Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMeaning of SupineBenefits of Sleeping SupineRisks of Sleeping SupineMeaning of ProneBenefits of Sleeping ProneRisks of Sleeping ProneWhich Is Better?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Meaning of Supine
Benefits of Sleeping Supine
Risks of Sleeping Supine
Meaning of Prone
Benefits of Sleeping Prone
Risks of Sleeping Prone
Which Is Better?
“Prone”(face down) and “supine” (face up) are words healthcare providers use to describe the position in which yousleepor lie down.
Understanding the pros and cons of prone vs. supine sleeping can help you determine which position will help you have a restful night and support your overall health.
What Does “Supine” Mean?
“Supine” means to lie on your back, facing upward. The term “supine” is often used in medical terminology to refer to the positioning of individuals during procedures or examinations. One study estimated that people spend about 38% of their sleep lying on their backs.
Prone vs. Supine: Remembering the DifferenceHere is a trick to remember the difference between supine and prone:“Supine” contains the word “up,” reminding you that you are face up in this position.“Prone” contains the word “on,” which you can use to remember that you are lying on your face or stomach.
Prone vs. Supine: Remembering the Difference
Here is a trick to remember the difference between supine and prone:“Supine” contains the word “up,” reminding you that you are face up in this position.“Prone” contains the word “on,” which you can use to remember that you are lying on your face or stomach.
Here is a trick to remember the difference between supine and prone:
The supine position is a popular neutral posture for sleep and relaxation. Lying on your back can ease tension in your neck, shoulders, and back. Some specific benefits you may notice from sleeping on your back include lesslow-back painand less facial aging or wrinkles.
Sleeping in a supine position can also easenasal congestion.
Supine Position in ExerciseThe supine position is also popular in yoga, Pilates, and other forms of exercise. In addition to being a neutral position that can relax your muscles and improve spinal alignment, this position engages and strengthens your core muscles.
Supine Position in Exercise
The supine position is also popular in yoga, Pilates, and other forms of exercise. In addition to being a neutral position that can relax your muscles and improve spinal alignment, this position engages and strengthens your core muscles.
Some research suggests that fluid can shift from your legs to your upper body in the supine position, increasing pressure in your lungs.The increased pressure on your respiratory system decreases yourlung capacityand restricts yourairway.
Sleeping in the supine position has been linked to problems likesnoringandobstructive sleep apnea, a condition that causes upper airway disruption.People who snore should opt for a prone or side position.
Some studies also reveal that lying on your back can increase the effects ofgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Inpregnancy—especially in the last trimester—sleeping on your back could cause circulation problems from the weight of the uterus on thevena cava, the vein that carries blood to your heart for oxygen.
Can Back Sleeping Cause Dementia?A 2019 study linked increased time sleeping in the supine position to a higher rate of neurodegenerative diseases likeAlzheimer’s disease, but more studies are needed to connect sleep position to Alzheimer’s or similar disorders.
Can Back Sleeping Cause Dementia?
A 2019 study linked increased time sleeping in the supine position to a higher rate of neurodegenerative diseases likeAlzheimer’s disease, but more studies are needed to connect sleep position to Alzheimer’s or similar disorders.
Supine Position to Relieve Back Pain
What Does “Prone” Mean?
Prone is lying in a face-down or stomach-down position.Like many medical terms, the word “prone” is rooted in Latin. It is taken from the word “pronus,” meaning bent forward.
If you’re lying prone for a medical procedure, your care team will place your head and neck in a neutral position. During sleep, you may turn your face to either side in this position.
When you lieon your stomach, the pressure distribution in your body changes. Evidence suggests that your lungs can fill (and stay inflated after you exhale) more effectively in this position.
Several studies have shown some benefits in sleeping in a prone position for people with obstructive sleep apnea.One study estimated that many people with obstructive sleep apnea have a variation of the condition calledpositional sleep apnea, wherein your sleep position affects the obstruction. About 35% of study participants had obstructive sleep apnea, and of them, nearly 70% had positional sleep apnea.
Sleeping in a prone position is bad for your spinal alignment and can lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain. If you are a chronic stomach sleeper, you may notice temporary imprints or wrinkles on your face from being pressed up against your pillow night after night.
For babies, sleeping prone could be dangerous. In fact, infants sleeping on their stomachs is linked to an increased risk ofsudden infant death syndrome(SIDS). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that for the first 12 months, parents and caregivers place babies to sleep on their backs on a flat, firm surface free of soft bedding.
The Best and Worst Sleep Positions for Health Conditions
Is It Better to Sleep Prone or Supine?
There is no “right” way to sleep. Different positions have pros and cons, especially at various stages of life. Ultimately, it comes down to your health, body composition, and personal preference.
Prone vs. Supine PositionsProne Position RecommendedSupine Position RecommendedPeople who snorePeople with low back or neck painPeople with sleep apneaPeople concerned about wrinklesPeople with GERDPeople with nasal congestionInfantsThe Benefits of Sleeping With a Pillow Between Your LegsSummaryProne and supine are body positions when lying down. The terms “prone” and “supine” are used in the medical field to explain how you may lie for a surgery or medical procedure. There are certain benefits to each position that can translate to your sleep, but there is no right or wrong way to sleep. Your age and overall health will determine the proper sleep position for you.
The Benefits of Sleeping With a Pillow Between Your Legs
Summary
Prone and supine are body positions when lying down. The terms “prone” and “supine” are used in the medical field to explain how you may lie for a surgery or medical procedure. There are certain benefits to each position that can translate to your sleep, but there is no right or wrong way to sleep. Your age and overall health will determine the proper sleep position for you.
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.Skarpsno ES, Mork PJ, Nilsen TIL, Holtermann A.Sleep positions and nocturnal body movements based on free-living accelerometer recordings: association with demographics, lifestyle, and insomnia symptoms.Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:267-275. doi:10.2147/NSS.S145777Cary D, Briffa K, McKenna L.Identifying relationships between sleep posture and non-specific spinal symptoms in adults: A scoping review.BMJ Open. June 2019;9(6):e027633. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027633Goesel A, Kane MAC, Lambros V.Sleep wrinkles: Facial aging and facial distortion during sleep.Aesthetic Surg. Jour, September 2016;36(8):931–940. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw074Sleep Foundation.Best sleep positions.Yoga Basics.Supine yoga poses.Benumof J.Supine position, sleep, wet airways, and wet lungs.Anesthesia & Analgesia. August 2016;123(5):1333. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000001514Dandan A, Dettenmeier P, Chang J, Espiritu JRD.Supine sleep during polysomnography and the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.Int J Respir Pulm Med. August 2018;5(087). doi:10.23937/2378-3516/1410087Oksenberg A, Gadoth N.Continuous and loud snoring only in the supine posture.J Clin Sleep Med. December 2015;11(12):1463-1464. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5290Schuitenmaker J, et al.Associations between sleep position and nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux: A study usng concurrent monitoring of sleep position and esophageal pH and impedance.Am. Jour. Gastro.February 2022;117(2):346-351.Warland, J.Back to basics: avoiding the supine position in pregnancy.J Physiol. February 2017;595: 1017-1018. doi:10.1113/JP273705Levendowski DJ. et al.Head position during sleep: Potential implications for patients with neurodegenerative disease.Jour. Alz. Dis.January 2019;67(2):631-638. doi:10.3233/JAD-180697.Hadaya J, Benharash P.Prone positioning for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).JAMA.2020;324(13):1361. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.14901EtymologyOnline.Prone.Lumb AB, White A.Breathing in the prone position in health and disease.BJA Educ. August 2021;21(8):280-283. doi:10.1016/j.bjae.2021.05.001Bidarian-Monirin A, Nilsson M, Rasmusson L, Attia J, Ejnell H.The effect of the prone sleeping position on obstructive sleep apnea.Acta Oto-Laryngologica.2015;135(1):79-84. doi:10.3109/00016489.2014.962183Cerritelli L, Caranti A, Migliorelli A. et al.Sleep position and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Do we know how we sleep? A new explorative sleeping questionnaire.Sleep Breath. February 2022;26:1973-1981. doi:10.1007/s11325-022-02576-4Sleep Foundation.Sleeping on your stomach – is it bad for you?American Academy of Pediatrics.American Academy of Pediatrics updates sleep recommendations back is best.Oksenburg A, Gadoth N,Breathe well, sleep well: Avoid the supine and adopt lateral posture.Sleep Health. June 2016;2(2):90-93. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2016.02.001
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.Skarpsno ES, Mork PJ, Nilsen TIL, Holtermann A.Sleep positions and nocturnal body movements based on free-living accelerometer recordings: association with demographics, lifestyle, and insomnia symptoms.Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:267-275. doi:10.2147/NSS.S145777Cary D, Briffa K, McKenna L.Identifying relationships between sleep posture and non-specific spinal symptoms in adults: A scoping review.BMJ Open. June 2019;9(6):e027633. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027633Goesel A, Kane MAC, Lambros V.Sleep wrinkles: Facial aging and facial distortion during sleep.Aesthetic Surg. Jour, September 2016;36(8):931–940. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw074Sleep Foundation.Best sleep positions.Yoga Basics.Supine yoga poses.Benumof J.Supine position, sleep, wet airways, and wet lungs.Anesthesia & Analgesia. August 2016;123(5):1333. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000001514Dandan A, Dettenmeier P, Chang J, Espiritu JRD.Supine sleep during polysomnography and the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.Int J Respir Pulm Med. August 2018;5(087). doi:10.23937/2378-3516/1410087Oksenberg A, Gadoth N.Continuous and loud snoring only in the supine posture.J Clin Sleep Med. December 2015;11(12):1463-1464. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5290Schuitenmaker J, et al.Associations between sleep position and nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux: A study usng concurrent monitoring of sleep position and esophageal pH and impedance.Am. Jour. Gastro.February 2022;117(2):346-351.Warland, J.Back to basics: avoiding the supine position in pregnancy.J Physiol. February 2017;595: 1017-1018. doi:10.1113/JP273705Levendowski DJ. et al.Head position during sleep: Potential implications for patients with neurodegenerative disease.Jour. Alz. Dis.January 2019;67(2):631-638. doi:10.3233/JAD-180697.Hadaya J, Benharash P.Prone positioning for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).JAMA.2020;324(13):1361. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.14901EtymologyOnline.Prone.Lumb AB, White A.Breathing in the prone position in health and disease.BJA Educ. August 2021;21(8):280-283. doi:10.1016/j.bjae.2021.05.001Bidarian-Monirin A, Nilsson M, Rasmusson L, Attia J, Ejnell H.The effect of the prone sleeping position on obstructive sleep apnea.Acta Oto-Laryngologica.2015;135(1):79-84. doi:10.3109/00016489.2014.962183Cerritelli L, Caranti A, Migliorelli A. et al.Sleep position and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Do we know how we sleep? A new explorative sleeping questionnaire.Sleep Breath. February 2022;26:1973-1981. doi:10.1007/s11325-022-02576-4Sleep Foundation.Sleeping on your stomach – is it bad for you?American Academy of Pediatrics.American Academy of Pediatrics updates sleep recommendations back is best.Oksenburg A, Gadoth N,Breathe well, sleep well: Avoid the supine and adopt lateral posture.Sleep Health. June 2016;2(2):90-93. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2016.02.001
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.Skarpsno ES, Mork PJ, Nilsen TIL, Holtermann A.Sleep positions and nocturnal body movements based on free-living accelerometer recordings: association with demographics, lifestyle, and insomnia symptoms.Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:267-275. doi:10.2147/NSS.S145777Cary D, Briffa K, McKenna L.Identifying relationships between sleep posture and non-specific spinal symptoms in adults: A scoping review.BMJ Open. June 2019;9(6):e027633. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027633Goesel A, Kane MAC, Lambros V.Sleep wrinkles: Facial aging and facial distortion during sleep.Aesthetic Surg. Jour, September 2016;36(8):931–940. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw074Sleep Foundation.Best sleep positions.Yoga Basics.Supine yoga poses.Benumof J.Supine position, sleep, wet airways, and wet lungs.Anesthesia & Analgesia. August 2016;123(5):1333. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000001514Dandan A, Dettenmeier P, Chang J, Espiritu JRD.Supine sleep during polysomnography and the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.Int J Respir Pulm Med. August 2018;5(087). doi:10.23937/2378-3516/1410087Oksenberg A, Gadoth N.Continuous and loud snoring only in the supine posture.J Clin Sleep Med. December 2015;11(12):1463-1464. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5290Schuitenmaker J, et al.Associations between sleep position and nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux: A study usng concurrent monitoring of sleep position and esophageal pH and impedance.Am. Jour. Gastro.February 2022;117(2):346-351.Warland, J.Back to basics: avoiding the supine position in pregnancy.J Physiol. February 2017;595: 1017-1018. doi:10.1113/JP273705Levendowski DJ. et al.Head position during sleep: Potential implications for patients with neurodegenerative disease.Jour. Alz. Dis.January 2019;67(2):631-638. doi:10.3233/JAD-180697.Hadaya J, Benharash P.Prone positioning for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).JAMA.2020;324(13):1361. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.14901EtymologyOnline.Prone.Lumb AB, White A.Breathing in the prone position in health and disease.BJA Educ. August 2021;21(8):280-283. doi:10.1016/j.bjae.2021.05.001Bidarian-Monirin A, Nilsson M, Rasmusson L, Attia J, Ejnell H.The effect of the prone sleeping position on obstructive sleep apnea.Acta Oto-Laryngologica.2015;135(1):79-84. doi:10.3109/00016489.2014.962183Cerritelli L, Caranti A, Migliorelli A. et al.Sleep position and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Do we know how we sleep? A new explorative sleeping questionnaire.Sleep Breath. February 2022;26:1973-1981. doi:10.1007/s11325-022-02576-4Sleep Foundation.Sleeping on your stomach – is it bad for you?American Academy of Pediatrics.American Academy of Pediatrics updates sleep recommendations back is best.Oksenburg A, Gadoth N,Breathe well, sleep well: Avoid the supine and adopt lateral posture.Sleep Health. June 2016;2(2):90-93. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2016.02.001
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.
Skarpsno ES, Mork PJ, Nilsen TIL, Holtermann A.Sleep positions and nocturnal body movements based on free-living accelerometer recordings: association with demographics, lifestyle, and insomnia symptoms.Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:267-275. doi:10.2147/NSS.S145777
Cary D, Briffa K, McKenna L.Identifying relationships between sleep posture and non-specific spinal symptoms in adults: A scoping review.BMJ Open. June 2019;9(6):e027633. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027633
Goesel A, Kane MAC, Lambros V.Sleep wrinkles: Facial aging and facial distortion during sleep.Aesthetic Surg. Jour, September 2016;36(8):931–940. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw074
Sleep Foundation.Best sleep positions.
Yoga Basics.Supine yoga poses.
Benumof J.Supine position, sleep, wet airways, and wet lungs.Anesthesia & Analgesia. August 2016;123(5):1333. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000001514
Dandan A, Dettenmeier P, Chang J, Espiritu JRD.Supine sleep during polysomnography and the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.Int J Respir Pulm Med. August 2018;5(087). doi:10.23937/2378-3516/1410087
Oksenberg A, Gadoth N.Continuous and loud snoring only in the supine posture.J Clin Sleep Med. December 2015;11(12):1463-1464. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5290
Schuitenmaker J, et al.Associations between sleep position and nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux: A study usng concurrent monitoring of sleep position and esophageal pH and impedance.Am. Jour. Gastro.February 2022;117(2):346-351.
Warland, J.Back to basics: avoiding the supine position in pregnancy.J Physiol. February 2017;595: 1017-1018. doi:10.1113/JP273705
Levendowski DJ. et al.Head position during sleep: Potential implications for patients with neurodegenerative disease.Jour. Alz. Dis.January 2019;67(2):631-638. doi:10.3233/JAD-180697.
Hadaya J, Benharash P.Prone positioning for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).JAMA.2020;324(13):1361. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.14901
EtymologyOnline.Prone.
Lumb AB, White A.Breathing in the prone position in health and disease.BJA Educ. August 2021;21(8):280-283. doi:10.1016/j.bjae.2021.05.001
Bidarian-Monirin A, Nilsson M, Rasmusson L, Attia J, Ejnell H.The effect of the prone sleeping position on obstructive sleep apnea.Acta Oto-Laryngologica.2015;135(1):79-84. doi:10.3109/00016489.2014.962183
Cerritelli L, Caranti A, Migliorelli A. et al.Sleep position and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Do we know how we sleep? A new explorative sleeping questionnaire.Sleep Breath. February 2022;26:1973-1981. doi:10.1007/s11325-022-02576-4
Sleep Foundation.Sleeping on your stomach – is it bad for you?
American Academy of Pediatrics.American Academy of Pediatrics updates sleep recommendations back is best.
Oksenburg A, Gadoth N,Breathe well, sleep well: Avoid the supine and adopt lateral posture.Sleep Health. June 2016;2(2):90-93. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2016.02.001
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