What Type Of Mattress Is Best For People With Low Back Pain
Back pain is one of the top reasons that people begin to lose mobility in middle age. Pain can keep people from engaging in physical activity, making it more difficult for them to maintain a healthy weight and keep up their strength, stamina, and balance as they age. So treating and managing back pain that results from injuries or health problems is crucial for staying on the path of a healthy and active life.
Considering that most people spend roughly a third of their lives lying in bed, choosing the right mattress is essential for managing low back pain. It can make the difference in whether you can sleep at night and function the next day.
In the past, doctors often recommended very firm mattresses. But one survey of 268 people with low back pain found that those who slept on very hard mattresses had the poorest sleep quality. There was no difference in sleep quality between those who used medium-firm and firm mattresses.
Soft mattresses, on the other hand, can also be problematic. While a soft mattress that conforms to your body’s natural curves may help the joints align favorably, you might also sink in so deeply that your joints twist and become painful during the night.
If you want to find out whether a firmer mattress would feel better than the one you’re currently using, try putting a plywood board under your mattress to dampen the movement from the bedsprings, or try placing your mattress on the floor.
Image: AndreyPopov/Getty Images
Consider Your Pillow If You Are Experiencing Back Pain
Back pain is a common problem that can interfere with your daily activities. While there are many potential causes of back pain, one often overlooked factor is your pillow.
If you are experiencing chronic back pain, it may be time to consider switching to a pillow that better supports your spine.
A good pillow should support your neck and head while cushioning your pressure points.
It should also be adjustable to find the perfect level of support, regardless of your sleeping position.
Its worth finding a pillow that will help you get a good nights sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and pain-free.
The Best Mattresses For Back Pain 2022
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.
Back pain can negatively affect sleep quality. Choosing a mattress to suit an individuals sleep preferences may help prevent aches and pain. The best mattress for relieving back pain will adjust to pressure points and support spinal alignment.
Approximately 80% of adults experience back pain. This can impact an individuals ability to walk, sit, work, and sleep. Research suggests that insomnia is common among people with lower back pain.
Choosing a mattress to prevent and relieve back pain can help improve sleep quality and decrease aches and pains. Read on to learn more.
Recommended Reading: What Should You Do If You Have Lower Back Pain
Find Your Perfect Supportive Mattress With Texas Mattress Makers
So, is a firm mattress better for your back? Not necessarily. Like weve said before, it all depends on you. Every sleeper has a unique set of needs and personal preferences that can be catered to with the right mattress. You can easily find a supportive mattress but still have it feel the way you want it if you have the right components in the support layer. We recommend that you visit our showroom so that we can test out different mattress types and comfort levels so that you leave with the most supportive mattress possible. If you cannot come to one of our five showrooms, then you can also chat with our experts on our website.
Texas Mattress Makers offers quality mattresses handmade right here in the state of Texas. Unlike other manufacturers, our passion lies in helping you find the perfect mattress that will last you a lifetime, not just a few years.
You can shop by either comfort level, mattress type, mattress size, or budget, or come and visit any of our convenient Houston locations today!
More Beducation by Texas Mattress Makers:
How Do I Know If My Bed Is Causing Back Pain
10 Warning Signs Your Mattress is Causing Back Pain
- Your Mornings Start with Pain. …
- You Are Tossing & Turning All Night. …
- Your Mattress Seems to be Eating You Up. …
- Your Mattress is Either Too Soft or Too Hard. …
- You Have an Aged Mattress. …
- You Keep Waking Up During the Night. …
- Comfortable Sleep Seems Just a Dream.
Also Check: What Can I Do To Relieve Upper Back Pain
Availability Of Data And Materials
Studies carried out between 2000 and 2019 have been included in the current review. Mattresses analysed in the studies examined by our research group have been classified according to the European Committee for Standardization as soft, medium-firm, extra-firm or customized to avoid supine decubitus. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Other Bedding That Can Help Back Pain
Some mattress companies also sell pillows designed to alleviate back and neck pain. People can adjust the heights of these pillows to better support their spinal alignment.
Also, if a person wants to keep their mattress but adjust its firmness, they might try a mattress topper which may be made of memory foam, wool, or latex.
In addition, some people may benefit from adjustable beds, as a change in positioning might provide better back support.
Recommended Reading: How Can I Alleviate Lower Back Pain
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.
Can You Add Padding To A Sleep Number Bed
The inside of most Sleep Number® beds is accessible by removing the zip on the cover. With this tool, they can either remove, rotate, or replace support foam inserts and rails.
Dont Let Your Sleep Number Bed Get Too Comfortable
You must be familiar with the various features and functions of a Sleep Number Bed in order to be able to purchase one. The beds ability to adapt to your individual body shape and size is one of its most significant features. Individual comfort layers are individually adjusted in this manner. The sleeping surface of a Sleep Number Bed can be rotated and/or flipped at the same time, but we recommend rotating and/or flipping the comfort layers to keep your comfort layer from sliding off. By doing so, you will be able to prevent the formation of permanent body impressions in your comfort layer from occurring in the same area on a regular basis.
Read Also: How To Deal With Back Pain And Rheumatoid Joint Pain
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 didn’t even think twice before ordering another one.
Is Your Mattress Contributing To Back Pain
Is your mattress making your existing injury worse, or is it the cause of your back pain woes in the first place? This is a very ‘chicken-and-egg’ question, but if you’re keen to find out if your bed is the culprit behind your aches and pains Dr. Brager shares some telltale signs that it might be time to replace your mattress…
“Beyond just the origin of the pain, your entire posterior chain will feel stiff and your back muscles will feel as if theyve been working out while sleeping,” she says. “You can have soreness and stiffness down the spine as well as the hips and just above the hips near your tailbone. Usually, the latter two are a telltale sign its time for a new mattress.”
Sleeping in a cool environment will reduce the amount of tossing and turning, which torques the back
Dr Allison Brager
A more obvious indicator that your mattress is creating or contributing to back pain is wear-and-tear, particularly sagging. Knowing how often you should replace your mattress will give you an idea of when it’s time to shop for something new.
Also Check: What Causes Sharp Back Pain In The Lower Back
Other Ways To Alleviate Back Pain During Sleep
In addition to finding a mattress that’s the ideal firmness for your body type, and pinpointing a sleeping position that offers the most comfort, Dr. Brager says a cool bedroom will go a long way in providing relief from back pain.
“Sleeping in a cool environment will reduce the amount of nighttime disturbances and tossing and turning, which torques the back as a result. The important thing is to have a mattress built for restorative sleep – one that provides comfort and coolness.” The best cooling mattresses offer a balance of both qualities.
Beyond finding a mattress that offers adequate support and cooling comfort, also consider the type of pillow you’re sleeping on. The best pillows for sleeping are designed to work in harmony with mattresses, providing full-body alignment and all-around comfort so you wake up feeling less stiff and sore.
What Is An Orthopaedic Mattress
An orthopaedic mattress is simply a term the industry came up with years ago to refer to a super firm spring tension or support unit in a mattress.
An orthopaedic mattress is any spring unit that uses a 1.94mm 12 gauge spring. This is the firmest gauge wire you can use in a conventional mattress spring. They are uber firm, very unforgiving and in our experience will only suit a tiny fraction of the bed buying public.
The issue with orthopaedic mattresses is that they have become known as mattresses for bad backs. These orthopaedic models are usually far from suitable for people with backache.
Recommended Reading: Can Sciatic Nerve Cause Upper Back Pain
How To Stop A Soft Mattress From Causing Back Pain
The most effective way to stop a mattress thats too soft from causing you back pain is to apply a firm/zoned mattress topper place the mattress on a compatible frame that has good support avoid sleeping on your front and instead sleep on your back or replace the mattress completely for a more suitable one.
More details below:
Dont Miss: Can You Use Box Springs With A Memory Foam Mattress
So Which Mattresses Are Better For Back Pain
To get relief from the pain, and to help the back heal and become healthy again, it is important to choose one of the following types of mattresses
- Medium-firm mattress there is still firmness to the mattress, but the density does not interfere with the spine, lower back, and other pressure points.Moreover, the mattress provides support where its needed, and comfort for other body parts. A medium-firm mattress is not too soft and not too firm, so when buying a mattress make sure to point out that you want a medium-firm density mattress.
- Latex mattress high-quality latex mattresses are known to be excellent for alleviating back pain. These mattresses also help with chronic back pain by conforming to the bodys natural curves.Latex mattresses are firm enough to provide the necessary support dor bodys pressure points while being soft enough to conform to the curves and contour of the body.
- Gel memory foam mattress this is relatively new material on the market, but it has been praised for its ability to create a great mattress.Gel memory foam mattresses are known to conform to the body perfectly and help reduce pressure from the bodys pressure points, especially the lower back and hips.Such mattresses also ensure proper spinal alignment and even though they show indentation, they still support the body and follow its natural curves and weight.
Recommendation: Need a mattress that can adjust firmness scale based on your needs? check Best Adjustable Air Mattress in 2021
Also Check: Is Back Pain A Symptom Of Breast 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.
How Sleeping Positions Affect Back Pain
Your sleeping position determines your spines neutral position. Maintaining your spines alignment as you sleep ensures you wake up pain-free in the morning.
If you arent sure of your sleeping position, think of the position you went to bed in. Then take note of the position you woke up in. If its the same position, youre either a side, back or stomach sleeper. But if you wake up in a different position the next morning, then you are a combination sleeper.
You May Like: Why Does My Back Pain Get Worse At Night
What Do You Do If Your Mattress Is Too Firm
When buying a new mattress, there is a brief adjustment period before your body is properly acclimated to your new bed. Your mattress may initially feel firmer than expected, though once youve broken it in, it will cushion your body properly. Most mattress companies offer sleep trials for this very reason, so you can get accustomed to the mattress and ensure it suits you.
However, if youve had your mattress for a while and its still too firm for your needs, consider a softer mattress topper. Firmness is based on the top comfort layers of a mattress, and by adding a soft comfort layer at the top, your body receives extra cushioning.
Can A Mattress Cause Back Pain 11 Warning Signs
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice.
Can a mattress cause back pain? If you constantly wake up with a stiff, sore back, you may wonder if your mattress is the culprit.
If your mattress is old, isnt a good match for your body, or is otherwise not ideal for supporting your favorite sleep position, it could be contributing to back pain. Lets take a look at some signs that your mattress may be a factor.
Read Also: What Shoes Are Good For Lower Back Pain
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.
Best Hybrid Mattress For Back Pain: Casper Wave Hybrid
- Mattress Type: Hybrid
- Firmness: Medium
- Trial Period for Returns: 100 nights
Who its best for: The Casper Wave Hybrid is an excellent match for all sleep positions as well as hot sleepers, according to the experts at Mattress Advisor. They gave this luxury mattress a 9 out of 10 score for both spine alignment and cooling. It performed nearly as well for pressure relief.
How it feels: The Casper Wave Hybrid feels a bit more plush than a true medium-firm bed. Testers said the memory foam layer hugs your body, while the latex foam and coil base prevents you from sinking into the bed.
Pros: This hybrid mattress uses a unique zoned support system thats softer at the shoulders with gel pods supporting your waist and lower back. Back pain sufferers receive continuous support from their shoulders to the base of their spines, so they can get comfortable no matter which sleep position they choose.
Cons: The Casper Wave Hybrid is the most expensive mattress on this list, so its not the best choice for those on a budget.
Testers who frequently switch sleep positions during the night appreciated the Wave Hybrids exceptional bounce . This makes turning from side to side to stomach a frictionless experience. The Casper Wave Hybrid comes with a 100-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty.
Keep reading to find out how lingering back pain affects your sleep and how it could be causing you to miss out on precious ZZZs.
Read Also: What Will A Doctor Prescribe For Lower Back Pain