Many of us adopt different positions when sleeping, from curling up in a fetal position to sprawling out like a starfish. One increasingly talked-about position on social media is the so-called “T-Rex” pose, where sleepers bend their arms and tuck them close to their chest, mimicking the tiny arms of the famous dinosaur.
While it may look cute, doctors caution that this position could lead to health problems. Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a sleep medicine specialist and chief medical advisor for Sleepopolis, told HuffPost that tucking the arms in can press on nerves in the elbows and wrists. This may slow blood flow, causing tingling, numbness, or shooting pains down the arms. Over time, it can also strain the shoulders, leading to stiffness or soreness.
Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Matthew Bennett adds that the T-Rex position may affect grip strength, causing sleepers to drop objects more frequently or find it difficult to hold items. Persistent numbness or weakness in the arms and hands, especially after waking, could indicate worsening nerve damage and should prompt a visit to a doctor.
The good news is that early intervention is simple. Changing your sleeping position can relieve pressure on the nerves, and symptoms often resolve quickly. However, sustained pressure over weeks or months can potentially cause lasting nerve damage, doctors warn.
