Health experts are warning millions of sleepers to stop curling up in what's been dubbed the 'T. rex position' - sleeping with arms bent and tucked close to the chest. This common sleeping posture, often adopted unconsciously during the night, can lead to nerve damage, numbness, and shoulder stiffness when maintained over time. While it may feel comforting, medical professionals say this position compresses nerves in the elbows and wrists, potentially causing lasting harm.

Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a sleep medicine specialist, explains that sleeping with arms bent slows blood flow and creates tingling sensations that many dismiss as harmless. However, Kieran Sheridan, a physiotherapist, warns these symptoms signal your nervous system is under stress. Warning signs include shooting arm pain, difficulty gripping objects, and frequent dropping of items - symptoms that shouldn't be ignored as mere clumsiness. The problem affects both side and back sleepers who unconsciously adopt this protective posture.

Medical experts recommend practical solutions to retrain your sleep position. These include using a towel wrapped around the elbow to prevent deep bending, placing pillows between arms and chest, or hugging a body pillow to maintain neutral arm positioning. For those experiencing anxiety-related sleep curling, experts suggest calming pre-sleep routines like breath work or gentle stretching. The key is creating physical barriers that make it uncomfortable to curl up while addressing underlying stress that drives this protective posture.

Quick Fact: The 'T. rex position' has been dubbed on social media for sleeping with arms bent and tucked close to the chest.