% bamboo and 60% polyester, making it not only hypoallergenic and breathable but also dust mite resistant. The pillow’s excellent air circulation means that you never wake up drenched in sweat in the sweltering summer heat.

The pillow is certified by the International Sleep Products Association, OEKO-TEX, and CertiPUR-US for content, performance, and durability. These certifications mean the pillows are free from harmful chemicals such as mercury, lead, and other heavy metals. This top scoliosis pillow also comes with a five-year warranty!

Pros

• Height adjustable
• Removable middle layer
• Unique contoured design
• Consistent firmness all year round
• Unique bamboo cover
• International certifications

Cons

• The non-toxic foam odor is off-putting
  

5. MARNUR Cervical Pillow

The Marnur contour memory foam pillow is the ultimate solution when looking to overcome uncomfortable sleeping patterns. This pillow boasts a unique shape and design to let you enjoy beautiful sleep from just about any position you choose.

Unlike other pillows, the Marnur comes with a unique neck groove to keep your back and neck in proper alignment regardless of your sleeping position. Proper spine alignment keeps the muscles comfortable and relaxed, which is vital to avoid headaches that result from tense muscles. This pillow helps you avoid straining your muscles by letting you maintain proper spine alignment and neck alignment as you sleep.

In addition to the custom neck groove, this pillow boasts a pair of armrests for comfortable arm placement as you sleep. These armrests keep you from lying on your hands regardless of the sleeping position you choose – side, stomach, or back.

The unique pillow design delivers to different pillow heights on each end for a comfortable sleeping experience. The low curve end stands 3.4 inches high to suit people who like low-lying pillows or those who prefer lying on their side. The upper curve end stands 5.3 inches high and is the perfect match for people who prefer sleeping on their back or for those that just like high riding pillows. You only need to flip the pillow to get the height that affords you exceptional comfort.

The pillow is made from superior quality memory foam that rebounds to its original shape after use, so you’ll never worry about it flattening out with continued usage. The pillow gets back to its original position with a few seconds of lifting your head from it. The foam composition makes the pillow soft and comfortable while providing excellent head, shoulder, and neck support as you sleep. Since the pillow is breathable and skin-friendly, you get to enjoy a full night's sleep without getting too hot or sweaty.

The pillow ships with an emblazoned polyester and rayon removable pillowcase that secured with a zipper.

Pros

• Unique shape and design
• Adjustable contour heights
• Slow-bound memory foam
• Emblazoned pillowcase
• Accommodates different sleeping postures

Cons

• The price tag is on the higher side

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Check out some of our most frequently asked questions that people have about scoliosis and using a specially-designed pillow to provide scoliosis relief while sleeping.

What Is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine curves to the left or right, creating a C- or S-shaped curve. Scoliosis always causes the spine to curve to one side. It can affect any part of the spine, but the most common regions are at the level of the chest and the lower back.

It most often appears in children, and in most cases, treatment is not needed, as the curve corrects itself with growth. However, based on the degree of curvature and the age of the child, a combination of bracing and physical therapy is often recommended.

A very small number of patients with scoliosis may require surgery. Complications of scoliosis include chronic pain, respiratory deficiencies, and decreased exercise capacity.

How Is Scoliosis Diagnosed?

Scoliosis is usually confirmed through a physical examination, an x-ray, spinal radiograph, CT scan or MRI. A standard exam that is sometimes used by pediatricians and in grade school screenings is called the Adam's Forward Bend Test.

The curve is measured by the Cobb Method and is diagnosed in terms of severity by the number of degrees. A positive diagnosis of scoliosis is made based on a coronal curvature measured on a posterior-anterior radiograph of greater than 10 degrees.

In general, a spinal curve is considered significant if it is greater than 25 to 30 degrees. Curves exceeding 45 to 50 degrees are considered severe and often require more aggressive treatment. Radiographic tests are required for an accurate and positive diagnosis.

How Is Scoliosis Treated?

The treatment of scoliosis is based on the severity of the curve and the chances of the curve getting worse. Mild curves, like those found in 90% of scoliosis cases, typically don’t require treatment. Certain types of scoliosis have a greater chance of getting worse, so the type of scoliosis also helps to determine the proper treatment. 

There are three main categories of treatment: observation, bracing (for example, thoracolumbosacral orthosis or TLSO back brace) & surgery. Consequently, there are treatments available that do not involve surgery, but in some individuals, surgery may be the best option. 

If your child’s curve measures between 20 and 40 degrees, his doctor might recommend that he wear a back brace to help stop its progress as he grows. When curves are between 45 and 50 degrees, they’re often expected to get worse and may even affect how the lungs work. In cases like this, your doctor may recommend spinal fusion surgery, which has been shown to stop the increase of the spinal curves.

Enjoy Your New Pillow For Scoliosis Relief

We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to choose the best pillows for scoliosis relief.

If you have money to splurge on getting the best pillow for scoliosis, the Marnur contour pillow on Amazon makes an excellent choice. Thanks to its unique design that includes armrests, this pillow towers over the rest of the bunch in this review. 

However, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, the UTTU Sandwich, Ikstar lumbar, and Beautiful life Halfmoon memory pillows make excellent options as well. If you’re a side sleeper, you can’t go wrong with Cushy Form Knee Pillow.

These top-rated scoliosis pillows will help you increase your choice of comfortable sleeping positions when managing scoliosis to let you enjoy a good night's sleep each and every day! We also recommend seeing the tips for sleeping with scoliosis in the video below.