When Its Not Your Mattress
Dr Smycz gave us a heads up that if you have back pain when youre sleeping and its waking you up, you should get your spine checked.
The bottom line: a good mattress should support the spine. If youre waking up with pain, consider these factors as it might be time to invest in a new mattress. Lucky for you,Ecosa offers a 100-day trial period of its adjustable mattressto help in your quest to avoid back pain. A good nights sleep is waiting for you!
Myth: Don’t Lift Heavy Things
It’s not necessarily how much you lift, it’s how you do it. Get directly in front of the object. Squat close to it, with your back straight and head up. Stand, using your legs to push up the load and your arms to hold it close to your middle. Don’t twist or bend your body, or you may hurt your back.
Is Memory Foam Mattress Bad For Back Pain
If you are a back pain patient, you should use a firm memory foam mattress that has a support foam layer. The support layer will give you the ultimate support and hold your spine, back, and neck correctly aligned and prevent back pain. The extra soft memory foam mattress is bad for back pain and the extra firm memory foam mattress is also bad for back pain.
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Is Your Mattress Causing Back Pain
Back pains are caused by a lot of different reasons. Old age, a stressful work schedule, and specific illness can contribute to it. However, there are times when back pain arises suddenly without any apparent reason.
Well, studies have shown that inappropriate mattresses can cause one to wake up feeling pains in the body. If you arent sure about the cause of your back pains, heres how to find out whether your mattress has anything to do with it.
How To Tell If Your Bed Is Causing Back Pain
While its hard to know exactly what the reason for your pain is, here are some signs you may need a new mattress:
The pain is there first thing in the morning. If you go to bed feeling great and wake up miserable, its a good sign your mattress is causing back pain. A mattress thats too soft will cause your spine to fall out of alignment all night long, and a mattress thats too firm will cause joint pressure in your hips that leads to pain in your lower back. Youre certain to feel this pain as soon as you try to get out of bed.
Youre tossing and turning all night. Its hard to get comfortable when youre, well, uncomfortable. If your spine isnt neutral on your bed, youll try all night to find a better sleep position when the problem is actually your mattress.
Your mattress is at least eight years old. As mattresses age, they lose their shape. A memory foam mattress will stop being able to cradle your shoulders and hips as it should, and an innerspring mattress will start to sag. An old mattress and back pain go hand in hand.
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Ways A Memory Foam Mattress Can Hurt Your Back
- Article medically reviewed and fact-checked by Dr. Dimitar Marinov .
The first time I ever slept on a memory foam mattress I woke up with back pain.
Well, to be honest, I never actually got to sleep because what started out as a rather soft and seemingly comfy mattress quickly became some sort of torture device that caused an excruciating ache in my lower back that stopped me from getting any sleep at all.
So after some extensive research, I discovered that there are several reasons why sleeping on a memory foam mattress may result in back pain:
A memory foam mattress can hurt your back if the mattress is too soft, too firm, too thin, lacks support, is sagging, is placed on the wrong frame, hasnt had enough time to adjust to your physical characteristics or simply isnt a good fit for your body weight, body type, or dominant sleeping position.
One study found that when 100 medical residents switched from a regular cotton mattress and slept on a thin 10cm foam mattress for one night, 63% of participants developed lower back pain that resolved for 61 of the participants when switching back to the original cotton mattress with the back pain returning upon switching back to the foam mattress once again .
The good news is that there are several steps that you can take to reduce the chance of you buying a memory foam mattress thats going to be uncomfortable.
This article provides multiple solutions for both scenarios.
Can Memory Foam Mattress Cause Back Pain
When it comes to physical and mental health, few things can benefit you as much as a good night’s sleep. You want to ensure that you’re comfortable the whole night through, but not all mattresses give you this feeling. As such, many consumers turn to new types of mattresses to help alleviate the tossing and turning they offer experience.
One type of mattress that has grown in popularity over the years is memory foam. This is a tremendous option for many, but for others, there is hesitation and many questions to be answered. Because physical health is important, many consumers wonder the same thing: do memory foam mattresses cause back pain like many of the other mattresses on the market?Before you pick up a memory foam mattress, you should be sure to weigh the pros and cons. There are plenty of studies regarding the use of memory foam mattresses, but many offer mixed results based on the individual use. This is why research should be done on a per-person basis so you know what you’re purchasing. Here are some of the things you should know about these types of mattresses.
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Can Tempurpedic Mattress Cause Back Pain
Tempur-Pedic Causes Lower Back Pain
Tempur-Pedic mattressesmemory foam mattressesback painMemory foam mattresses willcan cause
Similarly, it is asked, can memory foam beds cause back pain?
Beating Back Pain with a Memory Foam Mattress. The causes of back pain are numerous, including occupational stress, health, lack of exercise, overexertion, posture, and even sleep position and mattresses.
Additionally, what type of mattress is best for your back? Firm mattresses are generally better for those who sleep on their back, because they provide a more stable and even surface. Stomach sleepers tend to fare better on a firmer mattress, too.
are memory foam mattresses good for your back?
Memory foam mattresses have better satisfaction ratings because they provide adaptive and even support, especially when used with an adjustable bed frame, which helps evenly distribute your body weight, eliminating pressure points and other discomfort.
Why does my bed make my back hurt?
The main cause of back pain in bed is poor posture, either from how a person sits at work or how they sleep at night. Between the vertebrae in the spine are intervertebral discs, which rehydrate at night .
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What Type Of Mattress Is Best For People With Back Pain
What type of mattress is best for people with back pain? Think of the information provided above. You have to think about what causes your back pain, particularly if your back feels painful when you wake in the morning. It is usually because of the way your spine is aligned when you are sleeping. If you sleep on your back, your mattress may be too hard and doesnt allow your spine to retain its natural curved shape.
A softer mattress does allow this, but if your mattress is too soft then your shoulders and buttocks will sink too far in. The small of your back might not be properly supported. Your spine can not then maintain its natural S shape when you are sleeping.
Here is a brief discussion on the types of mattress available and their pros and cons regarding their suitability for those that suffer back pain.
Innerspring Mattresses: This is still the most commonly used type of mattress. Avoid the softer low spring count type that you tend to sink into. You need good support, but not too hard. A medium hard innerspring mattress is a good choice for people who suffer back pain. Some find the enclosed or pocketed coil type best for them since they tend to absorb pressure on your hips, buttocks, and shoulders while supporting the rest of your body. This helps to maintain the natural shape of your spine.
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Do Foam Mattresses Sag
Foams are a more recent filling, and are certainly good at easing pressure points. Foam mattresses will also eventually sag, just like any other filling. Once a foam mattress sags you have to trash the mattress whereas natural mattresses can be recycled. It is important to note that due to their dense nature they have poor breathability and can become very hot at night, as the heat from your body struggles to escape. It is for this reason that we tend to prefer to manufacture more traditional mattresses with good breathability in our workshop.
Ways Your Old Mattress Is Causing Back Pain
- Article medically reviewed and fact-checked by Dr. Dimitar Marinov .
If youve recently developed back pain then you might be wondering if your old mattress is whats causing your back to ache.
But can an old mattress really cause you back pain?
A mattress thats more than 5-7 years old can cause back pain especially if the mattress exhibits visible sagging, body impressions, or indentations greater than 1.5-2 inches in depth. If your back pain is worse in the morning and tapers off gradually then your old mattress could be the cause.
The rest of this article explains in detail how an old mattress can cause you to experience back pain, how to tell if your mattress is the root cause of your discomfort, and how to stop your old mattress from causing you back pain.
Alternatively: if youre ready to replace your old mattress and you have back pain, then I highly suggest checking out my list of the best mattresses for back pain because the article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Dimitar Marinov and includes my #1 complete mattress and adjustable bed solution for customizable comfort.
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Look Into A Custom Mattress For Even Better Back Pain Relief
Last but not least, you may want to consider buying a custom-made mattress to help eliminate your back pain in bed.
A custom mattress is precisely what it sounds likea mattress made to fit your exact specifications and unique needs.
Custom mattresses can be made to fit almost any size . But they can also carry with them a wide range of other benefits like eliminating back pain, keeping you cool at night, and even eliminating certain sleep problems.
How Do Traditional Plant
Traditional foams are the staple for many users. They’ve been around for quite some time and are consistently good at helping alleviate the problem areas for many users, including back pain.Plant-based memory foams give the user a natural feel and are more springy. They are quick to return their original shape than traditional memory foams. Many environmental-friendly users are happier with the use of more natural materials.For those who have a harder time sleeping due to heat retention, a gel foam may be the best option because it offers a cooler material and sleep. These types of mattresses are a combination of traditional and gel memory foam and many prefer to have this added aspect to their sleep.
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What Are The Memory Foam Mattress Problems And Solutions
The memory foam mattress is highly comfortable than other types of mattresses in the market but it may cause few problems due to the wrong choice while buying it. Most people do wrong in the following points such as wrong firmness, lack of support, cool or hot foam. The medium to firm range memory foam mattresses are good for all sleeping styles. The high-density support foam mattresses are great for better back support. The gel foam mattresses are good for cool.
Can My Mattress Sagging Cause Back Pain
Tags: mattress
Back pain can be a issue not only from a physical health point of view but it also affects your sleep which can then have an affect on your mental health.
The NHS and Mayo clinic have laid out causes, cures and preventions of the symptoms of back pain. Both agree that it is vitally important to visit a doctor in case the pain occurs for more than a few weeks without getting better or is servere in nature. However, if your back pain isnt a medical issue, can a mattress cause back pain?
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Myth: Always Sit Up Straight
Slouching is bad. But sitting up too straight and still for long periods can also be a strain on your back. Take breaks a few times a day: Lean back in your chair with your feet on the floor and let your back curve slightly. Even better: Try standing for part of the day, perhaps while you’re on the phone or reading.
What Are The Bad Mattress Symptoms
A bad mattress has few common symptoms such as-
- Body Aches: It causes body aches.
- Sagging: A bad mattress always sags.
- Health Problems: It causes various health problems.
- Allergies: Bad mattress creates an allergy.
- Joint Pain: It causes pains on the different joints of your body.
- Poor Sleeping: You cant sleep comfortably on the bad mattress.
- Back Pain: Most bad mattresses cause back pain due to the lack of back support to the different joints of your body.
- Skin Diseases: It occurs in various skin problems.
- Tired and drowsy: You feel tired sleeping on it.
- Bad Smell: You may feel less or more smell.
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Can Fillings Also Settle To Cause Mattress Sagging
Yes, fillings will settle, and they will settle faster than springs. However, the main support in any mattress comes from the spring unit. There are countless fillings used in the mattress industry including natural materials and man made fillings, mainly in the form of polyester fibre and foams. Natural fibres are best if you wish your mattress to avoid sagging over time. This is because they are more resilient and absorb moisture better than polyester for example.
Polyester pads are not necessarily a bad thing in a mattress, but they tend to break down easier when subjected to moisture that we all perspire whilst our body repairs itself through sleep.
Why Is Back Pain Worse When Lying Down
But why does your back pain occur when youre getting into bed? Most people who experience back pain have strained muscles. Not sitting up straight at the desk or lounging unsupported on the couch can cause specific muscles to contract over long periods.
You may not notice it at the moment or when youre up walking around because theres no pressure on them. But when your back hits an unsupportive bed, those sensitive, strained, and damaged muscles are agitated.
And that added pressure on the affected part of your back causes those muscles to hurt.
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Need More Help With Back Pain
These free resources will help you get on the right track to ridding yourself of back pain!
- Find a mattress to relieve you of back pain with Mattress Match
- Learn about all the options with our Mattress Buying Guide
- Experience the REM sleep deserve with our Better Sleep Guide
- Go from Zs to As in college with this sleep guide for students
- Want to conquer sleep deprivation? Check out our sleeping disorders guide
Is Memory Foam Mattress Topper Causing Back Pain
Almost all memory foam toppers are soft and comfortable. The common topper thickness is 2- 4. If you place a thin memory foam topper on your too firm mattress, it may feel uncomfortable and cause lower back pain and other joint pain while sleeping on different sleeping positions. Furthermore, if you place the topper and bed on an old bed frame that sinks, it may cause you back pain. I recommend you use at least 3 thick memory foam topper for ultimate comfort as well as great back support.
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Should You Get An Adjustment
It is a very wise idea to get a wellness adjustment from your chiropractor before you go mattress shopping. This can help relieve pain and help you have better posture and body support while you sleep. Ask your chiropractor for advice on sleeping positions, as well as recommendations for mattresses. Not only is your chiropractor a back expert, but he has probably heard a lot of recommendations from his patients who suffered from mattress-induced back pain.
Is Sleeping On An Air Mattress Bad For Your Back
Yes, yes, and noit all depends on you and the mattress.
About the Author
Dr. Sheryl Grassie
Helpful Resources
At Mattress Advisor, youll find comprehensive, unbiased reviews on the best mattresses and bedding products and thoroughly researched tips for getting your best sleep.
Most answers, when it comes to questions about what the right type of mattress, are going to start with, It depends. The same is true when you ask if sleeping on an air mattress is bad for your back, even if youre sleeping on one of the best air mattresses.
Just like with other preferences in our livesour choice of profession, what we eat, where we live, what we find pleasing when it comes to sleepthe type of mattress, our sleep position, and the temperature is determined by individual preference.
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