The Best Leg Pillows of 2021 – Benefits of Leg Elevation

Sleeping with your legs elevated can be highly effective at minimizing a variety of physical conditions. If you suffer from edema, swelling or painful legs, elevating them for an extended period of time is quite helpful. This is not about propping your leg up on a rolled-up towel or pillow from time to time, your leg tissues, muscles and ligaments need to be supported for a sustained period of time if you’re going to experience any relief. This is why experts recommend sleeping with a leg elevation pillow under your legs, knees and feet during the night. 

This guide provides information on a broad range of leg support pillows, running the gamut from small knee supports all the way to large wedges, all designed to ensure comfort and promote healing. A lot of these come with removable zippered covers that can be easily washed to keep your pillow clean. Some have straps to keep the pillow in place since many people move around during the night. You may be dealing with a painful injury or just hoping to get more comfortable in bed at night. Either way, you may find your solution here. We hope this article helps you find the best leg elevation pillow to suit your needs.

The Best Leg Pillows

Cushy Form Leg Rest Pillow Review

By using the Cushy Form Leg Rest Pillow to keep both legs elevated, you can increase blood circulation and relieve the discomfort of puffed up swollen feet. You can also use it on brief breaks throughout the day for intermittent relief or to get a good night's sleep.

The Cushy Form is ergonomically designed for comfort and support to keep your feet and legs healthy by preventing blood stagnation and varicose veins. If you're recovering from an ankle or foot injury or surgery, elevating your legs would likely be recommended by your doctor. A leg wedge pillow will not only relieve your pain, but it will also ensure that your body remains in the optimal position for recovery.

In addition to a top layer of comfortable memory foam and polyurethane foam filling, the the Cushy Form Leg Rest Pillow comes with a soft, breathable cover, which can easily be removed, and machine washed. Cushy Form offers a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee on their products.

Milliard Foam Leg Elevator Pillow Review

There are so many possible ways a person can damage themselves; it's difficult to count. It could be a sprained ankle, twisted knee, bruised shins and/or perhaps a broken leg. The Milliard Foam Leg Elevator Pillow will gently raise your leg while supporting your bent knee at a 45% angle, which is the optimum healing position.

The secret to pain relief and a quick recovery is to immobilize the injured bones and/or joints. You also have to elevate them above the level of your heart to discourage blood pooling. This cushion is designed with a sculpted leg channel that will hold your leg in place to prevent the risk of further injury due to moving your leg around while resting or sleeping.

The Milliard Foam Leg Elevator Pillow is made of dense polyurethane foam, which provides soft, yet firm leg support when placed on your mattress, ottoman, or reclining chair. What's more, it's symmetrical for use on your right or left leg. It comes with a soft velour cover that can be easily removed and tossed in the washing machine so you can keep your cushion nice and clean.

Hermell Zero Gravity Elevating Leg Pillow Review

The Hermell Zero Gravity Elevating Leg Pillow provides zero-gravity support while elevating the feet and ankles above the heart level. It maintains the lower spine while keeping it aligned with the coccyx.

This leg support pillow measures 23" x 19" x 8" and is designed to relieve leg pain, sciatica pain, back pain, restless leg syndrome, phlebitis, and varicose veins, in addition to being the perfect partner for back sleepers. The foam wedge provides sleepers with a comfortably wide resting area for legs, which helps relieve swelling by increasing circulation.

The Hermell Zero Gravity Elevating Leg Pillow is made of high-quality, durable polyurethane foam, and its size and shape eliminate the need for pillow stacking. It comes with a cotton blend cover that can be easily removed and thrown in the washing machine to keep it clean.

DMI Ortho Bed Wedge Elevated Leg Pillow Review

The DMI Ortho Bed Wedge Elevated Leg Pillow is especially helpful for people with knee pain, back pain, restless leg syndrome, phlebitis and/or painful varicose veins. The pillow offers a comfortable way to elevate your legs at just the right angle above your heart level to improve blood circulation, help blood flow more easily to the brain, and relieve pressure on your lower back.

The 20" platform gives your legs ample space and keeps them in the right position while you rest on your back. This wedge is large enough to provide comfort yet won't take up a lot of space on your bed or sofa.

The DMI Ortho Bed Wedge Elevated Leg Pillow should be placed near the foot of your bed so that you can comfortably sit or lay down. Your thighs are supported by the wedge's rising angle with your knees resting on the angle at the top. This way, your entire legs are being supported in an elevated position on top of the wedge. You can either place the pillow above the covers or underneath them.

The DMI Ortho maintains its shape nicely, so you don't have to worry about it flattening out over time. It features a removable zippered machine-washable poly-cotton cover, so it's easy to keep clean. This pillow comes in a variety of thicknesses: 6", 8" or 10".

Back Support Systems Bed Wedge Pillow Review

The Back Support Systems Bed Wedge Pillow has been designed to relieve Lordosis, which is a curvature of the lower back that can be painful. This wedge moves the pelvis downward to create a neutral position for the lumbar area. Gravity allows the calf to be a counterweight, pulling the pelvis toward the pillow, while the thoracic (middle back) area remains in a stationary position. This creates gentle traction in the lower back area - in medical terms, this is called "passive traction in the thoracolumbar region."

By relieving the muscle pressure in the psoas and lumbar area, the major veins that supply blood to the heart (inferior and superior vena cava) can resume their maximum diameters, which increases the amount of blood circulating throughout the body to almost double that of normal. This is highly beneficial to those suffering from poor circulation, especially diabetics. All the body's nutrients are carried by blood, which can now flow to afflicted areas and accelerate healing. This leg elevation pillow can be positioned in several different ways to reduce or intensify traction.

The Back Support Systems Bed Wedge Pillow can help painful lower-back problems, such as:

• Swayback: extreme forward lumbar curvature
• Scoliosis: the curvature of the spine
• Sciatica: sciatic nerve inflammation
• Herniated disc: nucleus pulposus impinging on spinal cord nerves
• Bulging disc: deformed disc impinging on the spinal cord

Furthermore, this leg pillow may be helpful to pregnant women as well as people who suffer from the following medical conditions:

• Respiratory problems
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Poor circulation
• Phlebitis: painful, inflamed nerves in the legs
• Edema: swollen legs due to water retention
• Congenital heart disease
• Arthritis

The Back Support Systems Bed Wedge Pillow is a Certi-PUR Certified safe triangle-shaped wedge made of medical-grade polyurethane foam. It is eco-friendly with a removable zippered hypoallergenic, machine-washable cotton blend or bamboo cover. It comes with a 5-year warranty and is available in 4 different sizes.

TOPARCHERY Orthopedic Elevated Leg Pillow Review

The TOPARCHERY Orthopedic Elevated Leg Pillow is made of high-quality memory foam that cradles the knees, lower legs, ankles, and feet. The wedge shape effectively relieves lower back pain, sciatica, hip and knee pain, or discomfort due to pregnancy. The TOPARCHERY also reduces swelling in the lower legs and feet.

Due to the extra-wide shape, it can comfortably support both legs while you relax or sleep. The orthopedic design fits people of every height, shape, and size. The memory foam in the TOPARCHERY Orthopedic Elevated Leg Pillow is very supportive and durable so you can be sure that it won't go flat even if it's used daily for hours at a time. You can remove and machine-wash the cover so the pillow can easily be kept clean. The cover is soft and breathable, so it sleeps fairly cool.

Jorbi High Density Memory Foam Pillow Review

BetterRest has been making top-quality medical products for nearly 20 years, helping people with back and neck problems. Their Jorbi High Density Memory Foam Pillow raises and supports the legs to relieve back and leg pain, phlebitis, restless leg syndrome, and varicose veins.

The polyurethane foam core is ergonomically shaped to elevate the legs whether the user is sitting or lying down in bed. It relieves lower back pressure and improves blood circulation. The pillow design employs BiformPad technology with a memory foam layer on top of a firm polyurethane foam core. The top memory foam layer contours to the shape of your legs for maximum comfort and support. The high-density foam will last for many years.

The Jorbi High Density Memory Foam Pillow comes in 4 different sizes that can be selected to match the length of the user's legs. The removable, machine-washable cover is made of velour fabric for a nice soft sleeping surface. The pillow can be used with a separate BetterRest Memory Bed Wedge if you want zero-gravity support to minimize the pressure at all contact points.

Sleep Jockey Bed Back Wedge Pillow Review

The Sleep Jockey Bed Back Wedge Pillow is the type of product that works great for many people. If you need a leg wedge pillow to reduce painful swelling in the legs, relieve back pain with zero-gravity leg support, and/or improve circulation, you should try the Sleep Jockey.

It may look like a basic wedge pillow, but it actually has quite a lot to offer. This leg support pillow gently molds to your shape while effectively relieving leg pain, but it's still firm enough to support you for a full nights rest.

The Sleep Jockey Bed Back Wedge Pillow comes with a soft, velvety, breathable cover made of Egyptian cotton with a 300 thread-count. When you rest your legs on it, they seem to melt into a smooth embrace. What makes this cover even better is the fact that it's washable, so you can keep your pillow nice and clean.

How a Leg Support Pillow Can Help You Sleep Better

You’ve likely heard that people recovering from an injury or from surgery can speed up their recovery by using a supportive leg pillow. But did you know that raising your legs can help you sleep better at night as well? The American Sleep Association claims that approximately 40% of Americans suffer from either chronic or episodic insomnia. The causes can vary from anxiety, stress, painful medical conditions to sleep disorders. But when people regularly can’t get a good night’s sleep, it can lead to other problems. There are probably countless things you can do to improve your sleep, and one of them is raising your legs. Continue reading to find out how a leg elevation pillow can work wonders!

Improve blood flow: The purpose of a leg pillow is to increase blood circulation, which prevents the development of blood clots and painful swelling. When you do what you can to improve blood circulation, you can’t help but feel so much better and sleep better as well. By raising your legs during the night you’re giving letting your veins rest, something they need badly. 

Relieves back and leg pain: Painful tired legs are often the result of poor circulation. People who are on their feet day in and day out at work often feel pain going up their legs and back. If you’re feeling this during the night, there is no way you can fully relax. A good leg pillow can ease the pain while you’re sleeping, which means a longer, deeper sleep. 

Reduces swelling: The main reason why doctors recommend that people elevate their legs after injuring themselves or having surgery is because it prevents the buildup of fluid and reduces swelling. Several medications as well as medical conditions cause swelling and insomnia both! So, if you can come up with a solution for both, you’ll begin to sleep so much better. 

Relieves pressure: When we’re lying on a flat surface, we subject ourselves to gravity, putting pressure on our brain. It’s probably never occurred to you that you could be putting excess pressure on your brain. But sleeping on a flat mattress increases intracranial pressure due to poor blood flow.

It’s quite comfortable: You’ve likely noticed that the moment you put your feet up, you instantly feel more comfortable. You’re now able to fully relax. When you elevate your legs with a contoured pillow designed for this, you can comfortably settle into a position that will help you quickly fall asleep and stay asleep. 

How do leg support pillows help?

Basically, leg support pillows raise your legs to a higher elevation while comfortably supporting them whether you’re sitting or lying down. 

This provides a certain amount of relief. First of all, it’s relaxing and secondly it works well to relieve back pain, knee pain, phlebitis, swollen legs and feet, varicose veins, and etc. 

When your legs are resting at an elevated position, it reduces the pressure on your legs, knees and lower back. It also makes your blood flow in the opposite direction, which can help after you’ve been sitting or standing for hours on end. 

People who sit at a desk all day or stand at a check-out counter for hours at work, often find it helpful to use a leg pillow after work and during sleep. Just put it at the foot of your bed to prop up your legs. 

Can elevating the legs be helpful to everyone?

Not necessarily. People suffering from serious congestive heart failure (CHF) could have shortness of breath were they to lie down flat. Therefore, a leg support pillow would not be good for them. Also, people suffering from peripheral arterial disease could experience pain in their feet by elevating their legs since their arterial blood would be forced to flow uphill. 

Tips for Selecting the Perfect Leg Elevation Pillow for You

Although, regularly elevating your legs for a period of time can be beneficial to your health, finding the perfect leg support pillow isn’t so simple. There are quite a number of options to choose from each with their pros and cons. Because the leg pillow you choose can affect your health and well-being, it only makes sense to gather all the information you can before making a purchase. 

These are the factors you’ll want to consider: 

Elevation Level

The elevation level is the most important aspect of the pillow. If your legs and feet are raised too high, it could make your pain worse. If they aren’t raised high enough, there’s no benefit at all. You are the only one who can determine the best height for you. Once you do that, look for a pillow that will keep your legs raised to that level. Some have grooves that keep your legs from moving around during the night. 

Shape

Leg support pillows come in a variety of shapes. Some are shaped just like standard pillows. You can also find tiered wedges that provide several different angles for resting your legs. If your knees tend to knock together, you can find rounded options that are designed to be placed between the knees. 

Dimensions

To get a pillow with the right dimensions, you’re going to need to consider your height as well as the height of the pillow. If you’re tall, you’re going to need a large pillow that is long enough so that your feet don’t dangle. 

But, if you’re a shorter person, make sure you don’t get one that is too high, otherwise you won’t be able to get comfortable and it may even impede your breathing. Getting the dimensions right is very important because this is what determines its effectiveness. 

Durability

You’re going to want your leg wedge pillow to be durable enough to last a long time without going flat or deteriorating in any way. Look at how the pillow is constructed and the material it’s made of. Does it seem flimsy to you? Is it sturdy enough to hold your legs up over extended periods of time?

Breathability

For optimum comfort you’re going to want your pillow to breathe, otherwise you could get too hot during the night. If you suffer from restless leg syndrome, getting too hot could worsen the condition. There are quite a few pillows made with supportive memory foams that do not retain heat, as well as pillows with breathable covers that dissipate heat and wick away moisture. 

Care & Maintenance

You’re going to be constantly using your leg support pillow, so you’ll want to make sure that you can keep it clean. Find out whether the pillow you’re considering can be washed without it being damaged and if it has a removable machine-washable cover. 

Comfort

What makes pillow so great is the comfort they provide. Regarding your leg elevation pillow, comfort should be your primary consideration because its purpose is to relieve your aches and pains. 

Therefore, you’re going to want a pillow that is both soft and sturdy. It shouldn’t be too soft because then it won’t keep your legs elevated. The best leg pillows are made of memory foam. 

Price

Fortunately, most of these pillows are relatively inexpensive, which makes it less risky if you get the wrong one to begin with. You might even want to buy two or three pillows so that you can rotate them depending on your needs. Once you start using the perfect pillow, you’ll realize that it was worth your time and money. 

Sleeping with Your Legs Elevated

Adapting to sleeping with your legs elevated is a matter of getting used to better circulation in your legs while you sleep. Once your circulation starts flowing properly, you’ll realize all the benefits of sleeping with your legs raised. 

Here’s how to adapt to sleeping with your legs elevated: 

1. Buy a leg elevation pillow: Standard bed pillows serve a basic purpose, but they are not designed to support the legs because they can flatten out and slide around during the night. They also won’t support your legs at the right angle. The ideal leg pillow will position your legs at the proper angle for optimal blood circulation and flow. 

2. Position the pillow so you’re comfortable: Experiment until you find the proper positioning so that you can be comfortable all night long. Your knees should be slightly bent with the pillow underneath and positioned so that it supports your legs naturally without putting any strain on your legs and feet. 

3. Start out slowly: In the beginning you may not feel comfortable sleeping with raised legs. You may find yourself changing positions throughout the night. Just take it slow by resting during the day with your leg elevated while watching TV on the sofa. When you get used to that, transition to sleeping with your leg elevation pillow. 

Conclusion

Once you find the right leg pillow to relieve your pain, improve your circulation and help you relax, your sleep will dramatically improve. We hope the products listed and the information we’ve provided will help you find the best pillow to suit your needs.