Best Mattress For Back Pain According To Our Sleep Experts
Aches and pains disrupting your sleep? Don’t let a bad mattress ruin your rest. Here are the top recommendations for the best mattresses to combat back pain from CNET’s sleep experts.
Reviewed by:
Troy Mensen, DO
Troy Mensen is a family medicine doctor based in Chicago. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and holds a certification in family medicine from the American Board of Family Medicine. He is licensed by the State of Illinois Medical Examining Board.
McKenzie Dillon
Writer
McKenzie, a Certified Sleep Science Coach and proclaimed mattress expert, has been writing sleep content in the wellness space for over three years. After earning her certification from the Spencer Institute and dedicating hundreds of hours to sleep research, she has extensive knowledge on the topic and how to improve your quality of rest. Having more experience with lying on mattresses than most, McKenzie has reviewed over 150 beds and a variety of different sleep products including pillows, mattress toppers and sheets. McKenzie has been a guest on multiple radio shows including WGN Chicago as a sleep expert and contributed sleep advice to over 50 different websites. Before she was writing about sleep, she graduated as an English major from the University of Nevada, Reno and was covering music news for an online entertainment magazine.
Lindsay Boyers
CNET Contributor
How Do I Know If My Mattress Is Causing Back Pain
Because back pain can be caused by many things, its often difficult to pinpoint whether or not your mattress is the culprit. If your back pain is worse in the morning, thats a good sign that your mattress isnt providing proper support. You may also find yourself tossing and turning throughout the night. Additionally, if your mattress is more than seven years old, thats another clue it might be time to invest in a new one.
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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.
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Plus How To Pick The Perfect Replacement According To A Spine Surgeon
Human beings usually spend around a third of their lifetime sleeping. A good nights sleep helps restore and recuperate necessary energy, ensuring optimal performance the following day. Theres nothing quite like sinking into bed after a long day. But if youre literally sinking into your bed, your mattress could be too softand it might be a time for a new mattress, said Richard Guyer, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and co-founder of the Texas Back Institute.
Your spine has a natural S-curve, said Dr. Guyer, with the lower back curving inward and the upper back curving out: If you lay down on a very, very soft bed, the curve is not supported, and you lay like youre in a hammock. I call it the banana position. While the banana position feels oh-so-good when youre chillaxing, its not the way you want to sleep all night, said Dr. Guyer.
A Flippable Model With Two Levels Of Firmness
Layla Sleep
Type: Foam| Firmness: Soft on one side, medium-firm on the other | Delivery: Bed in a box | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime
Laylas mattress has a four layer construction, including a 4.5-inch layer of support foam thats specifically aimed at keeping your back aligned. This layer also combats the sinking feeling that you get with other memory foam mattresses, so you dont feel like youre dropping too far into the mattress when you sleep. The mattress is flippable, with both a soft and firm side . That said, back pain sufferers will likely feel the most comfortable on the firm side.
What the reviews say: Best mattress Ive ever had, begins one satisfied customer. three years old now and its been three years since I had any major back pain. And the price is one-third the price of a conventional mattress. Another adds, Great balance of comfort and support. Just firm enough, but also has a soft element.
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Your Mattress Is Too Firm Or Too Soft
Studies show that sleeping on a medium-firm mattress is the Goldilocks of beds its not too soft, its not too firm, its just right. If your mattress is too firm or too soft, youll likely feel it in your back, shoulders, or hips the next day.
If your mattress is too firm, you wont get enough cushioned support against your pressure points, and if it is too soft, it may not provide enough support to keep your spine in a healthy, neutral alignment.
Common Causes Of Lower Back Pain
Sometimes, sleepers know precisely why their back is aching. Perhaps they lifted something awkwardly and immediately felt the pain. Or maybe their physician warned them for years that their bad posture would lead to back pain. However, other times, the source of the pain can feel like a mystery. Whether you notice it or not, the lumbar spine works throughout the day. Amid all this motion, a strain can result from acute injuries like one experienced while lifting something too heavy or falling. A strain can also develop due to poor posture or repetitive movements. Your physician can help you determine the right course of action that can help heal your condition. If your condition persists despite treatment, it might be time to look into other causes of chronic lower back pain.
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The Best Mattresses For Back Pain 2022
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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.
Three Zones Of Foam Provide Ultimate Comfort
Casper
Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium-firm | Delivery: Bed in a box | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years
The Casper Original Hybrid mattress has three zones of targeted support to help align your spineand hopefully ease your back pain in the process. Softer foam around your shoulders cushions your upper body, while firmer foam under your hips, waist and lower back keep your spine in the right position. The durable foam base underneath allows for added firmness and support, so the mattress doesnt sink or sag under your weight. Its available in all-foam or hybrid options, with the former being the firmer pick, the latter having a medium-firm feel. When asked, a Casper Snooze Specialist recommended the hybrid for back pain due to its combination of support and give. That said, it also comes in an all-foam version for those who prefer it.
What the reviews say: Over the past year woke up daily with hip and back pain, recounts a reviewer. Our son and his wife have a Casper. We slept on it for two nights and I woke up with no pain! immediately went home and ordered online, figuring we had 100 days to try it out. It’s been 30 days and no amount of money could make us part with this mattress!
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Back Pain During Pregnancy
One of the common complaints during pregnancy is back pain and it is not a surprise. lower back pain during early pregnancy or even before delivery is because you will be gaining weight due to which the centre of gravity changes and your hormones are haywire and which results in aches and pains in the pelvis. But all is not last as there are various ways to ease this pain during pregnancy. Here are some of the ways to prevent it.
Follow good posture
Once the baby starts growing big in the stomach, there are changes in your centre of gravity and shifts forward. To compensate for that you tend to lean back and that strains the lower back muscles contributing to pain. To prevent this compensation you should follow a good posture by standing straight, holding the chest high, keeping the shoulders relaxed and straight, and not locking the knees. While standing used a wide stance and if you must stand for long periods, rest a foot on a step stool and take frequent breaks. While sitting, choose a chair that is ergonomic and place a small pillow for your lower back.
Use the right shoes
Wear shoes that offer proper arch support. Avoid high and flat heels and instead wear low-heeled ones.
Lift right
While it is recommended that you do not lift heavy objects, even when you are lifting a small item, squat and lift with your legs and not your back.
Sleep on the side
Include exercise
Consider back pain therapies
Lets make good health a priority. Get a Wakefit mattress today!
You Can Feel Weird Pressure Points
A mattress thats too soft in certain areas particularly in the upper comfort layers due to indents or defects can create pressure points on your body that can lead to back pain.
These pressure points can also arise if the comfort and transition layers of the mattress arent able to resist your weight, and so you crash into the support core below.
Read Also: What’s The Difference Between Back Pain And Kidney Pain
Try It Out With Our Reassuring 60 Night Comfort Guarantee
The best test of a new mattress is to sleep on it. It can take a little time to settle-in with a new mattress so when you buy directly from our website, we offer a comfort exchange that gives you 60 nights to get really comfortable before making a decision.
If you’re still not loving your new mattress within 60 nights from delivery, you can exchange it for another mattress. Learn more about our comfort guarantee here.
How The Wrong Mattress Affects Your Back
Most people who experience back pain and stiffness should look to their mattress or more specifically their mattresss firmness level.
If your back pain comes when you first wake up, but you can stretch to get rid of it within 1530 minutes, then thats a major sign that your mattress is doing more harm than good. Also, if you find yourself waking up more frequently, or tossing and turning while trying to fall asleep, then that should also be an indicator.
Its important to note that even if youre not prone to back pain, you should replace your mattress every eight years.
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Best For Pressure Relief: Bear Hybrid Mattress
Price:$1,2982,796
This medium-firm, 13-in thick mattress has a CertiPUR-US certification, Greenguard certification, and contains natural ingredients.
Besides the standard sizes, a split king version is also available.
It is a hybrid mattress containing five layers, which include:
- a hand-quilted cover
- memory foam combined with copper for antimicrobial and cooling effects
- an adaptive comfort foam that responds to sleep positions and provides pressure relief
For back sleepers, the memory foam layer raises or expands to increase support.
The company offers a 120-night trial, free shipping and returns, and a lifetime warranty.
It also provides two cloud pillows, a set of sheets, and two mattress protectors with each mattress.
Attach A Firm Mattress Topper
If your mattress is only slightly too soft, then purchasing a firm mattress topper can solve the issue.
Mattress toppers are as they sound an additional section of material that you can attach to the top of your mattress to change the firmness and feel.
However, not all firm mattress toppers feel the same.
For example, a latex foam mattress topper will typically have more pushback and bounce to it than a memory foam mattress topper.
Go for a memory foam topper if you want deeper pressure relief, but if you have back pain thats aggravated by sleeping on a surface thats too soft, then latex foam or traditional batting is likely the better option due to its more resilient feel.
You can also get mattress toppers with a zoned arrangement where the middle third is firmer than the other two thirds which can help to alleviate your back pain by providing more support around your hips and lower back.
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Signs Your Mattress Is Causing Back Pain
Dr. Jacob Hascalovici, chief medical officer of the telehealth chronic pain platform Clearing, gave us insight into the consequences of a bad mattress, and the signs to look out for.
âIf youâre frequently waking up with a crick in the neck, back pain, stiff joints, experiencing mental fogginess, and having trouble falling asleep can all be signs of a mattress that is hurting your back,â Hascalovici said. âA bad mattress can mean a bad nightâs sleep. It can also add up to more pain, both in your back and in other muscles and joints that are forced out of alignment or have to compensate for a lack of support.â
Thatâs why itâs so important to sleep on an accommodating mattress. âOver time, pain and lost sleep can lead to memory problems, lack of concentration, mood swings, lowered immunity, and even weight gain and a higher risk of heart trouble,â Hascalovici said. âGetting a good nightâs sleep is vital for multiple areas of your mind and body, so itâs worth prioritizing.â
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.
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How To Choose A Perfectly Firm Mattress Based On Your Weight
The rules are simple when it comes to your body weight, and there are only three of them.
- Lightweight sleepers should sleep on softer mattresses.
- Average weight sleepers should sleep on medium-firm mattresses.
- Overweight sleepers should sleep on firm mattresses.
Mix that in with your sleeping position and youll have yourself a perfect mattress for your back.
Why Is A Good Sleeping Setup Important
The average person spends about 8 hours a day and 33 years of their life in bed. Thats a lot of time to be uncomfortable. Think about what happens to your spine when you slouch while sitting in front of your computer. The strain of poor posture can lead to misalignment and back and neck pain.
Something similar happens when you sleep in a position thats not ideal for you. Certain positions put unnatural pressure on your spine, flattening natural curves and leading you to wake up in pain.
Furthermore, back and neck pain can make it difficult to get the sleep that you need. In turn, poor sleep qualitymakes back and neck pain worse in the following ways:
- It puts you at risk of depression, which is linked to increased back and neck pain.
There isnt an exact science to the perfect sleep position. Maintaining the natural curve of the spine and avoiding turning your head in a different direction than your body is important. But your specific type of pain will indicate the best sleeping position for you.
Anadjustable bed might help you find the optimal position for the best slumber. It may also encourage you to change the way that you sleep from night to night so that you dont wake up stiff and achy.
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Is It Better To Sleep On A Firm Or Soft Mattress For Back Pain
As we have just mentioned, if you have back pain, you should consider sleeping on a firmer mattress because your body needs more support than comfort .
Sleeping on a softer mattress will cause your hips to sag, and your spine will go out of alignment. This results in lower back pain as soon as you leave your bed.
Therefore, you need to sleep on a firmer surface for a restful nights sleep. This is especially the case if you prefer to sleep on your back or your belly. A firm mattress would be an ideal choice for you.
But if you prefer to sleep on your side, then you can consider going for a medium-firm mattress because it will provide you with the much-needed support to keep your spine aligned and will provide you with pressure relief to keep your muscles relaxed.
