January 4, 2010- Generally a pillow is considered to be a cushion which supports our head while sleeping in bed or sitting on a sofa or a chair. When pillows are also used for decorative purpose, they are called throw pillows. When we talk about benefits of pillow for our body, we normally refer to the first kind of pillow. The second type of pillow too is beneficial but for aesthetic purposes. This article focuses on various types of pillows that give support and comfort to our body parts in different ways.

Traditional Pillow
The pillow that is placed on top of a mattress or the mattress top pillow supports the head, neck, and upper spine when the body lies in horizontal position in the bed. However, for getting the full benefit of this pillow, it should be selected very carefully. If the pillow is too high, it puts strain on the back of the neck and shoulders. It also leads to narrowing of the air pipe which obstructs breathing and sometimes causes snoring which can hinder sleep. Too low pillow also leads to strain on neck muscles. The optimum height which properly supports the head, neck, and shoulders when lying on back, is 4 to 6 inches.

Body Pillow
A pillow that is as long as the body is beneficial for those people who mostly sleep on their side. The top portion of such pillow supports the head and neck and the bottom portion supports the knees and legs. It is specially good for pregnant women as it provides added support to the abdominal portion. However, while sleeping on side, one must not throw top leg over the body pillow as this places pressure on the lower thoracic and lumbar spine.

Neck Pillow
Popularly known as orthopedic pillow, the neck pillow is beneficial for people having neck pain as it is contoured to fill the hollow spaces between the head and neck. This keeps the neck in alignment with the spine thus avoiding any strain on neck muscles.

Travel Pillow
A curved"U" shaped pillow which fits around the neck is used for sleeping or supporting the head when in a seated position, mostly while traveling in a car, bus or airplane. It doesn't let the head bend too far on either sides. It also takes up partial weight of the head relieving the neck muscles.

Lumbar Pillow
People who keep sitting on a chair for very long time of the day can gradually develop pain in their lower back and legs. The lumbar pillow or the lower back support pillow fills the natural gap that is created between the lower spine and the chair while in a seated position. It is also very helpful when used while driving car.

Donut Pillows
The donut-shaped or torus shaped pillow is used on the seat portion of a chair. It has a space in the middle- either in form of a depression or a hole in the center of the pillow. It alleviates pressure on the tail bone area while sitting. It is useful for people who have suffered an injury to the tail bone area or for those who suffer pain from hemorrhoids or other ailment of the colon. Apart from the additional support, all pillows provide comfort to the user. However, in order to get ultimate comfort one should keep the pillow surface smooth. This can be done by using pillow covers made of fine fabrics such as cotton in summers and flannel in winters.