Sharing a Bed: Sleep Ergonomics With a Partner

Sleep ergonomics articles generally assume a solo sleeper. They discuss mattress firmness, pillow height, and sleep positions as if you have complete control over your sleeping environment. For the majority of adults, this assumption is wrong. When you share a bed, every parameter becomes a negotiation — and the compromises that result often mean that neither person sleeps optimally, but the person with back pain suffers disproportionately.