Stroke Recovery
How to reposition at night with Stroke Recovery
Step-by-step guides for repositioning at night when you have Stroke Recovery. Practical methods from real bed mobility guides.
Quick answer
Lead the turn with your stronger side: bend the stronger knee, slide your hips a few centimeters toward the direction you want to roll, then pull your stronger shoulder across while the weak arm is secured on your chest. If fabric or bedding is gripping at the hips (cotton sheets, leggings, weighted blanket), remove weight and break the “friction seal” with a small sideways slide before you try to roll.
Key steps
- 1.Remove the weighted blanket from your hips before you try to turn; weight turns your weak side into an anchor.
- 2.Secure the weak arm across your chest so it can’t slip under your ribs during the roll.
- 3.Bend the stronger knee and plant the stronger foot; the stronger side leads the move.
- 4.Slide your hips 2–5 cm sideways toward the turning direction before you rotate—this breaks the friction seal.
- 5.Lead with the stronger shoulder across your body, then let the stronger knee follow to bring the pelvis.
- 6.If leggings grip at the hips, tug the fabric 1–2 cm toward your knees to create slack before turning.
- 7.If the weak leg lags, gently hook your stronger foot behind the weak ankle and guide it a few centimeters.
- 8.After you land on your side, do a 1–2 cm top-hip micro-adjust so you’re not twisted.
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.
In-depth guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn in bed with one-sided weakness after a stroke?▼
Let the stronger side lead: secure the weak arm across your chest, bend the stronger knee, slide your hips 2–5 cm toward the turn, then pull your stronger shoulder across and let the stronger knee follow. The sideways hip slide is what stops the weak hip from feeling glued.
Why does my weak side feel like dead weight when I try to roll?▼
With one-sided weakness, the weak hip and shoulder don’t lift or time the movement, so they drag instead of gliding. Add crisp cotton sheets, tight leggings, or a weighted blanket and friction increases right where you need the pelvis to move.
What do I do if my weak arm keeps getting trapped under me at night?▼
Put the weak arm across your chest before you start and hold it there with your stronger hand or forearm while you roll. This prevents the arm from slipping behind you and getting pinned under your ribs and shoulder.
Does a weighted blanket make turning harder with hemiplegia?▼
Yes—when it sits over your pelvis and thighs it increases downward force and friction, so the weak side becomes an anchor. If you want the calming weight, keep it lower on the legs or move it off your hips before turning.
Why do my cotton sheets make me stick when I try to turn?▼
Crisp cotton can grip at the hip and shoulder when pressure is high and your body can’t lift enough to glide. A small sideways hip slide first breaks that grip so your stronger-side-led roll can finish.
What should I tell my physio or OT if turning in bed feels impossible?▼
Say: 'I have one-sided weakness and my weak hip/shoulder drags—especially at night—and I get stuck mid-turn.' Ask for a bed-mobility method that protects the weak shoulder and for adjustments to bedding, clothing, and any assistive aids to reduce friction and shear.