Choose One With The Right Firmness For Your Sleeping Position
The right firmness depends on your sleeping position. This is because different positions create different needs to find alignment, and failure to have the appropriate firmness in your mattress can misalign your spine and make it difficult for you to manage your pain.
A general rule of thumb about firmness:
- Medium on the firmness scale. These mattresses are for side sleepers, who need a little extra give in the mattress for contouring. If you are a side sleeper, you need a little sinkage to create proper alignment and keep pressure points from forming in your shoulders and lower back.
- Medium-firm on the firmness scale. This is for back sleepers! You need less give than your side-sleeping counterparts to keep your back from dipping too much.
Tips For Finding The Best Mattress For Your Back
Here are some key things to look out for when finding the best orthopaedic mattress for your back:
- Firmness rating: while it has been suggested that people with a bad back should get an ‘extra-firm’ mattress, this is not always the case. For example, petite people may need a softer mattress to suit their needs.
- Try it out: it can take a little time to settle-in with a new mattress. At Silentnight we offer a 60 day comfort trialto give you more than enough time to get well-acquainted with your new mattress.
- Zoned support: zoned and targeted support in the areas you need it most, such as the shoulders and hips, are vital to healthy spinal alignment and reducing lower back pain.
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.
Also Check: What To Do When You Have Back Pain During Pregnancy
Why You Should Get An Adjustment Before Going Mattress Shopping
It is a very good idea to get a wellness adjustment from your local chiropractor before going mattress shopping. This can help alleviate pain and help you have improved posture and body support.
We hope after reading this, you can find relief from your back and neck pain if it was caused by your pillow or mattress.
If you have any chiropractic needs or concerns, help yourself by reaching out to us.
Low Pain In The Back Triggered By Spine Degeneration Along With Injury
Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward motions can stress back muscle mass as well as back tendons. If you stay in poor physical condition, continuous stress on your back can set off uncomfortable muscle spasms.
Disks function as cushionings in between the bones in your spine. The soft product inside a disk can rupture or bulge and also proceed a nerve.
You can have a protruding or ruptured disk without back distress. Disk illness is frequently uncovered by the way when you have spine X-rays for a few various other factors.
Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. Oftentimes, joint inflammation in the spinal column can create a constricting of the area around the spine, an issue called spinal stenosis.
Your spinal columns vertebrae can establish undesirable splits if your bones wind up being porous and additionally weak.
Heres another thing.
Also Check: Is Stretching Good For Lower Back Pain
How To Know You Are Sleeping On A Bad Mattress
Basically, the wrong mattress is due to various factors. Of course a comfortable mattress, it should offer proper cushioning and protect the body from strains. The appropriate way to get an indication that you are sleeping on a bad mattress is how you feel in the morning when waking up. If you experience any pain in the body, it means that there is something not adding up well in your bed. Either the mattress is too stiff or too soft and facilitating a lot of sinking and motions.
Best Mattress For Side Sleepers With Lower Back Pain
Helix Midnight Luxe
- Type: hybrid
- Height: 14 inches
Helix made our list again with its Midnight Luxe mattress, which offers relief to side sleepers experiencing low back pain. Layers of CertiPUR-US certified memory foam are designed to provide pressure relief in the hips and shoulders and proper spinal alignment. Zoned lumbar support coils offer additional cradling and comfort right where you need it.
With an added pillow top, this mattress offers plush comfort and overall medium firmness.
You can try the mattress at home for 100 nights. It ships free in the United States and has a 15-year warranty.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Remedy For Lower Back Pain
New Memory Foam Mattress May Cause Back Pain
Sleeping on a memory foam mattress gives you that nice, comfortable feeling, but you may find yourself suffering from back pain after sleeping on a new one. Memory foam mattresses are designed and marketed with a focus on comfort and proper spine alignment.
Still, memory foam is not perfect for everyone. While this type of mattress provides support for the lumbar and aligns the spine, some sleepers may experience different results. It may take time to used to sleeping in your new mattress before you enjoy the rewards of your purchase.
Regular use helps in the process, as memory foam mattresses typically soften with use. Spending more time, such as sitting, reading, and watching tv on it, will make it more squishy to your preference. Or consider a soft and plush topper for extra cushioning .
Do Springs Cause Sagging
An uneven mattress, or sagging mattress can occur when an open coil spring unit is present. This is a spring unit whereby all springs are interconnected and donât work independently. Because of this all springs compress under the weight of your body all of the time, and lose their âspring reflexâ more quickly than a pocket sprung unit.
Image courtesy of beddingcomponents-intl.com
In a pocket spring mattress, each spring sits in its own pocket, and works independently from all other springs. Because of this, as you move into different positions through the night less springs are compressed less often. Allowing each spring to keep its âspring reflexâ and support your body fully, for longer, when its turn to do so arises. Its unusual for a pocket spring mattress to cause you back pain because of failure in the springs.
Image courtesy of beddingcomponents-intl.com
Don’t Miss: How Painful Is Back Waxing
Get Started With Physical Therapy Treatments
Our physical therapist is a movement expert who has the skills needed to help relieve low back pain naturally with a combination of hands-on care, prescribed exercises, and patient education.
When you work with an experienced physical therapist, you can enjoy fast pain relief, reduced inflammation, and increased mobility.
Give Providence Physical Therapy a call today to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy for low back pain and be sure to schedule a free initial consultation.
A Chiropractor Explains How To Tell When Your Mattress Could Be Causing Your Back Pain
Waking up with a stiff back is uncomfortable and worrisome. It might feel as though you cant bend over, or you may hear creaks and cracks as you stretch out.
But if your back is still in pain after a morning stretch, there might be a bigger problem.
Back pain is frustrating as its hard to pinpoint exactly what causes it. You might have tried different approaches to alleviate the pain, but found nothing works. Have you ever thought that the mattress you sleep on for 7-8 hours every night could the culprit of your back pain?
We spoke with a chiropractor,Dr Lisa Smyczof Errol Street Chiropractic Centre in Melbourne, to help us identify signs that your mattress is causing your back pain. It might be time for an upgrade!
Recommended Reading: Can Back Pain Cause Weakness In Legs
Memory Foam Mattress And Back Pain Best Mattress For Back Pain
Thanks to its ability to quickly mold to the body, thus allowing ideal pressure relief and maximum comfort, a memory foam mattress might be the perfect solution for a bad back. Our Emma Original Mattress consists of 3 layers: A cold foam that provides support in your lower back and shoulder areas, a layer of adaptive memory foam for pressure relief and spine support and the point-elastic Airgocell® Foam which has an open pore structure that makes it breathable and adaptable.
Why Does My Back Hurt When I Get In Bed
If youre experiencing pain when youre getting into bed, dont ignore it.
Back pain is a symptom of an underlying problem. And when you feel those dull aches and sharp pains, its your bodys way of telling you, Something needs to change!
For many, back pain is just something they live with daily. They think that theyre stuck with it.
But in fact, back pain across the US has actually gotten worse over the years, according to The Lancet.
Graph of back pain across the United States
According to the study, the disability-adjusted life-years from back pain have risen substantially across all age groups.
This may be due to longer work hours, an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, and more office work.
Simply put, if youre experiencing back pain in bed, its because theres an underlying problem that you need to deal with.
It could be poor posture, stress, or even a medical condition.
Also Check: When Should I Go To The Doctor For Back Pain
New Mattresses Have An Adjustment Period
“There is a transition period when you go from an old unsupportive mattress to a new supportive one,” says Wisconsin-based chiropractor Thomas Tozer.
If you were previously sleeping on a less-than-terrific mattress for years and years, your body likely got used to it, even though it wasn’t all that great for your back. When you move to a more supportive mattress, it may not feel quite as comfortable at the start, even though it’s much better for your back.
Think about how it feels to sit up straight after being hunched over for a long timethat’s similar to what happens when you switch from a saggy mattress to one that can keep your spine in a neutral, properly aligned position.
Here, one Saatva customer explains how it took three weeks to get used to their new mattress:
How To Tell If Your Old Mattress Is Causing Back Pain
If you have recently developed back pain then you should most definitely go and see your doctor to confirm the root cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
And whilst Im certainly not qualified to diagnose your back pain, my research indicates that theres a fair chance that your mattress/bed is the cause of your back pain if one or more of the following conditions are true:
You May Like: What Can Cause Pain In Lower Back Right Side
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.
When To See A Medical Professional
Many neck and back pain progressively boosts with house treatment along with self-care, usually within a couple of weeks. Call your medical professional if your pain in the back:.
Proceeds past a few weeks.
Is extreme as well as doesnt enhance with remainder.
Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain extends listed here the knee.
Factors weak point, tingling or tingling in one or both legs.
Is accompanied by strange fat loss.
In uncommon cases, back soreness can show major scientific trouble. Search for prompt treatment if your pain in the back.
Causes brand-new digestive system or bladder issues.
Is accompanied by a heat.
You May Like: Can Back Pain Go Away On Its Own
How Long Does It Take For Your Back To Adjust To A New Mattress
Components and materials such as springs or foam can be initially stiff but will soften over time, fitting your body better. This process will take at least 30 days after which your back pain should recede as the mattress provides back support.
If you are finding that after 30 days you are still having back pain issues, consider changing certain aspects of your lifestyle such as introducing light stretching for every hour you are seated during the day to address the roots of back pain.
Stretches that include spinal decompression allow pressure to be relieved in the spine. Long periods of sitting cause too much pressure on the spine and such exercises can help. Studies on human physiology, biology, and even anthropology have shown that the body of a human being does not respond well to long periods of sitting and inactivity.
Reasons Why Your Mattress Is Causing Back Pain
Sleeping in your bed at any time should be an activity that helps to recharge your body, relax and get ready to start a new day. However, the moment these advantages are no longer attached to your mattress and your mattress causes back pain then its time to take a new look at your mattress.
Mattresses, of course, are fantastic and one of the best places to get a good nights rest, get work done and even watch television from on a lazy afternoon. Mattresses are created to be durable, so they are known to last up to five years and even ten years in good condition, depending on how you use them. During their years of use, they are still expected to serve many good purposes and be utilizable.
Have you been experiencing back pain when you lie on your mattress? Or is your mattress becoming so uncomfortable that the thoughts of sleeping on it turn you off? Do you have aches but arent sure if your mattress is the cause?
You May Like: What Causes Lower Back Pain Just Above The Buttocks
Mattress Firmness Suitability For Back Pain
Mattresses can potentially be available in any of the following firmnesses .
Extra-Soft
Extra soft mattresses are typically best for side sleepers that weigh less than 130 lbs because they allow you to sink more deeply into the mattress materials to remove pressure on your hips and shoulders.
This means that an extra-soft mattress may be suitable if you have back pain thats primarily triggered by surface pressure such as sciatica or nerve-related back pain because the softer surface is less liable to create pressure points.
Soft
Soft mattresses are often preferred by side sleepers and lighter weighted sleepers under 150 lbs again due to the greater give afforded by the upper comfort layers that may also provide relief for back pain that is brought on through pressure points.
Softer mattresses are often best avoided by heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs especially if you sleep on your front because youre more likely to sink into the mattress and experience back pain due to spinal misalignment and bad posture.
Medium-Soft
Medium-soft mattresses are often enjoyed by side and back sleepers in the 130 230 lbs range, whilst front sleepers under 200 lbs who prefer more pressure relief may also feel well supported.
Medium
A medium firmness mattress is the most popular mattress firmness and is typically best suited to front, back, and side sleepers in the 130 230 lbs range .
Medium-Firm
Firm
Extra-Firm
Mattress Advisor’s Review Process
Each mattress on this list was put to the test in Mattress Advisor’s lab, which is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bedding experts spent over 1,200 hours evaluating and comparing mattresses using a 14-point testing methodology to find the best mattresses that help relieve back pain.
While some of the factors tested are tied directly to performance, like responsiveness, edge support, and pressure relief, others are based around brand operations, such as customer service, shipping policies, and trial period. The Mattress Advisor team combines this proprietary methodology with in-depth interviews and customer experience to arrive at a weighted score out of 10.
Sheryl Grassie is an academic writer and researcher for Mattress Advisor.
Sign up for our Health Shopping newsletter to get your daily dose of retail therapy with great deals handpicked by our editors straight to your inbox.
Recommended Reading: What Type Of Bed Is Best For Lower Back Pain
A Luxury Model Thats Worth Every Penny
tempurpedic.com
- Sizes: Twin, Twin Long, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King and Split California King
- Trial period: 90 nights
Filled with special Tempur-Material that was originally developed by NASA, this luxury mattress provides advanced pressure relieving power thats ideal for those with back pain. Responding to your weight, shape and temperature, this adaptive mattress caters to your body for a quality nights rest. The proprietary material also absorbs motion better than other memory foam mattresses, so if you sleep with a partner, you wont get jostled awake if they toss and turn in the middle of the night.
Reviewers report reductions in back pain and no more tossing and turning throughout the night, with many agreeing that this mattress is worth every penny.
