The Best Orthopedic Knee Pillow Reviews

A good orthopedic knee pillow can help in a lot of situations. Not only does it promote sleeping in the right posture, but it can alleviate hip and lower back pain, sciatica and arthritis discomfort, as well as provide a comfortable resting position for pregnant women. We know that choosing even something as simple as a pillow can be a very complicated process. That’s why we’ve put together some of the top-rated knee pillows that are currently on the market. Following this is a buyer’s guide to help you determine what you should be looking out for before making your purchase. But first, let’s examine some of the best orthopedic knee pillows that money can currently buy.

The Best Orthopedic Knee Pillows

What a Good Knee Pillow Looks Like

Knee pillows typically come in three distinct shapes:

• You might have heard of wedge pillows, which typically have a trapezoid or triangular shape, and are commonly used for upper back and head support. They can also make for supportive knee pillows, and they’re beneficial for back sleepers who place them under the knees. Some side sleepers may find comfort in wedge knee pillows too, but there are many variables that contribute to this comfort, such as the weight or height of the sleeper.
• Hourglass pillows are what normally come to mind when you think about knee pillows. They’re often considered to be the most affordable choices, mostly because their compact shape doesn’t need too much material, and is therefore cheaper to produce. They have a natural contour that aligns with your body’s curves, so that your knees and legs can rest comfortably the entire night.
• Body pillows can also used be as knee pillows, as these are constructed to match the adult figure. Body pillows can be tucked between the knees, and take pressure off the lower back. They can also help the legs and knees to rest in a comfortable position. Body pillows weren’t initially designed to be placed between the knees, but a lot of sleepers find them extremely comfortable in this position.

Orthopedic knee pillows are typically made with memory foam or polyfoam. Some of them contain shredded memory foam, which allows the sleeper to customize the loft, as well as mold the pillow to fit between the knees.

The cover of a knee pillow can be made of different materials, ranging from polyester to cotton. Naturally, knee pillows that have cotton covers will also cost more.

There’s also the firmness of the pillow to consider, but most knee pillows range from medium to firm. It’s important for the knees and legs not to compress the pillow, which can compromise your comfort. A firm pillow won’t bend under pressure, which prevents friction between your legs.

Finally, there are some knee pillows that come with removable knee straps. The role of these straps is to make sure the pillow stays in place during the entire night, no matter how much the sleeper tosses about in their sleep.

Who Needs an Orthopedic Knee Pillow?

Of course, everyone can benefit from sleeping with a knee pillow. It’s not something that you need a medical prescription for, but there are certain health conditions where doctors may recommend using one of these. Since it helps promote correct posture and can be useful in so many ways, a knee pillow is something to have at home. But when it was first designed, a knee pillow was designed for:

• People with knee and back pain. With a knee pillow, one can keep their legs and knees aligned, which in turn helps to relieve back pain.
• People that suffer from sciatica pain, and need a proper resting position to relieve the sciatica muscle from all the pressure.
• People who experience RLS (also known as restless leg syndrome). Just as the name suggests it, people with RLS have an uncontrollable need to move their legs while lying in bed, or can otherwise experience pain.
• Pregnant women may often have a hard time finding the right sleeping position. They will mostly rest on their side, because otherwise, the baby puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the other organs. Pregnant women should sleep with a pillow tucked in between the knees, to take some of the pressure off the hips.

Conclusion

If you’re still unsure which knee pillow is best suited for you, try to analyze what your needs and expectations are before going shopping. For example, your weight can be a powerful indicator of what pillow suits you best. A person who is lighter will be better off with a thinner pillow. Pregnant women, for example, are better matches with an hourglass pillow, as these can take off some of that pressure from the midsection. People that tend to sleep hot may enjoy a memory foam pillow that blends some sort of cooling technology, so there’s always that to keep in mind. But, if you’re still not convinced on which one to choose, always go with the best seller of the category with the most positive reviews.