Advantages Of A Firm Mattress
For those not experiencing troublesome back pain, a firm mattress is will generally be more comfortable. When sleeping on a firmer surface, the bones absorb most of the pressure, meaning there is less stress on muscles, veins and arteries. Muscles are less strained, and circulation is improved.
A firm mattress also keeps your lower back from collapsing, which could allow for more oxygen intake while sleeping. Less sagging can mean the weight of the body is distributed evenly, which means no one part of the body is bearing the brunt of the pressure.
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.
You May Like: Are Nectar Mattresses Made In China
Waking Up During The Night
It may be due to the mattress if you keep waking up during the night. Other than that, if you are always feeling tired, groggy, and irritated, then your mattress is the culprit. Therefore, it is better to update your mattress for one that gives you a proper night of sleep, relieves you of backache, and gives you peace of mind.
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.
Also Check: Can Sleeping On A Bad Mattress Cause Lower Back Pain
What Mattress Is Right For Me
Did you know that, if you lay on your bed 8 hours each day, you spend over 121 entire days on it each year? Thats right 2,912 hours each year, laying on your mattress. You better make it good!
Each person has their own set of preferences when it comes to mattresses and comfort levels, and while I cant make the decision for you, I will do my best to give you enough information to help in your buying process.
People experiencing any level of back pain have more specific needs than others and their mattress choices are restricted by their personal situation.
A Zoned Model Thats Firm In The Middle And Softer Around The Edges
Parachute
- Materials: Pocketed coils, wool comfort layers
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: 100 nights
Made with layers of pure New Zealand wool and 100% organic cotton, the Parachute Eco Comfort Mattress is another eco-friendly mattress that can help alleviate back pain. It has two layers of pocketed steel coils, and its designed to be firm in the middle for back support and softer at the head and feet for pressure point relief and spinal alignmentgreat for combination sleepers. In between the coils is a comfort layer made from real wool, and the whole thing is wrapped in an organic cotton cover.
Also Check: Is Lower Back Pain A Sign Of Prostate Cancer
Effects Of Sleeping On A Hard Bed
Pressure points. Contrary to popular belief, there are actually no known benefits of sleeping on a firm mattress if it is too firm for your body height and weight. A mattress that is too firm for your body type will only block your spine from contouring naturally into your mattress – leading to pressure points and aches.
Spinal misalignment.A mattress which is too firm will not support your spine in its normal alignment. This often causes long term problems from the lack of proper support for the spine. For someone with back pain, a firm mattress can cause all sorts of problems as the body tries unsuccessfully to compensate for the lack of lower back spinal support.
Lack of conformability. A firm mattress will not conform properly to your body, leaving gaps between your body and the bed. This means some areas of your body will simply not be supported by an overly firm mattress, and this will lead to additional pain if you have a bad back. Ideally, a mattress should give you good supportiveness but still conform to your body’s contours.
Beware of Orthopaedic labelled products
Its understandable to assume that the best mattress for back pain is the one with a generic orthopaedic stamp attached to it. However, this is a substantial myth. The truth is that there exists no industry standard requirement, regulation, or any specific test for a mattress to pass in order to be labelled as orthopaedic.
What Is The Best Type Of Mattress For Side
Most side-sleepers do well with a medium-soft to medium mattress, which should provide enough cushiness to relieve pressure on their hips and shoulders but enough support to keep their spinal alignment in check. People with back pain, however, ideally need a mattress that feels medium-firm, which is likelier to ease their aches and pains than a softer bed. We do suggest some slightly firmer mattresses for side-sleepers who require more support, and we think one of them will hit the sweet spot for back-pain sufferers who regularly sleep in that position.
If youre a side-sleeper with back pain, start by considering the Saatva Classic or Leesa Hybrid. These mattresses are still medium-firm, but weve found that theyre relatively plusher than the others, especially after a break-in period. If youre not sure about your firmness preferences, the two-piece Zenhaven gives you two options to choose from, with one side slightly more pliable than the other. Finally, although the Tempur-Adapt Medium Hybrid feels firm, it also has a uniquely contouring memory-foam sink, and it should adequately cushion shoulders and hips for side-sleepers, too. Keep in mind that firmness level is subjective, so we strongly suggest trying the mattress before you buy, if you can, or paying close attention to the trial window so you can return the mattress if it doesnt feel right.
You May Like: Is Vibration Good For Lower Back Pain
Who Should Sleep On A Firm Mattress
The best mattresses for back pain are often medium-firm to firm. Larger framed or sized individuals will also find a firmer mattress to be more comfortable. If you weigh 230 pounds or more, going with a firm mattress over a plush one is best.
Mattresses for back sleepers are typically firmer because they promote a safe, neutral spine. The right beds for stomach sleeping should also be firmer to limit sinking and to prevent the spine from curving unnaturally. Both stomach and back sleepers receive adequate joint support from a firm mattress.
- Heavyset sleepers
The Amerisleep AS2 features a medium-firm surface, offering more gentle support than a firmer mattress would. This feel is most suitable for back sleepers, though some stomach and combination sleepers may also enjoy it.
The AS2 possesses many of the same materials as the AS5, they are simply arranged differently to achieve a medium-firm feel. The top layer is Bio-Pur® memory foam, which we mentioned is Amerisleeps unique variation on the traditional formula. The AS2s memory foam top is thinner than the AS5s, meant to feel firmer while still conforming to the body for pressure relief.
Next in the AS2s construction is the Affinity foam with HIVE® technology. The five zones established by HIVE® ensure the bed cushions sensitive areas like the shoulders and hips, while focusing more on firm support under the head, back, and feet.
AMERISLEEP AS2
How Can A Firm Mattress Cause Back Pain
Mattress firmness is a setting configured by the manufacturer that influences how hard or soft a mattress is likely to feel when you lie on it.
However, the final firmness, feel, and overall comfort level will depend on how your individual body weight, body type, and dominant sleeping position interact with the mattress.
This means that a firm mattress will typically feel softer to heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs who sleep on their back or front, whilst a firm mattress is likely to feel even firmer the lighter you are and sleep on your side .
Furthermore, back pain can have many causes and is highly dependent upon your individual circumstances and medical conditions.
All of this variability, subjectivity, and uncertainty means that its NOT accurate to make the sweeping generalization that a firm mattress causes back pain, nor would it be fair to say that a firm mattress is automatically the best choice if you have back pain.
For example, Eileen Vollowitz, BS, PT a physical therapist specializing in orthopedics and occupational health who is the founder of Health by Design says that the traditional medical advice of sleeping on a firm mattress may help some individuals but also harm others potentially exacerbating lower back pain .
Based on my own experience of sleeping on mattresses with different firmnesses and what I know about mattresses in general, here are the 3 primary ways that sleeping on a mattress thats too firm for you could cause back pain:
You May Like: How To Treat Scar Tissue In Lower Back
First Thing First The Firmness
To be able to determine what is the ideal choice for yourself, first, you need to learn a thing or two about the firmness of a mattress. This property is all about the resistance that a mattress is giving you when you lie in bed. A squishy mattress will give you a sensation as if you are sinking in it. On the other hand, a firm one will keep you afloat, not letting you down not even a bit. This is a blunt definition. When it comes to the firmness of it, people have a different opinion which is based on their feeling which is mostly tied to their weight.
The firmness of the cushion is caused by a variety of factors with the most prominent being tension, construction of a mattress, and layers of materials used while building one.
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Make My Back Pain Go Away
Your Mattress Is Saggy
Unlike a sinking mattress that enfolds your whole body, a saggy mattress droops where you need support the most usually right under your lower back. Mattress sag can cause spine misalignment, which can contribute to back pain.
Select Casper mattresses include Zoned Support which is designed to ergonomically align your spine, giving extra support where you need it most.
What Can I Do If My Mattress Is Too Firm
For a pillow-top mattress, you may sleep well, but it is important to feel at least the right firmness. For mattresses with a spring foundation, the springs should be spaced about 15 inches apart from the foundation plate. For beds with a platform foundation, the distance between the top surface of the spring pads should be at least 4 inches.
Don’t Miss: How To Sleep To Relieve Upper Back Pain
Is Your New Memory Foam Mattress Causing Back Pain
If you buy an extra firm or extra soft memory foam mattress, it may cause your body aches, joint pain, and back pain. The medium-firm memory foam mattresses are fit for all sleeping styles and provide optimum back support. Most people buy too soft memory foam mattresses for more comfort but it may cause them lower back pain after sleeping a few days on it. I recommend you use a medium-range memory foam mattress that has a thick supportive foam layer. Some people ask that memory foam mattress hurts my back I think they should choose the correct mattress and maintain the right sleeping posture.
Firm Vs Supportive Mattress For Back Pain
A good nights sleep is ideal for a fruitful day tomorrow. When it comes to mattresses, the wrong selection can destroy your health and may rip you off the comfortable nights of sleep .
From so many options to choose from, which mostly range from firm to soft, it can be hard to make the right choice. You might want to consider several factors before choosing the final one.
Mostly, in a firm vs supportive mattress options, the choice depends on your personal preferences, medical condition, and body structure. A firm mattress might be ideal for some people but troubling for others. The same is the case with medium-firm or soft mattresses. It is believed that if you are suffering from back pain, it is ideal to consult a doctor before making the final choice.
Recommended Reading: What Doctor Should I See For Back Pain
Trial Period And Warranty
When shopping for any bed, especially online, its important to find out the trial period before pressing purchase. Luckily, most online mattress retailers offer generous risk-free trial periods in which you can try your bed at home for up to a full year. If you dont like it, you can send it back for a refund or exchange.
Youll also want to check out your mattress warranty. Things like manufacturing defects and premature wear should be covered for at least five or so years, but preferably 10, as thats the lifespan of many mattresses.
How To Find The Right Mattress For Your Back
There are two layers you need to consider when choosing your next mattress. The support system, and the comfort layer.
The support system
A spring or foam layer, the support system supports your weight and provides the spinal alignment you need for a restful night. A zoned support system is tuned to provide the right amount of support across your body. This allows the mattress surface to curve to your natural shape with even pressure across your body. Perfect for maintaining spinal alignment.
Support systems are rated by firmness, and we have to move past the age-old idea that extra-firm mattresses are best for solving a bad back. Choosing the right firmness for you depends on your body type. Softer mattresses are more suitable to smaller, lighter people, while people with a larger body type will feel more supported with a firmer mattress.
Choosing the correct firmness can help prevent back pain and speed up recovery.
A mattress that is too soft to support your weight will sag in the middle, distorting your spine and preventing complete recovery. Unsupportive mattresses also make you work harder to get comfortable, often leaving you feeling fatigued the next day.
A mattress that is too firm will not have enough give to support your spines natural curve. If your mattress is too firm for your body type, the zoning will be ineffective and the pressure uneven.
The comfort layer
of adults will have neck pain at some point during their lives.
Don’t Miss: Why Do I Have Chronic Lower Back Pain
What Is A Hybrid Mattress
A hybrid mattress can contain multiple layers of different materials, including memory foam, polyfoam, cooling gel, and/or latexsome hybrid mattresses even have a pillow top layer for extra cushioning on top. In addition to these layers, hybrid mattresses also contain springs for added support, durability, and breathability. The superior breathability makes a hybrid mattress great for people who tend to get hot at night. Rather than the sinkage you get with a memory foam mattress, youll feel like youre resting firmly on top of it. Hybrid mattresses also tend to offer more edge support.
Read Also: Back Pain Advil
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress
Brooklyn Bedding has amazing products that are sold at very affordable prices. This mattress is extremely high-quality and a great option for combination sleepers.
Good news: you dont have to empty your entire wallet if you want a great mattress for lower back pain. Brooklyn Bedding owns their own factory, so they can cut out the middleman and offer an excellent value for a high-quality mattress, such as the Signature Hybrid. During sales, a Queen can go for under $1,000. The Signature Hybrid model has three firmnesses: Soft, Medium, and Firm, so you can choose the amount of comfort and support thats best-suited for your lower back pain. We like the Medium version, since it offers a balanced feel ideal for back pain relief.
Read Also: Why Is My Back So Stiff And Painful
Mattress Types And Firmness
Different types of mattresses utilize different materials, which can also affect the firmness. The following are the four most common mattress styles and the firmness levels you can expect with each.
- Memory Foam Mattresses: Memory foam is available in several different firmness options. Depending on the manufacturing process, memory foam can be either soft or extra firm. When shopping for a memory foam bed, look at the type of memory foam used and the layers supporting it to determine the firmness it will provide.
- Latex Foam Mattresses: There are two types of latex foamDunlop and Talalay latex. Dunlop tends to have a firmer firm, and these beds are typically considered medium-firm. Talalay latex is generally treated with additives to give it a soft to medium feel. Both materials have a natural elasticity that offers a slight bounce.
- Hybrid Mattresses: Hybrid mattresses have a stable coil base and a foam comfort layer. The type of foam used in the top of the bed will determine the firmness you will experience.
- Innerspring Mattresses: The coil springs in the base of an innerspring bed give it a firm feel. These beds tend to have a thinner comfort layer, so they are classified as either medium-firm or firm.
Also Check: Wyoming King Bed Frame For Sale
