Orthopaedic Pillow: What the Term Means and What Really Matters

“Orthopaedic” is not a protected term when it comes to pillows, and on its own it says nothing about fit. Whether a pillow suits you depends above all on the right height, which comes from your body measurements, your sleeping position and your mattress.

What does “orthopaedic” actually mean for a pillow?

The term is not protected for pillows. Any manufacturer may use it, and each one means something different by it. Often one of these features is behind it:

• a contoured shape, for example a dip for the head and a roll for the neck,
• a firm, shape-retaining material such as memory foam (viscoelastic foam),
• an adjustable height,
• a recommendation from professionals, the basis of which is not always clear.

All of this can be useful. But it is no guarantee that the pillow suits you. A pillow labelled “orthopaedic” can be too high for your shoulders, while a plain pillow without that label can be just right.

The label describes the manufacturer’s intention, not your fit.

Is an orthopaedic pillow a medical device?

Not automatically. A pillow can call itself “orthopaedic” without being a medical device. So we want to be clear: Pillowise is not a medical device. We also don’t call our pillow “orthopaedic”. It is a made-to-measure pillow in memory foam, and it doesn’t promise a cure.

What a well-fitting pillow can do is limited, but useful: it supports your head and cervical spine in one line and leaves room for your shoulder. That can contribute to a comfortable lying position. It does not treat any complaints. If you regularly wake up with neck or shoulder pain, have the cause checked by a doctor. A pillow is no substitute for an examination. You can read more in our guide to pillows for neck tension.

Why does height matter more than the label?

Seen from the side, your head should be in line with your cervical spine. The distance between your head and the mattress is different for everyone. It depends on these factors:

• Shoulder width: If you have broad shoulders, you need more height so that your head doesn’t sink down.
• Neck circumference and neck length: They determine how much support is needed between head and shoulder.
• Sleeping position: The distance is greater when lying on your side than on your back, and usually smallest when lying on your front.
• Mattress: On a soft mattress, your shoulder sinks in deeper than on a firm one. This changes the height you need.

If the pillow is too high or too low, your neck bends out of line, whatever label is on the packaging. You can find out how to tell in Pillow too high or too low?. For how height can be worked out in general, see Calculating pillow height.

The right height comes from your body, not from the name of the pillow.

And what about the “ergonomic pillow”?

“Ergonomic” is not a uniformly defined term for pillows either. It usually stands for a shape that is meant to support the head. Whether that shape suits you is again decided by measurement. A side sleeper with broad shoulders needs different support from a back sleeper with narrow shoulders. We have a separate guide for side sleepers: The right pillow for side sleepers.

Is there a test winner that suits everyone?

If you’re looking for a test winner, you’re hoping for a simple answer. But a test winner is chosen according to the criteria of that particular test, for example material or workmanship. A test can’t know how broad your shoulders are or how you sleep. A pillow that scores well for many people can still be too high or too low for you.

Our view: test results can help with material, workmanship and care. When it comes to height, only a measurement on your own body will help. For general guidance on choosing, see our guide Which pillow suits whom?.

How does Pillowise work?

Pillowise grew out of practical experience. Thijs van der Hilst, physiotherapist and inventor of Pillowise, was unable to recommend a suitable pillow to patients with neck complaints. So he developed his own measuring method. Three measurements determine which pillow size suits you:

Your sleeping position (back, side, front) and your mattress (soft, medium, firm) are also taken into account. An algorithm uses these to choose the size that fits best. There are six sizes.

We don’t ask what your pillow should be called, but how your body is built.

How do you find your size?

1. Have yourself measured or scan: At a Pillowise point of sale, you are measured with the Pillowise tape measure. Or you can use PillowScan at scan.pillowise.com, with your smartphone or via QR code.
2. Enter your sleeping position: back, side or front. If you change position, choose the one you spend most of the night in.
3. Enter your mattress: soft, medium or firm.
4. Use the result: You get the pillow size that matches these details.

You can find the measuring tools under Measuring up: finding your pillow size.

What does the Pillowise pillow offer?

The pillow measures 55 x 35 cm. The core is 100% memory foam and is made in the Netherlands. The cover has a moisture-regulating top layer of Tencel and a bottom layer of polyester. It is machine washable at 40 °C. The materials are certified to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX. We give a 5-year guarantee on every Pillowise pillow. It is made by United Comfort Industries, who have been making ergonomic sleep products in their own factory in the Netherlands since 1990. You can find all the details at The Pillowise pillow.

Memory foam is only the material. It says nothing about height. For how the material compares with others, read our guide to memory foam pillows.

Pillowise is not available in a web shop on pillowise.com. The pillow is offered through points of sale, including physiotherapy practices, chiropractors, sleep specialists, wellness practices and specialist retailers. There we measure you, and you can try out your size at your leisure. For travelling there is Pillow ToGo, a travel pillow measuring 34 x 35 cm with the same support as the standard pillow. For children aged 4 to 15 there is Pillowise Junior.

So: do you need an orthopaedic pillow?

You can’t decide that from the label. If you wake up rested every morning and your pillow feels comfortable, you don’t need to change anything. That pillow is suitable enough, whatever it is called.

If, on the other hand, you’re unsure whether the height is right, if you’ve already tried several pillows, or if you have broad shoulders and standard heights never fit, a measurement is worthwhile. It shows you which size suits your body. It promises nothing more than that. If you have persistent complaints, you belong in a doctor’s hands, not in a pillow shop.

Find your size or a point of sale

Three measurements will tell you which pillow size suits you.

Find your size yourself or find a point of sale near you.

Thijs van der Hilst, physiotherapist (non-practising)
Inventor of Pillowise