Arthritis
How to turn in bed with Arthritis
Step-by-step guides for turning in bed when you have Arthritis. Practical methods from real bed mobility guides.
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.
Key steps
- 1.Free a tightly tucked top sheet 10–15 cm at waist/hip level before you try to resettle.
- 2.Smooth wrinkles under your ribs and hip; microfiber grabs most where it’s folded.
- 3.Hug a pillow to stop the top shoulder from collapsing forward onto the down-side shoulder.
- 4.Place a pillow between knees high enough to support the knee and lower thigh (not just ankles).
- 5.Shift hips 2–3 cm backward before lowering your chest to redistribute pressure to ribcage and hip.
- 6.Lower ribs first, then let the shoulder follow—avoid shoulder-first contact.
- 7.Bend the down-side elbow slightly and bring the forearm forward to reduce shoulder jamming.
- 8.If you keep tipping forward, add a thin pillow behind the upper back as a backstop.
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
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.
Sleep Comfort
When mornings feel stiff, try a sideways turn instead of a lift
Early-morning stiffness can make changing positions feel surprisingly hard because most people try to lift and twist. Shifting sideways across the mattress is often calmer and lower-effort, and Snoozle is designed to support that kind of lateral repositioning at home.
Bed Mobility
Getting Safely from Bed to Standing When You Feel Very Weak
This article is for people who feel generally frail or very low in strength and are worried about falling when they stand up from the bed. It explains how to turn in bed, move towards the edge, and then stand up in small, realistic stages that match what your body can actually do right now. We focus closely on the most dangerous moment – the last part, when you go from sitting at the edge of the bed to standing – and how to make that safer using bed setup, body position and timing. You will also learn how a low‑friction Snoozle slide sheet can reduce effort and painful shear while you move in bed, without being used for lifting or risky transfers.
Bed Mobility
Getting In and Out of Bed with One Stiff Knee: Practical Home Strategies
Knee osteoarthritis changes how every small movement in bed feels, especially when one knee is very stiff and the other is only slightly better. Rolling, sliding your legs and pushing up to sit can all trigger sharp, protective pain. This article walks through how to move in bed and get out of bed step by step, using your stronger leg, your arms and gravity more intelligently. We look closely at the hardest moments in turning and in getting to the edge of the bed, and how to soften them using micro-movements, bed setup and the Snoozle Slide Sheet. Many people try to “just push through” with their painful knee, only to end up more sore and more frightened of movement. Here you will find safer alternatives that reduce effort, reduce shear on the skin around the knee and hip, and give you more control even on difficult mornings. You do not need to be strong or flexible to use these ideas. The goal is not perfection; it is to find the least painful, most repeatable way for you to move in and out of bed on most days.
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.
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.
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.
Sleep Comfort
Effortless Bed Mobility with Knee Osteoarthritis: How to Move and Get Up Without Aggravating Pain
Knee osteoarthritis causes stiffness, swelling, and pain that make simple movements like turning in bed or getting out of bed challenging and painful. People with this condition often struggle with increased discomfort, fatigue, and disrupted sleep due to difficulty repositioning themselves. This article provides practical, step-by-step guidance on how to move safely and efficiently in bed, reduce strain on the knees, and use simple tools like the Snoozle Slide Sheet to make these daily tasks easier and less painful.
Sleep Comfort
Effortless Bed Mobility for MS: Using Momentum and Snoozle to Move Without Pain or Fatigue
Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or neurological weakness often means muscles tire quickly, making simple movements in bed feel overwhelming and painful. This article explains why bed mobility is so hard with MS, what commonly goes wrong, and how to use momentum and positioning to move more easily. It also shows how to safely use the Snoozle Slide Sheet as a low-friction tool to reduce strain, protect your skin, and conserve energy while turning or repositioning in bed at home.
Sleep Comfort
How to Safely Get Out of Bed with MS and Neurological Weakness Using Snoozle Slide Sheet
People living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or neurological weakness often struggle with impaired balance, spasticity, and muscle weakness that make simple movements in bed—like turning or sitting up—hard and sometimes risky. This guide explains what typically goes wrong, then gives clear, step-by-step instructions for turning, sitting up, and getting out of bed more safely. It also shows how a low-friction Snoozle Slide Sheet can reduce effort, protect your skin, and help you move with less pain and fatigue. All strategies are designed for safe, in-bed repositioning at home, not for lifting or transferring between surfaces.
Sleep Comfort
How to Move and Get Out of Bed with MS: Using Momentum and Snoozle Slide Sheet to Reduce Fatigue and Pain
Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or neurological weakness often means that even small movements in bed can cause rapid muscle fatigue, pain, and increased inflammation. This article addresses the common struggle of turning, repositioning, and getting out of bed safely and efficiently at home. We focus on teaching practical, momentum-based strategies coupled with the use of a low-friction tool, the Snoozle Slide Sheet, that makes movement easier, reduces strain, and helps preserve energy.
Sleep Comfort
Effortless Bed Mobility for Those Living Alone with Pain and Low Energy: Practical Bedroom Planning and Movement Strategies
Living alone with chronic pain and low energy makes even simple movements in bed a daily challenge. The struggle to turn, reposition, or get out of bed can increase pain, fatigue, and frustration. This article teaches practical, step-by-step movement techniques and bedroom setup tips to reduce energy cost and protect the body. It also introduces the Snoozle Slide Sheet, a low-friction aid designed specifically to help you move smoothly in bed without strain or risk of injury.
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.
Frequently asked questions
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.
What pillow position takes pressure off the shoulder when side sleeping?▼
Hug a pillow in front of your chest to prevent the top shoulder from rolling forward, and place a pillow between your knees to stop the pelvis from twisting. This keeps your torso stacked so pressure redistributes across ribs and hip instead of focusing on the shoulder.
Do microfiber sheets make it harder to reposition without shoulder pain?▼
Yes—microfiber often increases drag during sideways scoots, so you stop mid-turn and sink onto the shoulder. Smoothing wrinkles under your ribs/hip and freeing a tight top sheet at the waist makes the move glide instead of stall.
Should my painful shoulder be on top or on the mattress?▼
Many people tolerate the painful shoulder better on top so it isn’t the main load point, but some prefer the painful side down with careful pillow blocking and a ribs-first settle. Use the position where the shoulder is least likely to become the pivot point during the resettle.
How do I stop my top shoulder from collapsing forward when I’m on my side?▼
Put a pillow in front of your chest to hold so your top arm has support and your top shoulder can’t drop forward. If you still tip forward, add a thin backstop pillow behind your upper back to keep you slightly off-true-side.
Why does turning in bed hurt more at night?▼
At night you’re more relaxed and less warmed up, so a lift-and-twist turn can feel abruptly effortful. When you try to lift your hips or shoulders off the mattress, you may tense and brace, which can make the movement feel harsher. A sideways slide keeps more of you supported by the bed and often feels calmer.
Why is it so exhausting to change position in bed?▼
Changing position becomes exhausting when it turns into a mini “push-up” plus a twist. Lifting asks your arms, core, and back to do a lot at once, especially when you’re sleepy. Sliding sideways in smaller steps usually costs less energy.