Best Mattress For Back Pain Video
Watch our video below to learn more about our labs top mattress picks for sleepers with back pain.
Below are the mattresses that weve awarded the highest ratings for sleepers with back pain, and each one has received an accolade showcasing its strongest points. Scroll down for detailed information about each mattress, including how and where to buy them. Weve also included a buyers guide further below that covers why people experience back pain in bed, which types of mattresses are best for back pain, and how to pick out the right mattress based on its materials and construction. If youre looking for more bedding solutions to help with your back pain, check out our list of Best Mattress Toppers for Back Pain.
Is Spinal Alignment The Most Important Factor
Spinal alignment is certainly important, but its not the only factor when it comes to sleeping with back pain. Pressure relief is also important for helping you reduce pain and get to sleep. However, its important to find a material that relieves pressure while still allowing movement.
If you find youre waking up stiff and sore but feel better after you get moving, you could be dealing with swelling or inflammation in the joints or muscle tissue. While this can occur in almost any type of injury, its usually a sign that the injury isnt getting motion, especially while you sleep.
When it comes to spinal injuries or misalignments, most chiropractors and physical therapists will treat the issue by aligning the spine and increasing motion to reduce inflammation and swelling. If you can move around easily when you sleep, either to reposition or rollover, your body may be able to help aid in that process.
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Other Things To Consider
There is no single right mattress for everyone, but there are certain considerations when youre dealing with lower back pain:
- Mattress firmness: Soft or plush mattresses likely wont provide enough support. Research from 2003 suggests medium-firm mattresses are better for reducing low back pain than firm mattresses.
- Adjustability: Adjustable mattresses that let you choose your firmness level from one night to the next can be a good option but be prepared to pay a premium for this feature.
- Zoned support: Some mattresses are designed with zoned support, offering more firmness in the lower back region.
Make a point of checking reviews so you can see what previous purchasers have to say about any mattresses youre considering.
Comfort is highly individual, so take advantage of the free in-home trials that manufacturers offer when theyre available to find a mattress that balances enough support for your lower back with overall comfort. Check the return policy and warranty, too.
Sleeping on your back is generally considered best for the body, says McSweeney. But supporting your body in your preferred sleep position can also work. Getting sleep is the most important thing for your health and well-being.
Whatever your preferred sleeping position, here are a few tricks that can help minimize lower back pain:
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Which Mattress Firmness Is Best For Back Pain
A scientific study concluded that a medium-firm mattress outperformed a firm mattress in terms of reducing back pain whilst in bed, upon rising, and throughout the day for 313 adults tested over a 90-day period .
However, this study doesnt mean that everyone with back pain should buy a medium-firm mattress because back pain is a highly individualized condition, and the most suitable mattress firmness is dependant on a range of subjective factors.
The best mattress firmness for back pain could be soft, medium, firm, or another firmness variant depending on your body weight, body type, and dominant sleeping position.
This can make choosing the right mattress firmness for your back pain challenging.
And even if you consult your doctor first , you may still be unclear on the most suitable mattress firmness to help with your back pain.
Thats why Ive put together a list of the different mattress firmnesses and provided some guidelines as to which setting is typically best suited to the different combinations of body weights, body types, and sleeping positions to provide some clarity.
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.
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Back Pain Pressure Points
If there is an overly vital area to be attentive to when suffering from back pain, its the pressure points that an improper mattress can cause on your body. These points mean that there is extra push back to a specific area. This can cause misalignment throughout your body and your spine.
Once it has moved out of alignment, there is an increased amount of pressure placed on your spine. Thats one of the common causes of back pain. Thinking about it that way may just help you answer the question, Is a firm mattress good for your back? from a whole new angle.
With this said, its essential to ensure that you arent sleeping on a bed that places too much pressure on your spine. This is also true for any major joints. Thats whats going to allow your body to rest in a relaxed state. The chance of pressure points forming along the spine as well as the lower back is diminished dramatically when the appropriate product is picked.
Pressure points are capable of causing long-term deformations and pains along your spine. This isnt something that you can likely afford as it can quickly turn into a chronic condition.
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How The Right Mattress Can Cure Your Back Pain
Now that weve discussed how to tell if your mattress is causing back pain, weve found some advice on how to choose a bed that will relieve AND prevent back pain. Researchers in Spain recently studied people with long-term back pain and found that people who slept on a medium-to-firm mattress had less pain than those who prefer a soft or firm mattress. In an interview with NBC News, Gerard Varlotta, director of sports rehabilitation at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University Medical Center, explained why the findings make sense.
There needs to be an equal distribution of pressure, he said. Too firm of a mattress is not good. It doesnt provide enough contour to our bodies. Too soft is going to bend and cause problems as well.
But of all the medium-to-firm beds out there, its hard to tell which brands and models are best. One thing to look for is a material thats been proven to help back-pain sufferers sleep.
Sleep expert Michael Breus, PhD, says latex is a great choice. In WebMDs article How to Pick Your Perfect Mattress, he says, Quite frankly, I think one of the best materials is latex. Breus goes on to say that latex is firm and supportive, yet provides comfort similar to memory foam. But latex pushes back whereas memory foam doesnt, ultimately providing more support.
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A Mattress With Reactive Memory Foam Adapts To Your Body
Amerisleep
Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Very firm | Delivery: Bed in a box | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 20 years
Thanks to its Bio-Pur memory foama proprietary foam thats more responsive and adaptive to movementthis mattress contours your back and neck, promoting proper sleep posture and relieving pressure points. When you have back pain, soft spots can be detrimental to your comfort, but this mattress bounces back in seconds, alleviating sinking and misalignment that can contribute to aches. The Amerisleep AS1 also keeps you cool throughout the night by allowing air to quickly pass through its open-cell design. And it includes its Refresh Cooling Cover. This is the companys firmest mattress.
What the reviews say: We used the Amerisleep King AS1 mattress for close to 3 years and sleep has never been so comfortable, writes one reviewer. It has a great cover and the right amount of firmness. We liked it so much that when we needed another mattress we didnt even think twice before ordering another one.
Which Firm Mattresses Are Best
It might be time to upgrade to a firm mattress if you are struggling to get a good nights sleep and your holistic sleep aids, sheets and pillows are not working well for you. Firm mattresses are popular because of the amount of structured support that they offer. They wont significantly shift or collapse like softer mattresses do, and the support is not compromised when you toss and turn. Firm mattresses also evenly distribute your body weight.
The Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress is a top pick for its ultra-premium memory foam, eco-friendly materials and two levels of firmness.
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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 Smycz of 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!
Which Is Better For Back Pain: Memory Foam Or Sprung Mattresses
Unlike traditional sprung mattresses, memory foam shapes itself to fit the contours of the body, rather than just the major pressure points like the hips, knees and neck. This reduces the pressure on these areas, and helps to keep the spine in a natural alignment. So, they can be very comfortable and effective for those with chronic back problems.
On the other hand, traditional coiled mattresses do provide effective weight distribution, which can make them a good option for taller or heavier individuals. Pocket sprung mattresses are especially effective at this, because the individual springs can move independently, allowing them to better follow the contours of the body than traditional open coil styles. So, ultimately, the best mattress for a bad back really depends on your build and sleeping style.
If you like the sound of both benefits, then a mattress which utilises both pocket springs and a layer of memory foam, like our hybrid mattresses and , could be the best solution for you.
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Is A Firm Mattress Better For Your Back
Texas Mattress Makers
Is a firm mattress better for your back? This is a question we hear often from a lot of sleepers who struggle with back pain. The short answer: it depends on your personal needs and there is a difference between a firm feel and a supportive mattress. In general, individuals who struggle with back pain after getting out of bed are suffering because their spine isnt getting enough support from their mattress.
Factors such as your preferred sleeping position, weight, and feel preference all contribute to the type of mattress you need. For example, depending on your weight and sleeping position, a firmer mattress might do a great job of distributing your weight evenly across the mattress OR it might create discomfort for the neck, shoulders, and pelvic, which can lead to lower back pain.
In short, sleeping on a hard bed doesnt necessarily equate to support. But dont worry. Texas Mattress Makers is here to help you find a mattress that will provide optimal support and comfort for your personal sleep needs.
How To Choose The Best Medium
Most brands offer a medium-firm mattress, which may increase the difficulty of your search. Luckily, clinical sleep educator and sleep coach Amy Korn-Reavis says there are a few ways you can simplify it.
First, always ensure that your mattress has a decent warranty, and look for a design that uses individually wrapped coils for extra support. “Individually wrapped coils help your mattress move independently, provide support, and prevent your mattress from getting too hot,” she elaborates.
In addition to support, Carroll advises keeping body weight, mattress materials, and sleeping position in mind.
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How Can You Tell If A Mattress Is Too Soft
There are a few telltale signs that your mattress is too soft to support you:
- Your mattress sags under your weight.
- You feel as though youre rolling toward the middle or falling off the side of your mattress.
- You may wake up with stiffness or soreness in your lower back.
- You sleep on your stomach and wake with a stiff neck.
- You find it difficult to roll over or get in and out of bed without feeling stuck.
Can Your Bed Cause Hip Pain
If you wake up with hip pain and you are not sure the source of the pain, you might want to check your mattress. A bad bed can cause hip pain.
If your mattress is unsuitable for your body, it can cause a sore hip. You will always wake up with hip pain if you do not change your bed.
A bad mattress can cause more problems if you sleep on your side it can activate your pressure points since most of your body weight concentrates on your bed.
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Will My Back Adjust To A Firm Mattress
It can take around 2-4 weeks to fully adjust to any new mattress, so if you find yourself struggling, keep at it for a few weeks, and you might be surprised at how good it starts to feel. Ecosa offers a 100 night trial for their mattress, so if you find that a firmer mattress isn’t for you, you can get your money back.
Which Mattress Types Are Good For Back Pain
The best type of mattress to mitigate your back pain depends on a few different factors. Along with mattress firmness level, you need to consider material type as well.
One medical journal study found that when subjects switched to mattresses designed to dovetail with their preferred sleeping positions, improvements in both pain and stiffness were noticeable immediately and improved further over the 12 weeks subjects were followed.
Your sleeping position, body weight, and typical sleeping situation can also help determine the right mattress for you.
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Firmness For Back Pain Sufferers
You dont want to sleep on a foam mattress topper thats too firm or too soft for you and agitates your pressure points. Products that are too soft can mess up your back even more, while you may not be able to sleep on something thats too firm for your weight or your spine. You can help choose your toppers firmness based on your existing mattress. If you have a softer mattress, a layer of support thats a little firmer might be your best option.
When looking for a memory foam mattress topper for back pain, you should take into consideration the firmness of your mattress too, to help get the best overall feel for your body. A firm mattress for someone who likes a soft mattress wont feel comfortable, just like a soft mattress wont feel as comfortable if you like a firm mattress.
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How Can I Get Relief On A Budget
Spending thousands of dollars on a mattress isnt for everybody, but with a bit of digging, you should be able to find a mattress that meets your needs without breaking the bank.
The recent rise of online mattress companies means that customers now have access to a wealth of options at affordable price-points. These reflect the lack of sales commissions and other costs associated with brick-and-mortar stores.
Another option is to keep an eye out for sales, which are commonly offered on major holidays at both online and traditional retail stores. Your local newspaper may also have cut-out coupons.
If your current mattress hasnt lost its supportive ability and all you need is a firmness adjustment, you may have luck with a mattress topper. Mattress toppers are layers of foam, latex, wool, or other materials that are designed to lie on top of your mattress and make it firmer or softer. They are a cost-effective way to get added pressure relief for your sciatica without buying an entire mattress.
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Is A Firm Mattress Good For Sciatica
No, a firm mattress is not the right option for those who have sciatica . You should consider using a medium-firm mattress as your body will get enough support and spinal alignment.
Softer mattresses wont be supportive enough, and firmer mattresses will be too uncomfortable to sleep on. Therefore, the best option to consider here is a medium-firm mattress that provides you with both support and comfort.
