What Makes The Layla Stand Out
- The Laylas hybrid design is supportive and pressure-relieving.
- The mattress should provide excellent lumbar support for back sleepers.
- The Layla mattress is incredibly durable, shouldnt sag, and should last for a good amount of time.
The Level Sleeps defining feature is its Tri-Support system. Its a zoned construction where the center of the comfort layer is firmer than the top and bottom. Just to give readers an idea of how these zones vary in regard to firmness, the shoulder zone is close to a 5.5/10, the zone under the knees is a 7/10, and the lumbar zone is an 8/10. This makes the Level Sleep a solid mattress for dealing with back pain, as that lumbar zone provides some of the best lumbar support.
Best Mattresses For A Bad Back
For those of us in Ireland who suffer with a bad back, getting a restful night of sleep can be challenging and this is where the right mattress can help to improve quality of sleep and overall wellness.
When it comes to back pains and aches a mattress wont solve all your problems but it can certainly help to relieve the pain and offer more comfort for a better nights sleep.
There is no one-size fits all when it comes to a sleep solution for those who suffer with a bad back, however as an extension to our Mattress Buying Guide we have rounded up some of the best mattress types that can offer relief for lower and upper back pain, taking a closer look at their features and how they can help to ease discomfort.
What Else We Tested
I test a new mattress every two weeks. While I’ve tested dozens of models, I only considered 12 candidates for potential inclusion in this guide. Here are the beds we still recommend but that didn’t make the cut.
What else we recommend and why:
Under $1,100
Casper Original Mattress: The medium-firm feel of the Casper Original will appeal to a broad range of back-pain sufferers, especially hot sleepers since it has impressive heat dissipation. It was easy to set up and move around in our tests and features impressive motion isolation. However, the edge support was poor. Read our full review.
Bear Mattress: If you’re interested in checking out the cooling properties of Celliant fibers and want a firmer mattress, you might consider the medium-firm Bear Original. It’s made of CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certified foams, including a graphite gel memory foam that I found did a great job of cooling. However, it failed my motion isolation tests, and it wasn’t comfortable for side sleeping.
Under $2,000:
Puffy Lux Hybrid Mattress: I slept on the Puffy Lux while recovering from a back-pain spell, and I think it did a great job of facilitating my recovery. I also like that this mattress comes with a lifetime warranty, is easy to move around, and has great motion isolation. On the downside, it had a strong initial odor that took days to dissipate, the edge support is poor, and it will be too soft for many back pain sufferers.
Over $2,000
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What Makes The Nectar Stand Out
- The Nectar should work for back and side sleepers, although combination sleepers may find it a little difficult to change positions.
- It does a great job of isolating motion, so if you sleep with a partner, you likely wont be disturbed by their movements throughout the night.
- The mattress is topped with a cooling cover and includes gel-infused memory foam to help you sleep cool.
Read our full Nectar mattress review.
What Is The Best Price For A
A mattress firmness for lower back pain is supposed to be a lifelong companion. You will enjoy faster opening times, better quality, and a better view by paying more for your product. It would cost between $$$ and $$$ for a new mattress firmness for lower back pain. The only downside is that you wouldnât have some luxury features.
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Logan And Cove Mattress
The Logan and Cove mattress has everything going for it. Its a hybrid mattress, so it offers superior zoned support for problem areas. On top of this, the soft pillow-top layer cushions pressure points and provides full-body comfort. Though this mattress has two firmness options, the firmest may still be too soft for some.
This mattress features layers of pillow-top fill, cooling foam, and bio-foam to create a cushioned top layer. Underneath, zoned and pocketed coils deliver reduced motion transfer and targeted support. You can purchase the Logan and Cove mattress in two different firmnesses: medium plush, which is about a 4 on the firmness scale , or luxury firm, which is about a 6 on the firmness scale .
The layers of foam in this mattress offer comfortable contouring that reduces pressure points and helps your entire body stay aligned. Its great for all sleeping positions, but the cradling support is particularly great for those who suffer from back pain. If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night due to your partners tossing and turning, this mattress can help. Motion isolation coils and foam layers help keep your side of the bed still while your partner moves around.
Another great feature of the Logan and Cove mattress is the edge support. The coil layer features a perimeter of dense foam to keep the edges from dipping. If you sleep near the edge, you wont feel like youre falling or sinking. Sitting on the edge of the bed is easier, too.
Best Mattress Firmness For Back Pain
For many people, a medium-firm mattress is the best choice for reducing back pain.
One small study tracked the sleep quality of adults with lower back pain. After tracking the participants sleep quality for 21 days on their own mattresses, they were given medium-firm mattresses with foam and latex layers. After 12 weeks, the participants had progressively less back pain and stiffness.
Your mattress firmness may not be right for you if lying on it causes your spine to become misaligned. Look at it this way:
- Your mattress is too soft if your hips sink lower than your shoulders.
- Your mattress is too firm if your hips and shoulders lie flat on the surface.
- Your mattress is just right if your mattress contours to your body shape and keeps your spine aligned.
Looking for a mattress thats just right? We have thoughtfully designed mattresses at every price point, so you can say sayonara to nighttime back pain without breaking the bank.
- Casper Element® Mattress: A seriously comfortable sleep at our coziest price
- Casper OriginalTM Mattress: Our most popular mattress, engineered for cool, comfortable sleep
- Casper Nova® Hybrid Mattress: Our most plush mattress is also supremely supportive
- Casper WaveTM Hybrid Mattress: Our most supportive mattress, now combining foam and springs for added lift, airflow, and edge support
Also Check: Mayo Clinic Low Back Pain Exercises
Nectar Mattress: The Mattress With A Year
Price: From £469 | Buy now from Nectar
Whether you have a bad back or not, its difficult to know whether a mattress is the right one for you until youve had a good chance to test it out. Thankfully, you can do that with the Nectar mattress for up to 365 nights and still receive a full refund if theres anything you dont like. In other words, it comes with a year-long risk-free trial.
So, how is it to sleep on? We found it very supportive without ever feeling too hard, as can be the case with some orthopaedic mattresses. Its definitely firmer than all-foam rival Casper , despite softening a little as it warms up, which isnt unusual for memory-foam models. As you might expect, theres a bit of a premium for choosing a mattress with such an impressive returns policy, but if you get your timing right, its possible to save as much as £250 on the asking price and get a couple of free pillows thrown in.
Key specs Type: Three-layer Sizes: Single to super-king Trial: 365-night money-back guarantee
Nectar: Save 40% and get two free pillows
Price: From £599 | Buy now from Brook and Wilde
Most bed-in-a-box mattresses are one-size-fits-all in the sense that you cant choose the level of firmness. Not so with Brook and Wilde. Its Lux mattress comes in soft, medium and firm varieties, which is ideal if you know which level of support you need for your bad back.
Key specs Type: Five layer Sizes: Single to super-king Trial: 100-night money-back guarantee
How Can I Buy The Best Firmness For Back Pain That Will Give Me The Most Benefit
When buying products under $500, $200, $100… you want the best quality and the most value for your money. To find this product, you must first identify what type of product you are looking for.
Once that is done, then determine your budget and how much time you have to look.
Each product has a variety of features or benefits that make it stand out from others. Make a list of all the essential characteristics or benefits to YOU in a particular product category.
Once this is done, take notes on which brands offer those features and benefit at different prices. Do research online about each brand’s reliability based on customer reviews.
Lastly, narrow down your choices by considering any additional factors such as warranty information or customer service.
1. Check the product’s brand when shopping online or in-store
1.1. When you are in the store, look at the product’s label and make sure it is a reputable brand
First, it is essential to check the brand of the product you are buying in-store. With so many stores carrying the same brands, it’s easy to get confused and buy a knockoff or imitation without realizing it. For example, if you want an Adidas sneaker but all they have in your size is a fake one, don’t be fooled! It will feel different when worn because of its inferior quality. The sole may even peel off after only one wear!
1.2. Check the brand of the product when shopping online
Have you ever bought something on Amazon only to find that your item is counterfeit?
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Airbed Mattresses That Use Adjustable Air
Pros:Pressure can be adjusted throughout the mattressBed-sharing partners can have the kind of firmness they each want
Cons:In cheaper airbeds, with fewer air chambers, a big air bubble can pop up when someone sits or lays down on the other side of the bedCan be expensive
In addition to mattress type, another factor to which back pain sufferers need to pay attention is the frequency of replacing the mattress. Watch for signs of age such as sagging and how long, it takes for the mattress to recover from body impressions. The conventional advice is to replace the mattress every eight years. However, chronic back pain sufferers might need to replace their mattresses more frequently.
Best Affordable Mattress For Back Pain: Nectar
Nectar
Luckily for mattress shoppers on a budget, a supportive mattress doesnt have to cost a fortune. The Nectar mattress offers excellent pressure reliefan essential for back pain suffererswithout an outrageous price tag. A unique layer of gel memory foam dissipates tension on pressure points, while the top layer contours to your bodys curves, providing a comforting cushion effect.
Of course, its not the perfect mattress for every sleeper. Because the Nectar mattress is all-foam, it hugs the body in a way some find uncomfortable. If you prefer to sleep on your bed rather than in it, we recommend hybrid or innerspring options, like the Saatva Classic or Layla Hybrid. Also, note that while the Nectar scored high in the pressure relief category, our testers found that it lacked in spinal alignment, with a 7.5 of 10. Fortunately, you dont have to cross your fingers that your bed will work for your back pain Nectar includes a one-year trial so you can be sure its right for you.
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Is Back Pain Caused By The Wrong Firmness Or A Bad Mattress
Before investing in a new mattress, it’s important to assess what’s wrong with your current mattress. Is it simply that it is too soft or firm and you need to find a more suitable firmness, or is the mattress actually old, worn, sagging or lumpy and these factors are the reason for your back pain?
Mattresses that start out feeling firm gradually lose their tension as time goes on. If your mattress is bellying out at the sides, is plagued with lumps and bumps from broken springs, or has a permanent dent in the area in which you sleep, it might be a case of an old, sagging mattress causing your back pain.
Think back to when the mattress was new – did you sleep comfortably on it? When did your back pain begin? Rather than going softer or firmer, would it make sense to buy a new mattress with a similar firmness to your old one?
Can Your Sleeping Position Affect Back Pain
The position you sleep in also plays an integral role in either mitigating or worsening back pain. Authorities like Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic emphasize the correlation between sleep position and back pain and offer tips on how to reduce pain in each position. On a scale of 1 to 10 , hereâs what to look for in a mattress depending on your regular sleeping position.
- The best mattress for side sleepers with back pain is a slightly softer bed that cushions the pressure points and has a firmness between 5.5 to 6.5.
- Back sleepers need a solid medium-firm mattress that maintains spine alignment while softly supporting the hips and should aim for a 6 to 7 on the firmness scale.
- Stomach sleepers need a slightly firmer mattress in the 6.5 to 7.5 range that keeps their hips elevated for a neutral spine posture.
Also Check: Is Aleve Or Ibuprofen Better For Back Pain
Have You Been To See A Doctor
Lastly, theres no better advice than making sure you go to see a medical professional if youre experiencing backaches and pains.
Its important to make sure that any chronic pain conditions or other back illnesses are correctly diagnosed. Choosing the correct mattress is only part of the solution when sleeping with a bad back, so always seek medical help too.
A Mattress With A Blend Of Sink
Materials: Memory foam, support foam, wrapped coils
Firmness level: Medium-firm
Trial period: 365 nights
Torn between a cozy, plush feel and spine-aligning firmness? The DreamCloud Premier iswellyour dream come true. This hybrid mattress is designed with six layers of foams and coils for a harmonious blend of sink-in comfort and structured support. Beginning with its soft cashmere-blend cover, the next layer is high-loft memory foam, followed by more foams designed to contour, cradle and alleviate pressure points. The bottom of the mattress consists of individually wrapped coils to provide a solid base, promote airflow and eliminate motion transfer.
Memorial Day sale: In honor of the holiday, DreamCloud is offering $200 your mattress purchase and $499 worth of free accessories.
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Memory Foam And Latex
The most commonly recommended beds for back pain are memory foam and latex. Memory foam mattresses and their natural alternative, latex mattresses, both offer strong support and contouring. They hug the body and cradle all your natural curves, supporting pressure points like shoulders and hips while relieving pressure for reduced pain. Memory foam and latex also help keep your spine aligned while sleeping, which further reduces stress on the back and lowers pain in all areas.
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Stretch Your Hamstrings Twice Daily
One typically neglected contributor to lower back pain is limited hamstrings. If your hamstring muscular tissues situated in the back of your upper legs are also tight hamstrings your reduced back and also sacroiliac joints will certainly be stressed out, resulting in even more pain. Hindering extending should be done carefully and at least twice daily for 15-30 seconds each time.
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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.
What Else Should You Consider
Once youve decided on a mattress type, there are just a few more things for you to consider.
Pillows for Back PainYou know the saying, it takes two to tango? Both your mattress and your pillow play a role in reducing back pain. Youll want to choose a different pillow based on your sleeping position to reduce stress on your spine and keep your neck properly aligned:
Back sleepers should tuck a small pillow underneath their knees to allow the lower back to curve naturally and comfortably. For the head, choose a pillow of medium height and firmness to keep your neck and spine aligned. If snoring is an issue, prop your torso up using a few firm pillows.
Side sleepers should tuck a pillow between their knees to relieve stress on their hips. For the head, opt for a firm or extra firm pillow around 4 inches in height to keep your spine straight from neck to hips.
Stomach sleepers should tuck a small, flat pillow beneath their stomach and pelvic area to prevent the spine from sinking. For the head, a thin pillow is best because it keeps your neck flat and in alignment with the rest of your body.
Adjustable BedsIf lying in a recliner feels more restful than lying straight on your back, you may want to consider an adjustable bed.
However, they can be quite expensive and many couples find the design to be awkward.
We recommend planning to spend between $800-$1,000 on a mattress you plan on using full-time.
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