Pillows

Pillows

From Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

August 13, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

The episode discusses how to choose the perfect pillow to alleviate neck pain and improve sleep quality.

What makes the perfect pillow? Nothing saying ‘waking up on the wrong side of the bed’ like a crick in your neck. With up to 70% of us experiencing neck pain at some point in our lives, sleeping in a dodgy position can lead to days of discomfort. And pillows might be part of the problem... Listener Angela has a frozen shoulder, and hoped a new pillow might provide a more comfortable night’s sleep. But with so many options to chose from, which one should she buy? One advertised for her preferred sleeping position? Soft or firm? And what about material: feathers, foam or fibre? She's asked Sliced Bread to help pick out the facts from the marketing fluff. Physiotherapist Dr Chris McCarthy from Manchester School of Physiotherapy joins presenter Greg Foot to discuss the most important factors in selecting the perfect pillow, personalised to you - plus, how to save your sleep when faced with a floppy hotel pillow... All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at [email protected] OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807. RESEARCHER: JULIA RAVEY…

People in this episode

Host: Greg Foot

Guest: Dr Chris McCarthy

Topics covered

  • pillow selection
  • neck pain
  • sleep quality
  • physiotherapy
  • sleep positions

Keywords

  • pillow
  • neck pain
  • sleep
  • physiotherapist
  • sleep positions
  • comfort

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Manchester School of Physiotherapy, BBC Radio 4

More episodes of Sliced Bread

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Sliced Bread podcast page.