Shoulder Pain
Bed Mobility & Sleep Guides for Shoulder Pain
Side-sleeping and turning with shoulder pain — pressure redistribution, pillow setup, and preventing the sore shoulder from taking all the load.
Icelandic-designed · Sold in pharmacies
Snoozle Slide Sheet
A home-use slide sheet that reduces mattress friction so you can reposition sideways instead of lifting. Made from comfortable fabric — not nylon, no handles. Designed for you, not for a caregiver.
- ✓Less friction when turning — less effort, less pain
- ✓Comfortable fabric you can sleep on all night
- ✓Handle-free — quiet, independent, self-use
Trusted by Vörður insurance for pregnant policyholders. Recommended by Icelandic midwives and physiotherapists.
9 guides for Shoulder Pain
Sleep Comfort
A quieter way to side-sleep when your shoulder is the problem
When you wake and try to resettle on your side, the down-side shoulder often takes all the load. This guide shows how to redistribute pressure with a small sequence change, pillow placement, and quick bedding fixes.
Quick answer: Unload the down-side shoulder before you settle: hug a pillow to keep your top shoulder from collapsing forward, put a pillow between knees, and slide your hips 2–3 cm back so more weight goes into your ribcage/hip instead of the shoulder point. If microfiber sheets or a tucked top sheet are grabbing, free the sheet at hip level and smooth wrinkles so you don’t re-load the shoulder during the turn.
Sleep Comfort
Palliative and End-of-Life Comfort at Home: How to Turn in Bed Without Exhausting Everyone
This article is for people at end of life at home, and for the family or carers helping them move in bed. The aim is comfort, not exercise or “keeping strong”. We focus on turning and small position changes that reduce pain, breathlessness and exhaustion for everyone involved. You’ll learn why turning is uniquely difficult in palliative situations, how to recognise the hardest moments in a turn, and how to use gravity, pillows and timing to make movements gentler. We’ll also look at how a low-friction home slide sheet like Snoozle can reduce mattress drag and pain spikes, without lifting or risky transfers. The goal is to give you a calm, realistic way of moving that respects limited energy, fragile skin, medical equipment and emotional strain. You can pick and choose the parts that fit your situation right now, and adapt them as things change.
Quick answer: Turning someone at end of life at home should be small, planned and gentle, using gravity and pillows instead of big pushes or pulls. The hardest part is usually the first “un-sticking” of the shoulders and hips from the mattress and the final settling into a new position.
Bed Mobility
How to Get Out of Bed Safely with Inflammatory Arthritis Morning Stiffness
Morning stiffness from inflammatory arthritis can make getting out of bed very painful and exhausting. Using slow, controlled micro-movements, good pillow support, and a Snoozle Slide Sheet to reduce friction can help you roll, sit up, and stand more safely without sudden pain spikes.
Quick answer: Before moving, take a moment to breathe, gently wake up your joints, and set up your pillows and Snoozle Slide Sheet. Use small, log-roll movements to turn onto your side with the slide sheet under your hips and shoulders.
Bed Mobility
How to Turn and Get Out of Bed with Fibromyalgia Using a Snoozle Slide Sheet
Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain and heightened sensitivity, making even small movements in bed challenging. Using small, controlled steps and a Snoozle Slide Sheet can reduce friction, shear, and effort, helping to turn and get out of bed with less pain and fear. This guide breaks down precise movements, positioning tips, and how to pause safely to avoid flare-ups.
Quick answer: Move slowly in small steps, use the Snoozle Slide Sheet under your hips and shoulders to reduce friction, and pause often to breathe. Start turning by moving your legs first, then gently roll your pelvis and shoulders together, using gravity to assist without pushing hard.
Bed Mobility
Turning in Bed with Obesity and Mobility Limits: How to Move with Less Effort
Turning in bed can be challenging and painful for people living with obesity and mobility limitations. Using the Snoozle Slide Sheet reduces friction and shear, making it easier to reposition with less effort and pain spikes. This article breaks down the movement into small, manageable steps, explains how to use gravity and pillow support, and shares common pitfalls to avoid for safer, gentler bed mobility.
Quick answer: Place the Snoozle Slide Sheet under your hips and shoulders to reduce friction, then use small, slow movements starting with your legs and pelvis to roll onto your side. Use gravity and pillow support to minimize effort and pause to breathe between steps to avoid pain spikes.
Sleep Comfort
Mastering Safe Night-Time Movement with Hypermobility: How to Turn and Get Out of Bed Without Pain
People living with hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) often struggle with night-time movements that most take for granted—turning in bed, repositioning, and getting out of bed can trigger pain, joint instability, and fatigue. This difficulty stems from joint laxity and fragile connective tissues that require careful, controlled movement to avoid injury. This article provides a clear, step-by-step guide on how to move safely in bed, reduce strain, and improve comfort during the night, using simple techniques and the Snoozle Slide Sheet, a low-friction slide sheet designed specifically for home use.
Quick answer: For individuals with hypermobility or EDS, moving in bed is safer when you slow everything down and move in small, controlled segments instead of twisting all at once. Start by bending your knees and placing your feet flat on the bed, then roll your hips and shoulders together as a unit while using your arms to support and steady your
Sleep Comfort
How to Overcome Night-Time Freezing in Parkinson’s: Practical Bed Mobility Tips with Snoozle Slide Sheet
Night-time rigidity and freezing in Parkinson’s can make turning in bed and getting out of bed slow, painful, and exhausting. This guide explains why freezing happens, what typically goes wrong when you try to move, and how to use small, segmented movements to turn and get up more safely. It also shows how a low-friction Snoozle Slide Sheet can reduce resistance so you can reposition with less effort and strain, without lifting or risky transfers.
Quick answer: Night-time freezing in Parkinson’s makes it hard to start and continue movements, so turning in bed can feel like you are “stuck” in one position. The most effective approach is to break movements into small steps: bend your knees, roll your shoulders first, then bring your hips over, and use your arms and legs to gently push or pull.
Sleep Comfort
How to Get Out of Bed with Chronic Shoulder Pain: Practical Steps to Move Safely and Reduce Pain
Living with chronic shoulder pain makes simple tasks like getting out of bed feel daunting and painful. This guide is for anyone struggling with shoulder irritation that worsens with movement, explaining why traditional methods of turning and sitting up can increase pain and fatigue. You’ll learn step-by-step, practical techniques to move in bed and get up with minimal strain, plus how simple tools like the Snoozle Slide Sheet can make these movements smoother and less painful.
Quick answer: To get out of bed safely with an irritated shoulder, avoid pushing or pulling with the painful arm. Instead, use your legs and the non-painful arm to roll onto your side, then use your feet to pivot your body to the edge of the bed.
Recovery & Sleep
Turn Without Your Arms: A Deep‑Dive Guide to Shoulder Surgery Sleep and Bed Mobility
Learn how to turn in bed after shoulder surgery without using your arms. Master a safe no‑push roll, set up your bed for success, and see how a tubular slide sheet like Snoozle supports independent living and smoother, shoulder‑friendly movement.
Quick answer: After shoulder surgery, roll without pushing with your arms by using your legs, hips, and core. On your back, bend both knees, tighten your belly, and tip your knees to one side as your hips follow. A tubular slide sheet like Snoozle reduces friction so you can roll smoothly while your shoulder stays quiet.
Common questions about Shoulder Pain and bed mobility
How do I side-sleep with shoulder pain without waking up fully?▼
Unload the down-side shoulder before you settle: hug a pillow so your top shoulder can’t roll forward, use a pillow between your knees, and shift your hips 2–3 cm backward so your ribcage and hip share the load. Fix any sheet or pajama bunching first so you don’t stall mid-move.
Why does my shoulder hurt more right after I wake and try to get comfortable again?▼
Right after waking, your shoulder has been still and compressed, so the first pressure feels sharper. If you resettle by dropping onto your side, the shoulder point often takes first contact while your ribs and hip aren’t stacked yet, so pressure concentrates instead of redistributing.
How often should I turn someone at end of life at home?▼
There is no single schedule that fits everyone. In palliative care, the priority is comfort, not a fixed turning timetable. Many teams aim for at least a gentle position change every 2–4 hours while awake, but if the person is finally sleeping peacefully and their skin looks healthy, it may be kinder to let them rest. Watch for signs like fidgeting, facial tension, or redness over bony areas as cues that a small tilt or adjustment is needed, and follow the guidance of your community nurse or palliative care team.
Is it safe to use a slide sheet like Snoozle at home without training?▼
It can be used safely at home as long as you use it only to reduce friction on the mattress and not for lifting or transferring between surfaces. Keep Snoozle fully on the bed, place it under the shoulders, back and hips, and use gentle rocking and guiding rather than pulling hard. If you are unsure, ask your community nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist to show you how to position it safely during a home visit.
How does the Snoozle Slide Sheet help with morning stiffness from inflammatory arthritis?▼
The Snoozle Slide Sheet creates a low-friction surface between your body and the mattress, so you can roll and slide with less effort and less rubbing on inflamed joints. This can reduce the pulling and dragging that often trigger pain spikes when you are very stiff in the morning.
Can I use the Snoozle Slide Sheet if my muscles are very weak or I feel unsteady?▼
Yes, Snoozle can reduce the effort needed for in-bed movements, which is helpful if you are weak. However, it does not provide support or balance. If you are very unsteady, you may still need hands-on help, bed rails, or other equipment as advised by a healthcare professional.
Can the Snoozle Slide Sheet prevent all pain when moving in bed?▼
No. The Snoozle Slide Sheet reduces friction and effort, which can lower the chance of pain spikes, but it cannot remove fibromyalgia pain completely. You still need to move slowly, in small steps, and use pacing and breathing to manage sensitivity.
Is it safe to use the Snoozle Slide Sheet without assistance?▼
Many people with fibromyalgia can use the Snoozle independently for gentle sliding and turning in bed. If you feel very weak, dizzy, or unsteady, it is safer to have someone nearby to help position the sheet, steady you when you sit or stand, and ensure you do not slip.
Can I use the Snoozle Slide Sheet on my own if I have obesity and very limited strength?▼
Many people can use the Snoozle independently for small adjustments and gentle turns, because it reduces friction and effort. However, if you feel unsafe, very weak, or worried about sliding too far, it is safer to have a helper present and to speak with a healthcare professional about your specific situation.
How often should I change position in bed to protect my skin?▼
If you can, aim to change your position or do small micro-movements every 1–2 hours while awake. This might be a full roll, a quarter turn, or just sliding your hips and shoulders a few centimetres on the Snoozle to change pressure areas. Always stay within your comfort and energy limits.