Our Story
The Birth of Shoulder Sleeper
The Shoulder Sleeper Pillow was invented out of necessity in 2021. Sam Jacobsak, a professional pitcher, had been suffering from shoulder pain for years. After undergoing shoulder surgery, his recovery was overseen by physical therapist and Shoulder Sleeper co-founder, Mike Scaduto. Having worked together for four years, they knew the road to recovery was going to be challenging.
The Sleep Problem
While rehabilitating, Sam struggled with sleep—finding the sling uncomfortable and sleep nearly impossible. He turned to Mike for a solution. The answer seemed straightforward: use pillows to support the arm comfortably. Yet, despite searching the market, they found no product that adequately addressed Sam’s needs.
From Idea to Prototype
Determined to create a solution, Sam and Mike spent a year designing The Shoulder Sleeper Pillow. Their first prototype? Hand-cut and glued together with hot glue! The team focused on refining the pillow's design, testing multiple versions to achieve the ideal balance of comfort and support.
Co-Founder
Mike is a licensed Physical Therapist who specializes in shoulder and elbow injuries. Mike has seen hundreds of patients with shoulder pain and who have undergone shoulder surgery. Mike has worked with professional athletes in multiple sports, including MLB. He combined his education, passions, and experience to help bring The Shoulder Sleeper Pillow™ to life.
Sam Jacobsak is a professional baseball player and Northeastern University alumnus. After years of suffering from shoulder pain, and a subsequent surgery, he became dedicated to finding a solution that helps improve sleep quality and comfort. Drawing on his own experience and those of his teammates, Sam helped design and develop The Shoulder Sleeper Pillow™.
Medical Advisors
Dr. Matthew Pifer is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon based in Santa Barbara, CA. Dr. Pifer completed his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. During medical school, he also completed a Masters of Science in Applied Surgical Anatomy. Orthopedic surgical residency at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Royal Oak, Michigan, followed. Dr. Pifer completed fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, and focusing on the Shoulder at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego.
Dr. Pifer currently holds faculty status at prestigious national and international conferences. He brings a wealth of information and experience in clinical patient care and medical equipment design.
Sam and Mike secured patents, and the Shoulder Sleeper Pillow evolved from prototype to reality.
The Shoulder Sleeper Pillow was designed to enhance your recovery and improve your sleep.
Our Mission
The Shoulder Sleeper team remains passionate about helping people with shoulder pain and post-surgery recovery get the rest they need. Since introducing the Shoulder Sleeper Pillow, we've helped countless individuals find relief, improve their sleep, and speed up recovery. Our mission continues to focus on providing comfort and support to those who need it most.