In a word…yes!
Stomach sleepers have to turn their head to one side in order to breathe. This creates tension in the muscles of the neck and upper spine. Think about doing this for up to 8 hours a night and you can see why this might cause a problem. Also, sleeping on our stomach increases the curve in your lower back making you even more prone to low back pain.
Changing your posture isn’t always easy. To prevent sleeping on your stomach try these tips. Remember it will take at least a month to break the stomach sleeping habit so do persist.
When on your back, place a pillow under one or both legs. This allows the lower back to relax and flattens the arch of the lower spine slightly.
If you lie on your side, place a thin pillow between your knees and a thick pillow at chest height to wrap your arms around. This is usually comfortable and keeps the spine in a relaxed and neutral position. You might be surprised how easy it is to bring the extra pillows with you when you roll from side to side at night.
Regardless of whether you are on your back or side, a pillow that is the right height is essential. The pillow should be pre-contoured or soft enough to deform to the shape of the head when resting on it. The pillow should not slowly collapse but should continue to provide support throughout the night.