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Will Firm Mattress Help Back Pain

Mattress Type And Materials

Best Firm Mattress 2020 – Will More Support Ease Back Pain?

So what is the best mattress for a bad back? Mattresses can be made of many different natural and synthetic materials but some materials are better than others when it comes to providing the extra support needed to alleviate back pain.

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 amazing 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.

Innerspring

An innerspring mattress, sometimes referred to as a traditional mattress, is a bed of coils with a foam layer on top. These mattresses were the standard for around a century, but, despite improvements like pocketed coils and better motion isolation, a regular innerspring with a foam top generally doesnt offer enough support for substantial back pain relief.

Airbed

Airbeds dont offer the kind of contouring that memory foam or latex does. However, there are beds with air components that can be mechanically adjusted for more or less fill and firmness. The ability to customize your bed can be a great asset when trying to get good support for alleviating upper or lower back pain.

Hybrid

Medical News Todays Methodology

MNT chooses mattresses, sheets, pillows, and other bedding that meet the following criteria:

  • Certifications:MNT will choose products that have CertiPUR-US or other certifications. This means that the products are low in pollutants and free from heavy metals and volatile organic compounds.
  • Size: MNT chooses products that are available in various sizes.
  • Materials and fill:MNT selects products made from different materials and fills, such as memory foam and latex, to suit a range of sleep and lifestyles.
  • Budget: MNT features products to suit a wide range of budgets.
  • Firmness: MNT selects mattresses available in a range of firmness options to suit most peoples sleeping styles.
  • Sleep trials:MNT chooses companies that offer a sleep trial.
  • Shipping: Where possible, MNT will include shipping information, such as where the company delivers to and whether shipping is free.
  • Warranties and return policies: MNT will include products with warranties and clear returns policies.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

Memory Foam Mattress Topper

A memory foam mattress topper is a thick, soft layer of foam that sits on top of your existing mattress. It conforms to your body, providing support and pressure relief. Memory foam is a popular material for mattress toppers and mattresses because it contours to your body, providing support and improving alignment. Its also effective at absorbing motion, so youre less likely to be disturbed by your partners movements during the night.

A mattress topper is an area of foam that cushions the mattress. toppers typically measure one to three inches thick, so using one is almost identical to adding an extra layer of comfort. Overall, our recommendation for this product category is the Saatva Mattress Topper. The Saatva graphite toppers are the thickest of the three memory foam toppers available. When the profile of your mattress is 3 inches in length, you will notice a significant difference. In addition to relieving discomfort in the shoulders, hip, and back, the Puffy Mattress Topper cushions the spine and relieves discomfort in the lower back. The ViscoSoft Select High Density memory foam topper is more likely to be firm and provide more support than a number of other memory foam toppers on the market.

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Which Firm Mattresses Are Best

It might be time to upgrade to a firm mattress if you are struggling to get a good nights sleep and your holistic sleep aids, sheets and pillows are not working well for you. Firm mattresses are popular because of the amount of structured support that they offer. They wont significantly shift or collapse like softer mattresses do, and the support is not compromised when you toss and turn. Firm mattresses also evenly distribute your body weight.

The Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress is a top pick for its ultra-premium memory foam, eco-friendly materials and two levels of firmness.

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Can A Mattress Cause Back Pain

The Best Mattresses for Back Pain

A mattress can definitely cause back pain because it plays such an important role in how your body is positioned through the night. Most people know that posture is important but only think about their posture in the context of standing and sitting. This can cause you to overlook the importance of having a mattress that is the proper fit for them based on their body shape, weight, and sleeping position.

If your spine and joints arent aligned and cushioned during sleep, they wont be able to relax. Instead of recovering, the body will be strained, exacerbating pre-existing back issues and sowing the seeds for new ones. The easiest way to know whether a mattress is a contributing factor to back pain is if the pain tends to be the most pronounced in the morning when you wake up. If the pain is the worst when you get out of bed and subsides during the day, we recommend taking a close look at whether your mattress is playing a part in your aches and pains.

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How To Choose The Right Kind Of Bed Mattress For Your Requirements Will Firm Mattress Help Back Pain

Selecting the right kind of mattress for your needs can be a challenging procedure. If you have neck and back pain, you might need to find a more helpful bed. A stronger cushion may be best for you if you sleep on your side.

These are just two examples of how the sort of bed mattress right for a single person may not appropriate for an additional. The trick is to identify what sort of sleeper and assistance they need prior to spending money on something that does not function well with their body.

It can be hard to know what type of bed mattress is best for your demands without professional help.

Serta Icomfort Blue Max 5000 Elite Luxury Firm Mattress Queen

Lowest Price

Product Details

Dream a little dream of good sleep when you fall asleep on the serta icomfort blue max 5000 elite luxury firm mattress, youll feel like royalty.Multiple foam layers provide a firm, deep-down supportive feel thats great for most sleepers.

Mattresses and foundations within the same brand have been tested together to comply with consumer flammability standards.

10 year

Reviews From Real Customers

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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.

Is Spinal Alignment The Most Important Factor

Best Firm Mattress For Back Pain (Which Bed Is Right For You?)

Spinal alignment is certainly important, but its not the only factor when it comes to sleeping with back pain. Pressure relief is also important for helping you reduce pain and get to sleep. However, its important to find a material that relieves pressure while still allowing movement.

If you find youre waking up stiff and sore but feel better after you get moving, you could be dealing with swelling or inflammation in the joints or muscle tissue. While this can occur in almost any type of injury, its usually a sign that the injury isnt getting motion, especially while you sleep.

When it comes to spinal injuries or misalignments, most chiropractors and physical therapists will treat the issue by aligning the spine and increasing motion to reduce inflammation and swelling. If you can move around easily when you sleep, either to reposition or rollover, your body may be able to help aid in that process.

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Effects Of Sleeping On A Soft Bed

The Hammock-effect.When the bed is too soft and sags too much, the body will follow the curves of the sagged mattress. In this case, we speak of the hammock-effect, illustrating the abnormal curve in the spine. Different researchers point out that in order to support the body, there should be no sign of the hammock-effect visible. As illustration A shows, the spine is not aligned correctly and will not relieve back pain.

Limited freedom of movement and moisture drainage. A mattress that is too soft, would contour the body too extensively. In this case, the sleeper would need to use muscles to stabilize the body in an adequate sleeping position. As continuously making use of our muscles during our sleep is next to impossible, the body will bend back into the sagged pit, causing limited freedom of movement and strain for certain muscle groups – this explains why you wake up feeling so tired and stiff in the mornings!

Discovering The Truth About Your Mattress

You may be in love with your bed, but that doesnt mean it is in love with you back. Research has discovered numerous signs which indicate that a persons bed is to blame for their back soreness, especially in the morning. Pay close attention to how you or your partner behaves throughout the night. If you have any of the following sleep-disturbing signs, it may be time to replace your mattress.

  • You wake up frequently during the night for no apparent reason.
  • You toss and turn a lot or cant get comfortable.
  • You feel increased pressure on parts of your body when laying in certain positions.
  • You feel swallowed up by your bed.
  • Your bed feels flat and unforgiving on the curves of your body.
  • Your waking back pain goes away after about 20-30 minutes.

Back pain can be caused by several things, but if your bed is to blame then it should be very easy to tell. Your back pain may not be caused by something serious. In fact, studies show that about 56% of people who sleep on a medium-to-firm mattress have less back pain in the morning than their softer-mattress-having counterparts.

In general, sleep experts advise people to get a new bed ever 8 to 10 years. It may be that your mattress has served you well for a very long time.

However, it may also be time to replace it for something better if its causing you pain.

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How We Test Mattresses For Back Pain

CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.

To test the best mattresses for back pain, we considered the beds that provide great support with ample pressure relief. Once we had a roundup of the ones that stood out the most, we carefully considered the beds with designs that are meant to help promote a neutral spinal alignment. We also looked to mattresses that have been endorsed by the people who know best at the American Chiropractic Association. For even more expertise, we consulted specialized doctors who have the necessary knowledge on the best and worst mattresses for back pain.

Read more on how we test mattresses.

Can A Mattress Topper Make A Bed Softer

The Best Mattresses for Back Pain

Image by: googleusercontent.com

Getting a mattress topper is the most common and quick way to make your firm mattress softer. Extra comfort can be provided to your mattress by placing them on the surface of your mattress. When you purchase a topper with a softer rating, it will instantly make your mattress feel more comfortable.

Saatva mattress topper is one of the toughest mattresses Ive tested, to put it lightly. With its superior cushioning, the TEMPUR-Adapt topper is the ideal side piece for side sleepers. Which mattress toppers are best for extra firm mattresses? The best choice for softens too firm mattresses is a budget-friendly mattress such as the Puffy Mattress Topper. Nolah mattress topper will provide comfort in combination with smart construction. The ghostBed topper would be ideal for those with chronic night sweats. With a mattress topper, you can change the feel of your bed while still allowing you to sleep better.

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Your Mattress Is Saggy

Unlike a sinking mattress that enfolds your whole body, a saggy mattress droops where you need support the most usually right under your lower back. Mattress sag can cause spine misalignment, which can contribute to back pain.

Select Casper mattresses include Zoned Support which is designed to ergonomically align your spine, giving extra support where you need it most.

How Do Extra Firm Mattresses Help To Cure Back Pain

When in rest or action, the spine is supposed to be properly aligned.

Unfortunately, a bed that is not firm does not ensure this, causing a misalignment during sleep. This misalignment greatly hurts the spinal cord the reaction of which is an ache when one is finally awake and conscious.

To tackle this challenge, an extra-firm mattress is recommended. When using one to sleep on at night or whenever you desire rest, the spinal cord is properly aligned and the back at full ease and completely rested The net result of this is that, when you eventually wake up, you do not feel the pressure that would have built up, if you had managed to misalign your spinal cord during the rest process.

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How To Choose The Right Dimension Of A Bed For Your House

Choosing the appropriate dimension of a bed for your residence is vital because of the layout and also aesthetic appeals as well as due to the fact that it will determine how much space you have in your room.

There are two major kinds of bed mattress: twin as well as king dimension. Twin beds are smaller than king-size beds. Will Firm Mattress Help Back Pain

Can A Firm Bed Cause Back Pain

Is a firm mattress better for back pain?

If you go to bed feeling great and wake up miserable, it’s a good sign your mattress is causing back pain. A mattress that’s too soft will cause your spine to fall out of alignment all night long, and a mattress that’s too firm will cause joint pressure in your hips that leads to pain in your lower back.

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When To See A Doctor About Lower Back Pain

If lower back pain is interfering with your ability to get a good nights sleep, and the problem is persisting, its time to see a doctor. The same is true if your lower back pain is making daily activities difficult, or if youd characterize it as severe.

Some types of back pain are associated with other symptoms, like pain that extends into other body parts, tingling or numbness, or a fever. These can be signs of nerve irritation or infection, and its important to see a doctor for more information.

If you suspect that your mattress is to blame, your doctor may be able to offer recommendations for better sleep positions to help.

If you arent able to buy a brand-new mattress, there are other things you can try to help alleviate lower back pain.

Is A Firm Mattress Better For Your Back

Texas Mattress Makers

Is a firm mattress better for your back? This is a question we hear often from a lot of sleepers who struggle with back pain. The short answer: it depends on your personal needs and there is a difference between a firm feel and a supportive mattress. In general, individuals who struggle with back pain after getting out of bed are suffering because their spine isnt getting enough support from their mattress.

Factors such as your preferred sleeping position, weight, and feel preference all contribute to the type of mattress you need. For example, depending on your weight and sleeping position, a firmer mattress might do a great job of distributing your weight evenly across the mattress OR it might create discomfort for the neck, shoulders, and pelvic, which can lead to lower back pain.

In short, sleeping on a hard bed doesnt necessarily equate to support. But dont worry. Texas Mattress Makers is here to help you find a mattress that will provide optimal support and comfort for your personal sleep needs.

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