Best positions for healthy, comfortable sleeping revealed

After 50 years of research, eminent Stanford University sleep researcher William Dement reportedly said the only solid explanation he knows for why we sleep is "because we get sleepy".

Even though sleep may be, as one researcher put it, "the only major behaviour in search of a function", it clearly does matter for our health and wellbeing, per Science Alert.

But are we doing it right? What does the research say about the sleeping position?

Most people prefer to sleep on their side. This is good to hear, as those who lie on their backs are more likely to be poor sleepers or have breathing difficulties during the night.

In most cases, we tend to move around quite a lot during the night. One study of 664 sleepers found, on average, that participants spent about 54 per cent of their time in bed sleeping on their side, about 37 per cent on their back, and about 7 per cent on their front.

Males (especially those aged under 35) tend to be most restless, with more position shifts, and arm, thigh, and upper-back movements during the night.

This may not be a bad thing, as allowing your body to move during the night is generally a good idea.

During sleep, your body will keep track of any pain or discomfort and adjust your position accordingly. This is why we usually avoid developing bedsores (or pressure ulcers) in everyday life.

If you find you can't move because your partner (or dog) is taking up too much room in the bed, consider switching sides or getting a larger bed.

And don't tuck yourself in too tightly; give yourself some room to move around on either side.

Being comfortable is key. There is no quality research providing clear evidence for an "optimal sleep position". Your age, weight, environment, activities, and whether you're pregnant, all play a role in which sleep position is best for your body.

Ideally, we can find a position that helps us get a good night's sleep and one that avoids us waking up in any pain.

Even with our chosen position, some layouts are better than others. In one study, people who rested in a position where there is a rotation of the spine (such as the unsupported side position), woke up with more pain in the morning.

Nonetheless, although some forms of side-sleeping may cause a bit of load on the spine, it appears the side positions, in general, are still better than the other options.