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Can My Mattress Cause Lower Back Pain

What Is The Best Mattress Or Mattress Brand

Can A BAD Mattress Cause Lower Back Pain?

Here are 12 of the best mattress brands in the world for 2019. 1. Amerisleep AS2 2. Tempurpedic Cloud Supreme Breeze 3. BedInABox Serenity Gel 4. Sealy Optimum Elation Gold 5. Serta iComfort Prodigy III 6. Luxe Stearns and Foster Plush Mattress Stay with a To kiss. 7 Posturepedic Sealy Hybrid Cushion Signature 8. Simmons Beautyrest Recharge Briana Luxury.

Can A Soft Mattress Cause Back Pain

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  • This article was written by the site owner Dan Cartwright who has been testing and reviewing mattresses and sleep products since 2015.

    If your doctor has ruled out any underlying medical reasons for your back pain, then you might be wondering if your back pain is related to your mattress.

    As explained in the article Ive linked to below, a firm mattress can cause back pain, but could a mattress thats too soft also be to blame?

    A soft mattress can cause back pain if it doesnt provide enough support relative to your body weight and body type because by sinking too far into the mattress materials, your spine and the surrounding muscles are placed under prolonged strain throughout the night.

    I know this from personal experience because the first time I slept on a memory foam mattress that was too soft, I ended up with back pain.

    I have also tested many mattresses over the years and I often experience the same type of discomfort especially around my lower back when the mattress has been too soft and/or not supportive enough.

    In the rest of this article, Ive used my extensive knowledge of mattresses to explain specifically how a soft mattress can cause back pain, how to find out if your mattress is the cause, and how to solve the problem.

    The Influence Of Sleeping On A Hard Or Soft Bed

    Sleeping on a soft surface

    the body will bend back into the sagged pit, causing limited freedom of movement and strain for certain muscle groups

    Sleeping on a hard surface

    a firm mattress will cause higher pressure on certain places

    Both with sleeping on a surface thats too soft or too hard, the spine will be supported insufficientlyThose with a bad back require a good balance between support and comfort.

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    What Else Can I Do For Back Pain

    Changing your mattress will most likely do wonders for your back pain, if that was the cause. You can also implement a short stretching routine into your day. Aim to do a few stretches before you go to bed and after you wake up to help with spine flexibility. Also, it is important to learn how to sleep in the best position possible. Many experts recommend sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs to support the hips and lower back. Certain pillows can also help promote less neck and back pain while you sleep.

    For sweeter dreams and less back pain in the morning, consider getting a new mattress. Your sleep is essential, so make sure you are getting a mattress that will improve your sleep, not make it worse. When mattress shopping, bring your own pillow and spend a good ten to fifteen minutes on each mattress. It may seem silly, but it is the best way to ensure you get the right mattress for you.

    Mattress Advisors Review Process

    Best Mattress For Back Pain &  Relief (2021)

    Each mattress on this list was put to the test in Mattress Advisors 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.

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    Your Back Pain Fades After Waking

    If stretching and a good hot shower alleviates your morning aches, they might be related to your mattress. But if your back pain is an all-day kind of thing, there may be other causes.

    Even if you suspect your mattress is to blame for your sore back, its important to chat with your healthcare provider if your back pain persists throughout the day and is more than just a morning nuisance.

    Its Your Mattress Base Or Box Spring

    Sometimes, your bed frame or box spring is the reason why your mattress is sagging. Check the foundation under your saggy mattress and mattress pad to see if the slats in your box spring are solid and aligned. Your mattress foundation should be made of high-density materials so it doesnt erode over time and interrupt a good nights sleep.

    Also Check: How Long Can Lower Back Pain Last

    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 youre on the phone or reading.

    The Age Of The Mattress

    Best Mattress for Lower Back Pain and Sciatica – Our Top 6 Picks!

    You shouldnt be sleeping on a mattress thats more than seven years old, explained Dr Smycz. It simply wont provide back support when the mattress is older than that.

    A 2009 study found that newer bedding systems increased sleep quality and reduced back discomfort, whereas older and cheaper mattresses caused back discomfort and poor sleep quality.

    Recommended Reading: How To Treat Lower Back Muscle Strain

    Your Spine Can Get Used To An Old Mattress

    It takes time to get used to a new mattress topper. It also takes time to get used to a new mattress. Some people adapt faster than others, but normally you will adapt to it and any temporary niggles in your back tend may disappear. If you have been sleeping on an old mattress for years, your spine can get used to conforming to the pressure that the old mattress has been putting on it.

    Your body, particularly your spine and lower back, can complain when you start using a mattress topper designed to eliminate the lumps and troughs in an old mattress. Even if you normally sleep on your side, you will feel the effects of this new sleeping surface. This pain is not always telling you that you are being harmed: it could be a sign that the mattress topper is trying to force your spine back into a healthy position.

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    Choose A Hybrid Design

    A high-quality hybrid mattress is typically the best type of mattress for back pain because the individually wrapped springs can provide adaptive support for your spine to maintain good posture, whilst the foam top layers can help to soften pressure points that may otherwise aggravate your nerves and impede circulation.

    If maximum pressure relief is your goal, then a memory foam topped mattress is the best choice, whilst natural latex foam can provide a more breathable alternative if you tend to sleep hot.

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    #reason : Stomach Sleeping Can Cause You Lower Back Pain

    Stomach sleeping is not good for your health and it may cause you lower back pain. If you are used to sleeping on the stomach, I suggest you avoid this sleeping position. When you sleep on the stomach, your memory foam mattress cant hold your spine, back, and neck perfectly aligned and cause back pain.

    Solution: Try To Sleep on The Side and Back

    If you are suffering from lower back pain due to stomach sleeping, I recommend you to switch your sleeping position. You have to try sleeping on the side, back, and stomach frequently. It will reduce the chance of creating back pain.

    You Wake Up With A Stiff And Sore Lower Back

    A Mattress Can Cause or Relieve Back Pain

    Sometimes you can go to bed feeling great, but end up waking up feeling miserable. Sometimes you may even wake up with a stiff and sore lower back pain. If this is the case, your mattress is the problem. Maybe its too soft or too firm.

    A very soft mattress usually lacks enough support and comfort. And if it sags a lot, it can cause serious health problems.

    A very soft mattress allows your body to sink too deep, causing misalignment of the spine, increased pressure at the lower back, and even joint twist. As a result, youll wake up with a painful back. A research-based review on soft mattress from Sleep Standards indicates that quality soft mattress should provide you with enough support, comfort, and offer your body pressure relief.

    Although a firm mattress is recommended for people with lower back pain, sleeping on a very firm mattress might not be so convenient. According to studies, sleeping on a medium-firm mattress can help alleviate lower back pain efficiently than sleeping on a very firm mattress.

    A mattress thats too firm might push the shoulders and hips, resulting in misalignment of the spine. Its therefore important to find a mattress that doesnt stress your spine. It should allow your spine to sit in a neutral resting position throughout the night.

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    Is Your Bed Too Old Take Our Test

  • Is the bed 10 years old or more?
  • Do you wake up with back or neck ache?
  • When lying in bed can you feel spings or ridges?
  • When moving in bed can you hear squeaks or crunches?
  • Do you roll towards the middle?
  • Is the bed too small to give an undisturbed night?
  • Is the divan or base uneven or sagging?
  • If you answered yes to a few of these questions then these tips may help you choose a better bed?

    Can My Mattress Cause Hip Pain

    Hip pain remains one of the most discomforting experiences to have while sleeping. The pain has been linked to different causes ranging from bursitis to osteoarthritis, tendonitis, bowel problems, and tight muscles or even sciatic- piriformis syndrome. Unfortunately, the mattress has been implicated as a cause of hip pain. I guess this will come to you as a surprise since the mattress is known to be a sleeping platform that should provide comfort, rest and solace after a hectic, stressful day.

    Yes, a mattress that does not match your body type, as well as your dominant sleeping position, could lead to a dysfunctional body alignment which could severely affect the hips. Since sleep takes even more than a quarter of our entire time daily lying on a poor mattress over an extended period could be very detrimental, not just to the hips but it negatively affects sleep and overall productivity in the long run.

    This article provides insights on how the nature of your mattress could be a causative factor to your hip pain.

    The importance of sleep cannot be overemphasized therefore, there is no amount of time or resources invested in researching and painstakingly searching for the most suitable mattress that is a waste. Instead, it guarantees not just a comfortable sleep devoid of hip pain but also a highly productive life.

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    Keep Short Sleeping Time

    If you wake up in the morning at a different time than you used to, for example: now you wake up earlier than a year ago, there is a serious problem with your mattress. Sleep imbalance, that is, insufficient body balance during sleep, will lead to local pain. Excessive single force point leads to excessive pressure on the back, poor blood circulation, and muscle compression on the back. In short, the uneven zoning of the mattress leads to back pain and fatigue after waking up.

    If the mattress is used for too long, it will reduce comfort, deform the internal structure, and can not correctly support your body, which will even cause lumbar disc herniation, lumbar muscle strain, and other spinal diseases.

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    Warning Signs Your Mattress Is Causing Back Pain

    How to Get Out of Bed with Lower Back Pain (Less Pain & Faster Healing)

    Sleeping on the wrong mattress can actually cause or worsen back pain. Read on to know how your mattress impacts your back health.

    Can a mattress cause back pain? Yes, a wrong one can. Our mattress plays a big role in enhancing our sleep quality and controlling the way we feel every morning after waking up. Continuously sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause the spine to lose its natural alignment and strain the muscles resulting in back pain. On the other hand, a supportive mattress can help your spine maintain a neutral position and prevent back soreness. People who fail to understand the delicate science behind choosing the right sleep surface as per their sleeping habits are more likely to develop not just chronic back pain but neck stiffness and shoulder aches.

    Lower back pain is not only the leading cause of disability worldwide but in India alone, nearly 60% of Indians suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives. The exact cause of back pain is tricky to diagnose in cases there hasnt been a recent sudden stress or strain due to a pulled muscle or tendon. So how to tell if your bed is causing back pain? How to be sure that your mattress is the main culprit behind your back problems?

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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.

    You Always Experience The Pain Each Time You Wake Up In The Morning

    If you often retire to bet feeling great and in good health but wake up with a lot of pain in your lower back, then this is a clear manifestation that your mattress is to blame for your woes. Just like an old mattress, a mattress that is not firm enough will always make your spine to fall out of spine alignment the entire night. Consequently, a mattress thats too firm will result in the buildup of joint pressure in your hips and this may, in turn, lead to lower back pain. Though you might not immediately experience the pain on your back, it is more than certain that youll feel this pain immediately after getting out of your bed in the morning hours. You can see the top 10 cool gel mattresses which cures your pain and gives you a freshen wake up every morning.

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    Why Is Your Mattress So Important For Your Back

    When it comes to pain management, getting adequate amounts of sleep is a crucial factor for healing. Sleep is an essential process that provides the body time to recover and rejuvenate itself at a cellular level from daily activities. Additionally, sleep also helps regulate numerous important bodily components, including your immunity, weight and mood.

    When you do not get enough sleep, your body is negatively impacted. Since chronic pain and sleep have been proven to share similar neurotransmitters and pathways, it only makes sense that poor sleep can lead to impaired abilities to manage pain.

    If your neck and back pain starts from the moment you get out of bed in the morning, your mattress may not be providing the right amount of support you need. A supportive mattress and your sleep quality go hand in hand. A poor mattress causing back pain can also lead to stiffness, neck problems and reduced energy levels.

    Signs Your Mattress Is Causing Your Back Pain

    The Best Mattresses for Back Pain

    There are several reasons why your back might be hurting. Maybe its stress, your before-bed routine, or even your diet.

    Nevertheless, the same place you derive comfort and a good nights rest might just be the same thing thats causing you to sleep poorly and experience back problems.

    A low-quality bed will not affect your quality of sleep, which causes you to experience a bad day but also exposes you to several health problems, including back pain.

    Today, well look at 5 signs that show your mattress is causing your back pain. Youll also learn how to solve this problem.

    Recommended Reading: Why Your Lower Back Hurts

    Select The Correct Firmness

    Selecting a mattress with the correct level of firmness relative to your dominant sleeping position, body type, and body weight is the most significant step that you can take to ensure that your new mattress doesnt cause you back pain due to it being too soft.

    Choosing the right firmness isnt an exact science, but the table below can help to reduce the chance of you ending up with a mattress thats either too soft or too firm :

    Firmness
    Front + back sleepers > 250 lbs

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