The answer to the question is this: memory foam contour pillows really work according to what they are designed for. A word of caution though: there are many types of contour pillows now available and each has different degrees of success for each user.

One type of contour pillow can work wonders for many people, but it just doesn’t do anything for another. You should keep looking for the type that suits your needs, and you can try the ones that fail with others.

Types of contour pillows

There are three common types of contour pillows: posture, inflatable travel, and wedge. The difference mainly lies in the way these pillows cradle your head (or other parts of the body) to make you feel comfortable.

The wedge keeps the head tilted while the posture provides a better cradling effect. Inflatable travel contour pillows have many subtypes, but not as good as the other two. For travel, they are the best when there are no other alternatives.

Sleep factor

In the end, the ultimate measure of whether contour pillows really work is the quantity and quality of the user’s sleep. Sometimes insomnia (total lack of sleep) is sometimes caused by the simple incompatibility of the user and the type of contour pillow used.

With the wrong type of head pillow, people using them would experience poor support and other less than ideal conditions, such as compression of the shoulder and displacement of the spine, especially in the neck region.

Upright pillows

To really work, the right pillow must be able to provide the proper support the body needs. The total effect includes adequate support for the head, neck and shoulders.

This support results in all of these body parts being aligned while you sleep. In this position, the pillow relieves pressure and sets the correct counterweights on the body. Finally, relief and comfort induce a restful sleep.

Pillow functions

For a pillow to really work its intended function, it has to adapt to different sleeping positions while providing the necessary therapeutic support and comfort to the sleeper.

In general, people who go to sleep rarely pay attention to the position of the neck and spine.

Often the head is at the wrong angle in relation to the position of the rest of the body. It may be comfortable, but it puts pressure on your neck and spine.

The correct contour pillow should be adjustable to accommodate these particular curves, arches, and slopes. It should also be flexible enough to shape it to relieve pressure points.

Types of pillows

Today, there are many types of pillows to suit your uses. For example, the Leg Wedge pillow functions as a wedge for the knees and a spacer for the legs.

Like a knee wedge, it levels your lower body with your upper body while lying on your side.

This is great for side sleepers, straight spine alignment, leg and knee arthritis, and anything else.

As a leg spacer, it elevates the legs (and feet) to promote circulation, leg cramps, thrombosis, as well as supports and aligns limbs with loose nerves and tendons. Many contour pillow models are doing an excellent job and more are in development.