Why Sleep With a Pillow Between Your Legs?

7 Min Read | By Ellen Conning

Last Modified 28 February 2025   First Added 4 August 2023

This article was written and reviewed in line with our editorial policy.
Anisha Joshi headshot

“Placing a pillow between your legs when lying on your side may help by preventing the hips from tilting or rotating. This simple adjustment may ease lower back, hip, and even knee pain for some people. To get the most benefit, choose a pillow that’s firm enough to support your legs but not so thick that it forces your hips out of a neutral position.”

Have you ever wondered if there’s a simple, effective way to improve your sleep quality and overall well-being? Look no further—the answer might be right under your nose—or rather, between your legs! Yes, you read that correctly. Sleeping with a pillow between your legs might sound unusual, but science suggests it offers some remarkable benefits.

The benefits of sleeping with a pillow between your knees

Sleeping with a pillow between your legs or your knees offers a wide range of benefits, including improved comfort in bed and better sleep. Let’s look at more of the benefits together:

1. Spinal alignment and posture

Your spine is crucial in supporting your body and maintaining proper posture. Placing a pillow between your legs while sleeping on your side better aligns your spine. It prevents your upper leg from pulling your spine out of its natural position, which can alleviate discomfort and reduce the risk of waking up with a sore back. Preliminary studies into this have shown a relationship between sleeping posture and waking symptoms, though further studies are needed.

legs in bed

2. Pressure relief

Sleeping with a pillow between your legs provides a cushioning effect that helps reduce pressure on your hips, knees, and ankles. This can be particularly beneficial if you suffer from joint pain or conditions like arthritis or if you’re one of the 23% of the world suffering from back pain.

By providing your joints with extra support, you create a more comfortable sleep environment and may wake up feeling more refreshed. Our article about whether there’s a link between sleep problems and musculoskeletal health provides more information.

3. Enhanced blood circulation

Proper blood circulation is essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. When you sleep with a pillow between your legs, you help alleviate the pressure on your blood vessels, allowing for better circulation. Improved blood flow can contribute to overall cardiovascular health and might even help prevent the development of varicose veins.

Woman squeezing pillow

4. Alignment of the hip and pelvis

Sleeping with a pillow between your knees can help keep your hips and pelvis aligned, preventing them from rotating during the night. This promotes better spinal alignment, reduces pressure on key joints, and may alleviate acute hip, pelvic, or lower back pain symptoms. Maintaining a neutral sleeping position can also improve circulation and reduce muscle tension, leading to a more restful and comfortable sleep.

5. Alleviate knee pain

If you suffer from knee or leg pain, sleeping with a pillow between your legs can help reduce pressure and provide a soft, supportive surface for your knees during the night. Whether you experience pain in one knee or both, sleeping on your side may cause your knees to rub together, worsening discomfort. A knee pillow helps by evenly distributing weight rather than concentrating pressure directly on the knees.

A young woman with straight hair sitting on bed hugging her white pillow, surrounded by white

6. Reduce tossing and turning

Restlessness during sleep can be disruptive for both you and your partner. Simply placing a pillow between your legs can help keep you in a more stable sleeping position, reducing tossing and turning throughout the night. When combined with techniques for falling asleep quickly and easily, this can lead to deeper, more restful, and uninterrupted sleep.

7. Added comfort and support

Let’s face it—comfort matters when it comes to sleep. Placing a pillow between your legs adds an extra layer of cosiness, promoting relaxation and tranquillity. This simple yet effective technique might be the missing piece in achieving the truly restful night’s sleep you’ve been longing for.

Who should sleep with a pillow between their legs?

A knee pillow is a great tool for improving sleep comfort by relieving pressure and easing various aches and pains. While everyone can benefit from using one, certain people may find it especially useful:

  • Side sleepers – If you sleep on your side, your legs resting on top of each other may cause hip rotation or spinal misalignment. Sleeping with a pillow designed for side sleepers can improve neck alignment, and placing it between your knees helps reduce misalignment and alleviate discomfort.
  • Pregnant women – Those who are pregnant and usually sleep on their side or experience aches in their legs, hips, or back. Using a knee pillow can help you sleep more comfortably at night. For more tips, check out 8 natural sleep aids for pregnancy.
  • Individuals with back or hip pain – Sleeping with a knee pillow helps keep your spine straight and prevents pelvic rotation, reducing pressure on your joints and tissues, which can alleviate back pain.

And for even better sleep, why not pair your knee pillow with the best mattress for your sleeping position? A supportive mattress and the right pillow can help you sleep soundly every night.

Behind the trend of knee pillows

Like many modern trends, the idea of sleeping with a pillow between the legs gained popularity on TikTok, with @jordan_the_stallion8 being one of the most popular creators to talk about the topic:

@jordan_the_stallion8

#stitch with @apc #fypシ

♬ original sound – Jordan_The_Stallion8

While some claims—such as gaining two inches in height—may be overly optimistic, many people have reported real benefits from trying this technique. And with so many people trying it out, it’s become a small sleep technique that many don’t go without.

However, Jordan isn’t the only one waving the flag for this online. Other TikTokers, such as @Stretch_pad, are showing their support for the pillow leg sleep life:

@stretch_pad

Don’t knock it until you try it 😂 #fypシ #stretchpad #physiotherapy #physicaltherapy

♬ original sound – HB

How to choose the right knee pillow

You can use the regular pillow you put your head on, but you can also find smaller pillows specifically for your knees or legs. Whatever pillow you choose, you’ll need to consider a few things:

  1. Firmness: If you need more support for knee or joint pain, a firmer pillow may be better, while a softer, more cushioned option is ideal for added comfort.
  2. Contouring: Whether you choose a memory foam pillow that moulds to your legs or a specific knee pillow with a cut-out that allows the legs to sit comfortably, these can help keep your legs stable during the night.
  3. Heat retention: Pillows may trap heat during the night, which can cause issues if you get hot at night. To help, why not choose a cooling pillow?

Check out our pillow-buying guide to find more expert advice.

How to sleep with a pillow between your knees

So, how can you start reaping the benefits of this simple sleep hack? It’s as easy as choosing the right pillow and positioning it correctly!

First, pick a pillow that provides enough support and cushioning for your needs. You may need to experiment with different types and sizes to find the best fit.

Next, position the pillow correctly by placing it between your legs or knees, extending from your upper thighs down to your ankles while sleeping on your side.

Finally, adjust as needed. Try out different positions to see what feels most comfortable for you and provides the best support.

While it may seem unconventional at first, sleeping with a pillow between your legs can significantly improve your sleep quality and overall well-being. By promoting spinal alignment, reducing pressure on joints, enhancing blood circulation, and increasing comfort, this simple technique takes a holistic approach to better sleep.

So, why not give it a try tonight? Your body may just thank you in the morning.

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