Look At Bed Platforms And Bases
The base or platform that your mattress sits on is key to maintaining a supportive bedding systemand thus warding off back pain. Some sleepers like using an adjustable base with their mattress, which gives them the freedom to raise or lower their upper and lower body to their liking. Adjustable bases can also aid in relieving back pain, as long as you switch them to the right settings based on your sleep position.
For example, back sleepers should slightly raise their torso and legs, which can help take pressure off of the lower back. Side sleepers can put their back and legs into a fetal position by pressing the incline, so that their knees are at a 90 degree angle, allowing their upper body to curl into them. This maneuver relieves the lower back by releasing pressure. Stomach sleepers, however, are not advised to use an adjustable base. Itâs already an unhealthy position to begin with, and raising or lowering either your upper or lower body in this position can put more strain on your neck and your lower back.
Should you choose to forgo an adjustable base, make sure the base you already have or choose to buy matches well with your mattress. Most mattress brands list specific parameters for the type of base that works best. By adhering to these specifications, you can help your mattress avoid premature sagging and stay in top-notch condition.
Best Adjustable Mattress For Back Pain: Sleep Number 360 I8
Sleep Number states that this adjustable mattress may suit back and stomach sleepers. The mattress is split down the middle. Users can adjust comfort and firmness on each side separately.
An adjustable mattress may suit people with back pain as they can adapt the firmness and position to their needs.
The mattress features responsive Air technology that automatically adjusts according to a persons movements. The contouring surface also conforms to the individual to provide more support.
Sleep Number claims that this mattress can absorb and release excess heat to keep users cool throughout the night.
The mattress has a height of 12 inches .
The price depends on the mattress size chosen, as follows:
- Twin XL: $3,349
How We Rated Mattresses For Back Pain
4.8 to 5 stars: These are the best mattresses for back pain we reviewed. We recommend them without reservation.
4.5 to 4.7 stars: These mattresses for back pain are excellentthey might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them.
4.0 to 4.5 stars: We think these are great mattresses for back pain, but others are better.
3.5 to 3.9 stars: These mattresses for back pain are just average.
3.4 and below: We don’t recommend mattresses for back pain with this rating you won’t find any on our list.
Verywell Health / Sage McHugh
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What Mattresses Are Not Good For Back Pain
Anything that doesn’t offer the proper level of comfort and support. If you feel the mattress sagging or think you might be sinking in too much, then it probably isn’t going to help your back pain. While you want it soft enough to feel comfortable and pressure-relieving, you also want to feel a slight lift.
Choosing The Best Mattress For Lower Back Pain
Sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause or worsen lower back pain. Lack of support from a mattress reinforces poor sleeping posture, strains muscles and does not help keep the spine in alignment, all of which contribute to low back pain.
Sleep comfort is also sacrificed if a mattress does not match one’s individual preferences. A mattress that provides both comfort and back support helps reduce low back pain, allowing the structures in the spine to really rest and rejuvenate during the night.
See Mattresses and Sleep Positions for Each Back Pain Diagnosis
With the vast variety of mattresses on the market, choosing the right mattress can be difficult. The following practical guidelines are designed to help patients with low back pain choose the best mattress for both back support and sleep comfort:
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What Is A Latex Mattress
A latex mattress is a good alternative to an innerspring mattress for people with back pain. Latex mattresses are made of natural rubber. A material that conforms to your body’s contours and provides support for your spine.
They also come in a variety of firmness levels, so you can find one that is best suited for your needs. Latex mattresses are durable and last longer than other types of mattresses. They are also hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.
When choosing a latex mattress, look for one with at least one layer of natural Dunlop latex. This material is firmer than Talalay latex and provides more support than synthetic latex.
Mattress Recommendations For Heavyweight Sleepers
Its always important to consider ones size and weight when searching for a mattress customers want to make sure that their new mattress will properly support heavier weights.
This is even more important when discussing mattresses for back pain, as larger people require even more support under their lumbar area so that they dont get out of alignment. Out of these 10 mattresses, three really stand out among the rest for heavier sleepers.
- Helix: Although we recommended the Helix Midnight Luxe, heavier sleepers should seek out the Helix Plus, the brands bed designed specifically with larger people in mind. It has that medium firmness that those with back pain should be searching for, but is also incredibly supportive and offers the necessary lumbar support.
- Saatva: This is also a fantastic match because it features a nice balance of comfort and support. Heavier back sleepers should receive excellent lumbar support, with the mattress conforming to the curves of their body. As for heavier side sleepers, their hips should sink in the right amount, and the memory foam should press up to fill in their gaps and keep the spine in proper neutral alignment.
- WinkBed: With its supportive coils and plush top, heavier people should also find the WinkBed to be a good fit. Specifically, they should consider the WinkBed Plus, which has high-density Body Impression-Proof foam and even more support in its coils.
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How Can Sleep Help Chronic Pain
Now that weve gone over my picks, I want to take a second to talk about the purpose of this guide. While it may seem like the focus is on finding a mattress thatll make falling asleep with pain easier, its actually about finding the bed thats going to help you use sleep to actively deal with said pain.
Sleep is very important for restoring balance to the nervous system and improving coping strategies for pain, Dr. Poorbaugh told me during our chat . Normally, our central nervous system is downplaying or ignoring stimuli from multiple sources simply because the information is not important. A person with chronic pain, however, loses this important dampening ability, so many activities that were once well-tolerated now become pain-provoking.
Dr. Poorbaugh went on to cite a recent study, which showed that poor sleep patterns were directly related to higher rates of pain, poor mood, increased pain-catastrophizing, and overall reduced physical function.
So what can be done? In order to get the kind of sleep you need to help deal with your chronic pain, consider the following when choosing the right mattress to deal with pain.
How Does Sleeping Position Affect Joint Pain
As with any condition that causes pain or discomfort, arthritis could make it harder to get restful, quality sleep. Aches and pains may make it harder to fall asleep or could lead to tossing and turning during the night. The position someone uses could either reduce or contribute to pain. Depending on an individuals pains, they may prefer any sleep position. However, most experts usually recommend back or side sleeping. If you continue to experience arthritis and/or joint pain that interrupts your sleep, we recommend talking to your doctor.
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How Can I Help My Si Joint While Sleeping
Whats the best sleeping position for SI joint pain? When lying down, pillows can be used to support your hips and pelvic area in an ideal alignment, which can alleviate SI joint pain. If youre going to sleep on your stomach, make sure to place a pillow under the lower abdomen. If youre side sleeping, have a lengthwise pillow between your knees and ankles.
Eight Sleep The Pod Pro
- Height: 12 inches
This mattress boasts four layers of high-density foam to provide cushioning and support. While it can be comfortable for back sleepers with back pain, some side or stomach sleepers may find it too soft. Since its not as firm as other options, it may be too soft for some.
A high-tech option, this smart mattress offers temperature regulation and sleep tracking. Small tubes filled with water are concealed in the removable knit mattress cover.
Dual controls allow you to heat or cool the water, setting the temperature on each side of the bed. Sensors can adjust the temperature levels as your body temperature changes during the night.
The mattress also tracks your sleep phases, heart rate, and pulse. You can also get a regular analysis of your sleep data and trends. It requires a Wi-Fi connection.
Eight Sleep offers a 100-night trial period, free shipping, and free returns. Theres a 10-year warranty on the mattress and a 1-year warranty on the technology and temperature mechanism.
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Can Pocket Sprung Mattresses Or Open Coil Mattresses Help With Back Pain
There are 3 main types of springs:
- Open Coil Springs: individual coil springs joined together, typically around 300 springs
- Continuous Springs: typically around 750 springs, spreads weight and offers improved pressure relief and support
- Pocketed Springs: individual springs, encased in individual pockets, offer independent support for each sleeper, reduced roll-together. Typically higher spring counts providing higher levels of comfort and support.
- Double layer of pocket springs : ideal for different weight sleepers, where a lighter weight sleeper will be supported by the first layer of springs and a heavier weight sleeper will have increased support from both layers of springs
There is a very simple logic that the more springs there are in a mattress, the more comfort and support your body will experience. By putting more springs into a mattress, finer wire can be used, which will adapt better to the body contours for improved spinal alignment. Additionally each individual spring will be supporting less weight and its therefore likely that your mattress will last longer too.
Both pocket sprung and open coil mattresses are good options for bad backs. Pocket sprung mattresses create support with less movement of the mattress overall, while open coil mattresses can create an even surface to relieve pressure where its most needed.
How Do I Know If My Mattress Is Causing Me Back Pain
The most important thing to figure out is whether or not your mattress is supporting you in your preferred sleeping position. A lack of support can lead to misalignment of the spine, resulting in lower back pain. So, side sleepers need to make sure theyve got space to sink in at the shoulders, back and stomach sleepers need extra lift at the hips, and combo sleepers need a buoyant bed thatll support ease of motion. If your bed doesnt satisfy these needs, it may cause back pain.
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How Lying Down Feels
The Purple Hybrid Premier 4 uses a grid-patterned design to provide sleepers with a springy feeling, back support, and promote a more even weight distribution. An even weight distribution has been shown to have a positive impact on spinal position.
Because it has the thickest comfort layer of all Purple mattresses, the Hybrid Premier 4 tends to be considered as the softest option. Its been described as promoting a weightless feel, leaving sleepers to drift off to sleep with the impression that theyre lying on a cloud.
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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Best Mattress For Arthritis In Shoulders
There is no definitive answer to this question as everyones needs vary. Some people find that memory foam mattresses work well for them, while others prefer a firmer mattress. Some people find that a mattress with a pillow top is more comfortable, while others find that a mattress with a firmer surface works better. Ultimately, it is important to find a mattress that is comfortable and provides the necessary support to reduce pain and stiffness in the shoulders.
The WinkBeds surface is well-cushioned and provides comfortable sitting, keeping your body in an even plane. The support core is made up of a pocketed coil system zoned for enhanced support in the lumbar region while providing less support to lighter parts of the body. The WinkBed is designed for any weight range and position. Side sleepers prefer medium soft or medium firm foam mattresses in terms of their cushioned surface. Back mattresses with medium firm and firm firm characteristics are preferred by backs. The most effective stomach pillow was one that weighed up to 230 pounds, according to the company and luxury firm. Cashmere is woven into the cover of the mattress as a cooling and moisture-wicking material.
Why You Should Trust Us
The Sleep Advisor team reviews each mattress in person so we have a genuine understanding of how the mattress feels and performs. To begin, we unbox the mattress and place it onto a bedframe. We first asses the cover, looking for features like cooling, softness, and cushioning. The next step is to evaluate how the bed performs under pressure, first by applying pressure with our hands and then in each sleep position. Lying in different positions lets us know how supportive the bed is and if its good at relieving pressure. After that, well perform a series of tests for additional features, such as bounce, motion isolation, and edge support. The final testing portion is to determine if there are any new mattress smells present, which is known as off-gassing. These smells usually go away within a day or two, but its helpful to know if you can expect any right away, particularly if youre sensitive to odors. We then take all the information weve gathered to rate the bed in individual categories as well as how it stacks up overall. This gives us a thorough idea of who we would recommend this product to, helping our readers find the right mattress for their needs.
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How Else Can I Ease My Back Pain
If youre a side sleeper, its thoroughly recommended to sleep with a pillow between your knees to help the alignment of your spine. Also, regularly rotating or flipping your mattress will help it stay at its supportive best – think of it as resetting the filling.
And if youre a co-sleeper – get the biggest bed/mattress you can afford. If you have back pain, youll need to move around – the best chance you can do that without disturbing your partner is a huge bed – superking if you can. Research supports the argument that the bigger the mattress, the better the sleep.
Weve rounded up the best mattresses to buy below if you are suffering from muscle tension or pain in your back.
All the prices we have included below are for double mattresses.
What Type Of Mattress Is Best For Arthritis And Joint Pain
Hybrid, innerspring, latex, airbed, and foam mattresses are the major types of mattresses currently sold. Each mattress model may have some variations from other mattresses that use similar constructions due to differences in materials, quality, and construction techniques. However, there are some common similarities between mattresses in each category.
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Is Memory Foam Worth The Cost
Memory foam is more comfortable to use because it clings to your body. As a result, you wont need to adjust or deflate the mattress on a regular basis, making it an excellent choice for people who frequently move. Memory foam mattresses are more expensive than other types of mattresses in general. However, a higher quality memory foam may allow the difference to be justified.
What’s A Tempurpedic Mattress
Tempurpedic is a brand of mattress that claims to be the only true memory foam mattress on the market. Due to this gradual recovery, viscoelastic foam also can be described as slow recovery foam. This type of foam has revolutionized the mattress industry and was first discovered by the company Tempurpedic.
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