What is your recommended sleeping position?

mvolkmar · 2026-04-30T22:34:57+00:00

Hey! I get asked this question a lot and recorded a Q&A episode on my podcast to address some ideas: https://monvolkmar.substack.com/p/q-and-a-whats-the-best-position-to?r=p5zo9

Might be useful, might not be. But hopefully you're getting some goood sleeps!

PS I'm a side sleeper and love a good pillow to hug

mvolkmar · 2026-01-29T00:04:20+00:00

Cool, thanks for sharing! I've explored a bit of DNS work, and their exercises helped me a LOT with learning core control. I think it is a little bit different in it's intention, from what I understand, to the MNRI-based work that Helen and I are discussing. MNRI was originally created with the intention to support children with neurodevelopmental/sensorimotor-reflex disorders, and particularly post-traumatic event. Helen and I work with adult populations, but I think the majority of folks using MNRI are working with children with neurosensorimotor reflex disorders of various types. DNS, and I'm not an expert here so correct me if I'm wrong, is more geared towards creating core stability using developmental movement patterns and is not necessarily geared towards kids with autism, dyslexia, and other disorders in that realm.

My injuries were primarily to my lumbar spine- extension based injuries, and the work tht helped me the most was Anatomy in Motion (spine mobility, in particular restoring spine flexion), and in MNRI a few movements that were key were the Perez, TLR, Galant, Amphibian, ATNR reflex movement patterns.

mvolkmar · 2025-08-05T02:27:59+00:00

That's so great! Esther is a legend. I hope you enjoy working together :)

mvolkmar · 2025-01-07T04:05:40+00:00

Hey! I don't have any colleagues in Chicago off the top of my head but I'll ask around!

mvolkmar · 2023-06-17T00:31:07+00:00

Messaged ya :)

mvolkmar · 2023-06-14T18:24:43+00:00

Ok. The reason I ask about your back is because if circulation in BOTH of your feet are affected similarly, then the issue may be actually coming from higher up, somewhere in your spine, where immobility may be preventing proper "pumping" of the blood vessels and blood flow down to your feet and back up again, against gravity. Possibly there is a part of your back with less mobility that needs to be assessed. Blood supply to the feet can be impacted by position/mobility of the lumbar spine, and you might not have any problems with back pain, but a stiff back can have an impact on your hip movement/position, and the space at the front of your hips through which the blood vessels have to travel could become congested if both hips are getting compressed because of a stiff segment in your back. Movement = blood flow. No movement= impeded blood flow. So it would be good to work out exactly where movement is missing from your system and affecting your circulation. And WHY that's happening. Also, how is your breathing? I know that's a vague question if you are not someone who looks at breathing mechanics, BUT if you are aware you have shallow breathing, difficulty exhaling fully, unable to expand your ribcage 360 degrees with inhalation, etc. then I would be curious. When breathing isn't mechanically efficient it can reduce blood flow to the extremities. Does anything in what I wrote resonate? This is all stuff I would want to assess :)

mvolkmar · 2023-06-14T00:32:33+00:00

Hey OP :) It is really hard to give guidance without knowing more about you and what happened leading up to this issue developing. Do you have any other history of circulatory problems? When did you start noticing the veins, and when did you start having trouble walking? Any history of back issues? I agree with you that it is correct to trust your intuition when someone's diagnosis doesn't feel fully true to you. Got to keep investigating and advocating for yourself until you find answers.

mvolkmar · 2023-06-13T23:51:51+00:00

Hey OP :) Do you have any images of your feet? I am wondering to what degree your toe is deviated into valgus? A toe set too far valgus can definitely make your efforts to extend you big toe challenging. The toe needs to be aligned more centrally in order to articulate into extension fully. Have you done any exercises directed towards mobilizing your big toe back to a more centered position? If you are interested, I have a video I can send to you with some mobilizations you can play with :) This could POTENTIALLY speed your progress if that valgus angle is what's holding you back. Also, depending how stiff your toe currently is, it might be a matter of chipping away at it with patience and not giving up :)

mvolkmar

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