Can A Bad Mattress Cause Body Aches Get All The Facts
The study says that a bad mattress can cause body aches and back pain due to its lack of support, incapable of holding your spine, back, hip, and other joints perfectly, over sinking & sagging, etc. A bad quality mattress can also cause body pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, stomach pain, chest pain, lower back pain, leg pain, foot pain, joint pain, hip pain, side pain, arm pain, neck pain, sciatica pain, tiredness, stiffness, etc. Read the full article to learn more about bad mattresses.
Having enough sleep is beneficial from the health point of view. A person spends significant time in bed. In fact, if you do your math well, you find that an average, sleep takes a third of all time in human life. To have sufficient sleep, one needs to have excellent bedding, especially mattress and pillows. It is not once or twice that people wake up with aching bodies. But, the majority doesnt have the answer to why they wake up tired and having body pain. This leads us to one of the questions that people do ask can a bad mattress cause body ache?
Well, there are doubts that the bad mattress usually causes body pain. However, what contributes these pains differs from one sleeper to another. What might sound a bad mattress to an average sleeper might turn to be the best for the heavy sleeper and vice versa. Therefore, what is essential is to know your mattress category.
Lower Back Pain May Be Caused By A Bad Mattress
Posted by Merritt Herald | May 5, 2016 | Lifestyles, Health | 0
Sleeping on the wrong mattress can create negative consequences for anyone with low back pain.
A mattress lacking in back support reinforces poor sleeping posture, strains muscles and does not help keep the spine in proper alignment all of which can increase low back pain.
The patient also sacrifices sleep comfort if they do not choose a mattress that matches their individual preferences and needs. A mattress that provides both sleep comfort and back support allows the structures in the spine to really rest and rejuvenate during the night, thus reducing the symptoms of low back pain.
With the variety of mattresses on the market, choosing the right mattress for sleep comfort and back support can be a difficult decision. For people with low back pain, its definitely worth it to take time to select the best mattress for their back.
When trying to choose the best mattress for back support and sleep comfort, keep the following practical guidelines in mind:
Personal preference should ultimately determine what mattress to purchase. Any mattress that helps someone sleep without pain and stiffness is the best mattress for that individual. There is no single mattress that works for all people with low back pain. Patients should choose the mattress that meets their standards for comfort and support and allows them to get a good nights sleep.
It Takes You An Hour Or More To Fall Asleep
One measure of sleep quality is something sleep researchers call sleep onset latencyor the amount of time a person lies in bed before finally drifting off.
While you may blame your inability to fall asleep on things like your bedtime smartphone habit, or your messy room, a too-firm mattress may also be to blame, shows a 2015 study in Sleep Science.
That study found that when a group of elderly people switched from a high firm mattress to a medium firm mattress, the average time it took them to fall asleep fell from an average of 67 minutes to just 21 minutes. Measures of neck and back pain also dropped more than 50% after the study participants slept on the medium-firm mattresses for four weeks, the study shows.
New mattress pick: The Love & Sleep medium mattress from Nest Bedding has firmness ratings that correspond to the medium-firm mattresses used in the above study, and so should be a great option for people who struggle to fall asleep, or who suffer from back or neck pain.
Do these yoga moves before bed for a better night’s sleep:
Also Check: Is Aleve Good For Lower Back Pain
Lung And Throat Irritation
The older your mattress is, the higher the likelihood of it containing large numbers of dust mites. Dust mites are a reality in every mattress, but older mattresses have a particularly high chance of being a haven for these irritating creatures.
Dust mites can lead to a number of skin and reparatory conditions such as eczema, asthma and sore throat. If your mattress and pillows are getting old, think about if its time to replace them. If new, take steps to prevent dust mites from developing.
How Does Back Pain Impact Sleep
The spine is responsible for more movement in the body than you may realize. It connects up with all your major muscles, which means that chronic back pain is something that can easily impact your daily life and sleep quality.
Many scientific studies reveal that chronic back pain often results in very poor sleep, which can ultimately make you feel even worse during your waking hours.
Specifically, back pain acts as an uncomfortable distraction when youre trying to fall asleep. As painful pressure points press into the mattress, it can make it challenging to find a comfortable sleeping position . And, if youre currently on medication for back pain, the side effects can impact sleep as well.
Back pain may even make you wake up more throughout the night. This lack of sleep will make your back feel even more painfuland this is something that can, unfortunately, take a toll on your mental health.
You May Like: Advil For Back Pain Dosage
Now That You Know How To Tell If Your Bed Is Causing Back Pain Try A Sleep Natural Bed Today
Instead of dealing with your bad mattress symptoms, buy a new bed thats made to make you feel good! Shop our buying guide online or come to a Marks Mattress Store near you to try a Sleep Natural bed in person. We cant wait for you to feel the difference!
Join the Sleep Natural VIP Club, and stay informed of great sleep advice, sales and more!
Where Did The Notion That Air Mattresses Are Bad For Your Back Come From
Back pain is commonplace as part of a modern lifestyle. It can stem from not enough exercise, prolonged periods of sitting, or a bad mattress. I have a friend who went through years of back pain, cortisone shots, and was scheduled for surgery. She bought a new bed as a last resort before having the operation and made an unprecedented full recovery: pain free for years now, all due to the right mattress.
Related:Best mattress for back pain
Conversely, sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause pain, especially back pain. Early air mattresses were a simple affair. They consisted of a vinyl exterior that was inflated with air, and many people found they either caused or exacerbated back pain. They were not very supportive, not good for spinal alignment, and could lead to back pain and stiffness. They offered no deep contouring for the body like what you can now get with pocketed coils or memory foam mattresses. Even current bloggers, who report successful sleep trials on an air mattress, may still caution about back pain.
Some of the concerns over back pain, however, may be a hangover from times gone by. Current air mattresses are nothing like they used to be. They were originally designed as short-term or temporary beds. They were used as guest beds, for camping, or as an interim bed when moving. With new technology, you can now purchase a high-quality air mattresses or air bed that is a viable long-term option.
Also Check: Is Aleve Good For Back Pain
Sleeping On Your Stomach
Dr Smycz said that your sleep posture is an additional factor to back and neck pain. Stomach sleepers, take note!
Sleeping on your stomach is the worst position to sleep in because you have to turn your head, which puts a strain on the neck and upper back, said Dr Smycz. Sleeping on your stomach compresses the solar plexus, and digestion is affected as well. It doesnt allow you to properly rest and repair throughout the night.
So whats the ideal sleeping position to avoid back pain?
The ideal sleep posture is lying on your side, explained Dr Smycz. When lying on your side, imagine a line going all the way from the neck through to the spine. You want that line to be straight. A nice, supportive mattress will keep that spine aligned.
We know that side sleepers often prefer a softer mattress, but its important to find a firmness level that correlates to your weight. The best mattress for side sleepers is a memory foam mattress.
How Long Do Mattresses Last
On average, most mattresses last about 7 to 10 years. However, many factors can influence the durability and lifespan of a mattress.
The quality and materials of a mattress significantly impact how it performs. Mattresses made with denser foams, natural latex, thicker coils, or higher coil counts are better equipped to accommodate the weight of the sleeper and rebound back to their original shape time after time. By contrast, lower-quality foams and coils may break down sooner.
Certain types of mattresses may last longer than others. Natural latex is durable and tends to hold up the longest. Low-quality innerspring mattresses often start sagging after a few years, and foam mattresses may soften and develop permanent body indentations. Hybrid mattress manufacturers often attempt to circumvent these problems by using higher-quality comfort layers and supporting them with sturdier coils.
How much pressure the mattress supports also influences its lifespan. Single sleepers and individuals who weigh less than 130 pounds exert less pressure on the mattress, and may find their mattresses last longer. Likewise, a mattress that is used nightly sustains more pressure than a guest room bed. While a low-density polyfoam model may provide a perfectly comfortable option for a mattress intended for occasional use, your everyday bed should be made with sturdier materials that can hold up to consistent wear.
Don’t Miss: Advil Or Aleve For Back Pain
New Mattress Smells Awful
It sure does and it has to. All foam products release gases when they are new. This is called off-gassing and its common in memory foam pillows as well as memory foam beds.
Foam has to release gas
Tempur-Pedic sells a variety of models, all of which include memory foam and its blends their all-foam mattress off-gasses for a few days after being unpacked. The same goes for the Tempur-Pedic hybrid mattress. You may opt for a hybrid mattress option but it still has layers of foam. You might be lucky to get a product whose smell isnt too strong, but most of them may be too much for people with sensitive noses.
If the smell bothers you so much that you cant sleep, put your Tempur-Pedic mattress in a guest room and leave the window open. If the smell doesnt bother you that much, you can sleep on your new Tempur-Pedic mattress.
Toxicity of Tempur-Pedic mattresses
The gas which comes out of a new Tempur-Pedic mattress isnt harmful because Tempur-Pedics products are made with safety certification Certi-PUR US. This means that your Tempur-Pedic bed is made free of harmful volatile organic chemicals which exist in many memory foam beds, but not in Tempur-Pedic mattresses.
Life Expectancy Of A Mattress
How long you can reasonably expect to keep your bed varies depending on who you ask. Mattress manufacturers will tell you once every eight years, but Consumer Reports says a quality bed should last for ten years. Call it paranoia, but it seems like the manufacturers are trying to steer us into replacing our beds more quickly than needed.
That being said, there are a lot of factors that can affect the life expectancy of your sleeping surface:
Type of mattress: Natural latex and high-density memory foam last longer than innerspring and low-density memory foam.
Quality: Usually, you get what you pay for.
Your age and weight: Heavier people will naturally make a mattress compress or sag more quickly. And as you age, you become more sensitive to subtle indentations.
Lifestyle: If you use your bed only for sleeping and take good care of it, itll outlive something that has kids jumping on it or sustains other bouncy extracurricular activities.
You May Like: Aleve Good For Back Pain
Is Your Mattress Causing You Back Pain
Sleep Advisor Disclaimer – Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment… Read more here
There are a lot of different reasons that people experience back pain. Figuring out where your discomfort is coming from can be difficult, especially if you lead an active or challenging life. However, the mattress you go to sleep on at night can play a big part in how you feel in the morning. In other words, its important to find out whether your bed is to blame for your back soreness or not.
Tips For Back Sleepers
Add Cushioning to the Lumbar Region
You can improve lumbar support by putting some kind of cushioning on your low back. That way, when you lie down, your low back has the some material to help prop it up so that it doesnt round-out. Here are a couple of affordable options:
- Wrap a bed sheet or towel around your torso.
- Use a McKenzie Sleep Roll. If you are sleeping better with the wrapped bed sheet/towel, you can upgrade to a McKenzie Sleep Roll. The McKenzie Sleep roll might be especially helpful if you roll onto your side at night because it can help your spine stay neutral regardless of what position youre in.
Elevate Your Legs
You might have tight hip flexors which are causing your low back to over arch. You can relieve strain on your low back by propping up your legs and bending your knees a bit while you sleep. Here are a couple easy ways you can relieve that low back strain while you sleep:
- Tuck a couple of pillows underneath your knees .
- Alternatively, use a specially-designed, wedge pillow for sciatica aka leg wedge aka leg elevation pillow. Slide it right up to your butt and rest your hamstrings on the slant. Physical therapist Brad Heinick says he uses this product and emphasized that resting the hamstrings on the slant helps a lot. .
You back sleepers have quite a few options for figuring out how to sleep with low back pain and sciatica. So do a little trial and error and see what works.
Recommended Reading: How Much Advil Can I Take For Back Pain
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.
Myth: Exercise Is Bad For Back Pain
This is a big one. Regular exercise prevents back pain. And doctors may recommend exercise for people who have recently hurt their lower back. They’ll usually start with gentle movements and gradually build up the intensity. Once the immediate pain goes away, an exercise plan can help keep it from coming back.
You May Like: Aleve Or Advil For Lower Back Pain
How To Stop Mattress Sagging
While there is no way to completely stop mattress sagging you can do a few things to extend the life of your mattress. It is important to do all you can to alleviate back pain from your mattress.
- Using a topper can make a sagging mattress more comfortable but can also extend the life of a new mattress.
- Turning your mattress as often as you can, if you have a turn mattress, can even out the wear and tear over years and delay your mattress from sagging.
- Rotating your mattress does likewise and can be done on both turn and non turn mattresses. This may not be possible on certain zoned mattresses.
- Buy a good quality mattress with a reputable supplier is always recommended. Check out their reviews and make sure their warranty covers every part of the mattress.
New Mattresses Have An Adjustment Period
Theres a transition period when you go from an old unsupportive mattress to a new supportive one.
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.
Its worth it to be patient, though. The increased support of a new mattress will result in better spinal alignment. And research shows when your spine is in neutral alignment while you sleep, you can expect less back pain.
One study found that when participants with back pain switched to a mattress designed to accommodate their sleep position, they noticed immediate improvements.
Another study revealed that when participants with mattresses more than five years old were given new ones, they experienced less back pain, better sleep, and even decreased stress.
Plus, the right mattress will help you sleep betterand proper rest allows your body to recover so that healing can take place.
Also Check: Advil Vs Ibuprofen For Back Pain
