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What Kind Of Mattress Do I Need For Back Pain

How A Mattress Can Contribute To A Bad Back

Choosing a Mattress for Back Pain

If your mattress is old, its ability to support your body comfortably will deteriorate over time, with pocket springs losing their strength and memory foam or latex layers losing their ability to spring back into shape when youve gotten out of bed.

Without these supports in place, your body may not be evenly supported, leading to a change in your spinal alignment, which can result in a bad back. In order to ensure sufficient support and pressure relief, its recommended that you replace your mattress every 7-8 years.

A Luxury Model Thats Worth Every Penny

tempurpedic.com

  • Sizes: Twin, Twin Long, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King and Split California King
  • Trial period: 90 nights

Filled with special Tempur-Material that was originally developed by NASA, this luxury mattress provides advanced pressure relieving power thats ideal for those with back pain. Responding to your weight, shape and temperature, this adaptive mattress conforms to your body even if you shift positions throughout the night. The proprietary material also absorbs motion better than other memory foam mattresses so if you sleep with a partner, you wont get jostled awake if they toss and turn in the middle of the night.

Does My Pillow Matter

While a better mattress certainly can help with back pain and proper spinal alignment, it isnt the only factor. When paired with the proper pillow, the duo could help reduce back pain and contribute to a healthier sleep experience by properly elevating the neck and shoulders for better support.

Read More:Our Best Pillows Guide

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Option : Pearl Memory Foam 1200 Mattress

In a memory foam mattress, the material reacts to pressure and heat, changing shape to fit the sleepers body and remembering or holding it creating the hug effect which many customers appreciate.

Memory foam mattresses are believed to offer relief from back pain thanks to the contouring properties which allow the material to fit around your body, providing firm support to the natural curvature of your spine and easing pressure points and aching joints. We believe that the Pearl Memory Foam 1200 is the best memory foam mattress for a bad back.

Why is the Pearl Memory Foam 1200 mattress good for a bad back?

  • Support keeps spine in neutral alignment
  • Memory foam provides excellent lumbar support for lower back pain relief
  • Relieves pressure points on back, hips and joints
  • Available in different levels of firmness

Using A Firm Mattress

Do I Need A Mattress Topper? [The Complete Guide]

A firm mattress is good for your back. If your current mattress is rather soft, you may want to try a firmer mattress instead. Perhaps its too soft or sagging, thus creating an uneven surface whilst lying down.

If youre concerned about the firmness of the mattress, its possible to find one that has medium-firm or even firm support. But dont worry too much about finding something super hard as it is usually not preferred by most people anyway.

Proper Spinal Alignment

If you have lower back issues, the correct support is essential. The right mattress should provide good spinal support and keep your spine in natural alignment, no matter the sleep position.

Firm mattresses provide more support to your spine, especially when you sleep on your side or back. They can relieve pain in both your hips and shoulders because they keep the spine aligned properly. When you sleep on your side, a firm mattress will not bend or collapse under your weight. This helps reduce the pressure points around the hips and shoulders which may otherwise leave you with numbness in your hands or feet.

If you have pain around the shoulders that doesnt seem to be going away, perhaps try one of these top-rated mattresses for shoulder pain based on our expert recommendations.

Better Sleep Quality

Sleeping Positions

Mattress Type

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Other Mattress Performance Considerations

Your specific sleeping needs can also guide you to other important features.

If you sleep with a partner, look for mattresses with good motion isolation. Foam and hybrids with pocketed coils tend to reduce motion transfer best.

Edge support is also important for couples, since you dont want a rude awakening when you find yourself pushed toward the edge of the bed.

Is A Memory Foam Mattress Good For A Bad Back

This is a hotly debated question and it really depends on how well you get on with the properties of man-made synthetic memory foam in bed.

Memory foam really polarises opinions with people either loving or hating it given its heat retention issues.

Memory foam has the following properties which can aggravate people who have a bad back or backache:

  • Memory foam holds you in one position during the night
  • Memory foam is slow to respond so it can be painful/difficult to turn with a bad back
  • Memory foams very heat retentive which can lead to further discomfort in bed
  • Memory foam mattresses dont offer tailored support based on your bodyweight like a pocket spring mattress

We advise that a memory foam mattress topper on top of a sprung mattress is a better option as this allows the mattress to be tailored to your bodyweight. It also helps the mattress to respond quickly to your movements during the night.

For most people a memory foam mattress is not the best choice if you have a bad back or back pain.

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The Best Mattresses For Back And Neck Pain 2021

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Sleep quality can affect most aspects of an individuals life, both physically and emotionally. Millions of people experience difficulty sleeping, and neck and back pain is a common cause. Individuals could help reduce back and neck pain by choosing a suitable mattress that provides adequate support.

of adults will have neck pain at some point during their lives.

Final Word From Sleepopolis

Best Mattress For Back Pain Guide (What Type Of Bed Is Right For You?)

At the end of the day, a new mattress isnt going to solve your back pain woes any more than a strict diet will. More than anything, its about a lifestyle shift in which you combine these different factors to create a plan specific to your needs.

Maybe your ideal routine will involve a healthy amount of fatty fish, long morning walks, and a bed featuring Zoned Support at the hips. For another sleeper, it may entail vigorous spin classes, more greens, and a plush memory foam mattress for pressure relief at the upper back.

As always, any major life decisions should be made in consultation with a medical professional. The information provided in this guide is just that: Information. Were not doctors, nor do we claim to be, so I highly encourage those with chronic pain to seek professional advice for any and all serious health issues.

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What’s Better For Your Back Firm Or Soft Mattress

Medium-firm mattresses seem to be the best option for avoiding back pain. They provide enough firmness to support the body’s weight and maintain proper spine alignment. Plus, they have enough give to cradle the natural contours of the body to prevent tension in the hips.

But here’s where it gets a little more complicated. Our body weight and sleeping positions also play a role in choosing the right mattress firmness. People who are heavier tend to find firmer mattresses more comfortable on the back as the mattress can better support and distribute their weight. Lighter people often find firm mattresses too hard on their joints and prefer to sink into a softer mattress.

People who sleep on their side tend to prefer softer mattresses which are gentler on the hip, knee and elbow joints than firm mattresses. Back and stomach sleepers tend to fare better with the stability of a firm mattress. It’s important to weight up all of these factors when deciding what’s better for your back firm or soft is only one part of the equation.

Best Mattress For Back Pain Canada

Millions of people have back pain. As a result, people often wonder what is the best mattress for back pain in Canada?

Back pain is very common in people around the world and acute back pain can be caused by a lot of different things, such as standing on hard surfaces for too long, sitting with bad posture, lifting heavy objects, and of course, sleeping on a bad mattress. These are all things that with a little effort you can fix easily. A good mattress is key to a good nights sleep and a healthy back.

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Why A Great Bed Is Important

Your choice of a good mattress can have a significant impact on your aching. Arthritis sufferers need a great and appropriate mattress more than regular people as it can directly impact their actual condition. This is something that you ought to take into proper consideration.

Keep in mind that you spend an approximation of one-third of your life sleeping. Your rest is absolutely critical if you are to combat this particular condition, as well as many others, and it is a vital component for your entire well-being. Taking your time to find a quality mattress might definitely be worth it.

If you are elderly and you struggle with arthritis, regardless of which type of it, all of the above is particularly true. As an arthritis sufferer, you need to make sure that your bed conforms to your body type in a beneficial manner.

This is something very important: Your mattress should relieve the pressure on important body parts such as hips and shoulders, neck, thighs, lower back and much more. These are also the most common points which cause arthritis and joint pain.

Want to learn more? Check out our complete Mattress Buying Guide.

Which Type Of Mattress Is Best

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers

The best type of mattress depends entirely on one factor: you. If you prefer close body-conforming for spinal support and pressure relief, an all-foam or latex mattress is right up your alley. Would you rather sleep on a supportive, responsive bed that won’t absorb too much body heat? You’re a great candidate for an innerspring or hybrid model. For people who like to experience different firmness levels on a night-to-night basis, an airbed may be the most comfortable option.

The bottom line: use your personal needs and preferences as a guide when browsing different mattress brands and models. To get you started, let’s take a closer look at the most common types of beds available today. These include all-foam, latex, hybrid, innerspring, airbed, pillow-top, and organic models, as well as less common types such as waterbeds and air mattresses. Read our detailed descriptions and lists of pros and cons for each category below to determine what type of mattress is best for you.

Average Price
  • Minimal pressure relief and motion isolation
  • Coils may be loud and disruptive

Innersprings also known as coil mattresses were first developed in the 19th century and are still widely used. According to recent data, the innerspring is the most popular mattress type among sleepers across all age groups.

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What Firmness Should You Look For In A Mattress If You Have Back Pain

The ideal firmness for those with back pain will depend on both weight and sleeping position. Individuals under 130 pounds generally prefer softer sleep surfaces ranging from soft to medium firmness, depending on sleep position. Meanwhile sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds should generally look for a medium-soft to medium-firm mattress, and those above 230 pounds fare better with beds in the medium-firm to firm range.

Marshall Coil Or Pocketed Coil Mattress

These are also occasionally referred to as wrapped coils or encased coils. Regardless of what we call them, they are very similar to traditional innerspring but their differences deem them worthy of a category specifically for them alone. The two main differences are: the coils are not wired together allowing them to work independent of one another, and they are wrapped separately in fabric pockets or encasements.

Independent, insulated coils allow for improved motion isolation as well as added support. Motion transfer is muted compared to a traditional innerspring mattress because the coils are not connected. This makes them a great option for couples.

When exploring your options, remember that a higher number of coils in the mattress denotes better quality and higher levels of comfort overall. Also, the coil gauge denotes the level of firmness. A thicker coil gauge will produce a firmer mattress which is often more durable. Inversely, a thinner coil gauge will provide a softer mattress.

Is a pocketed coil mattress right for you?

It is not the right option for everyone but you need to consider the following to determine whether or not it is the right option for you specifically:

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Brook + Wilde The Elite Mattress

Sizes: Single, double, king, super king

Depth: 28cm

Boasting support at the neck, shoulder, hip and leg, Brook + Wildes wave technology ensures exactly the right level of pressure distribution to keep our spines nice and straight as we slumber whether thats on our back, front or side. One of the exciting new breed of mattress-in-a-box products, this ones on the more expensive side but well worth the investment. The elite model combines layers of pocket springs with memory foam, giving us the best of both worlds. A nifty design feature is the mattresss removable and washable top cover great for the occasional but inevitable coffee spill.

For a dreamy nights sleep, pair your new mattress with the best pillows that are suitable for every sleeping position

IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.

We Recommend: Sanctuary 1200 Orthopaedic Mattress

BEST Mattress for Back Pain According to Science Giveaway!

It has long been thought that orthopaedic mattresses are the best solution for a bad back as they are specifically designed to support the joints, back and overall body.

Orthopaedic mattresses are very much on the firmer side of the scale, these mattresses aim to ease the discomfort experienced by those who suffer from a bad back or aching joints by providing a firm, but comfortable mattress which provides targeted support. Based on this we believe the best mattress for those with a bad back is the Sanctuary 1200 Orthopaedic Mattress.

  • Price Range: 169 – 359
  • Mattress Type: Pocket Sprung Orthopaedic
  • Sizes: Single, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King Size
  • Firmness: Medium

Why is an orthopaedic mattress best for back pain?

    • Very firm
    • Designed to spread your body weight
    • Firm base offers maximum support, alleviating pressure on the spine and relieving pressure points
    • Ideal for heavier individuals

We believe an orthopaedic mattress is the best mattress type for the majority of those who suffer from back pain.

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Try Changing Up Your Sleeping Position

Changing your sleeping position is one way to try to get back pain relief.

If you are a back or stomach sleeper with a soft mattress and you dont have the budget for a new bed, you can try to switch to a side sleeping position that will receive more support from your existing mattress. In general, experts recommend that stomach sleepers try to adjust to side or back sleeping because its easier to get appropriate support in those positions.

For people with acute pain, temporary changes to your sleeping position may help to reduce stress on already sore or achy parts of your back. For example, people with lumbar pain might try a period of side sleeping to avoid the excess bending of that area that can happen on your stomach or back.

While changing sleeping positions is worth a shot, its often not a long-term solution because the change can be hard to stick with. Some people just cant get comfortable in a different position or they may quickly revert back to their old sleeping position during the night. In these cases, other approaches are more likely to be beneficial over the medium- to long-term.

There Is No Perfect Bed

There is no best mattress. It probably varies enormously as to what you are used to, said Dr. Steven H. Feinsilver, director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Humans spend about one-third of their lives sleeping, but we still havent figured out what an ideal mattress should feel like. Thats because there likely isnt a single type that would be perfect for everyone.

In the past, doctors have recommended hard mattresses, but more recent surveys and studies have increasingly pointed toward medium firm mattresses as the best for sleep comfort, quality, and spinal alignment.

One report from 2011 found that when individuals were given seven beds of different firmness to try for a month, there was no consensus about which was the best.

Unfortunately, terms like hard and medium firm tend to come with varying degrees of subjectivity, meaning one companys medium firm mattress may feel nothing like another companys.

Its fairly remarkable that there is not any consistency in the literature where people have looked at it and said this is the kind of bed you need, said Feinsilver.

Products like the Sleep Number Bed, which allow for complete control and variability of bed firmness highlight just how subjective the ideal sleeping surface should feel. In some models, two people can sleep on the same bed with each half tuned to each individuals own specifications.

Not as much as youd think.

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