If back pain is keeping you awake at night, your mattress could be to blame. A bad mattress can compound existing problems while creating new ones by not offering enough support or cushioning to maintain proper spinal alignment and joint protection during sleep.
Your selection of the ideal mattress depends on your preferred sleeping position and body size. Heavier individuals require firmer support to avoid spinal misalignment, while lighter sleepers may do fine with softer mattresses.
Medium-Firm
Mattresses have long been touted as effective remedies for back discomfort. Unfortunately, however, many don’t realize that sleeping on an inappropriate or old mattress could actually contribute to furthering back pain – particularly if they’re over 10 years old or don’t suit your body shape properly. A bad mattress could even worsen existing back issues!
Mattress firmness is of critical importance for anyone with back issues, and finding the appropriate firmness level means striking a balance between spinal support and pressure relief. Firm mattresses with minimal give are best as they help promote good posture by supporting the spine while soft ones may cause lumbar strain leading to misalignment in your spine. A medium-firm mattress provides just enough stability and support while still offering cushioned cushioning to alleviate pressure points on sleepers with back pain.
The Amerisleep AS2 mattress is an excellent option for anyone in search of a supportive mattress that can prevent spinal misalignment while offering enough support, without feeling like a brick in the morning. Featuring pocketed coil layers equipped with different zones of density to align spine and reduce stress on back while contouring memory foam layers help ease pressure points, this bed features everything needed for restful night’s rest.
If you are heavier, when choosing a mattress it is important to remember your weight when making your selection. A medium-firm mattress may feel too soft for someone weighing more, and so an accommodating mattress would likely be needed in order to prevent sinkage.
Sciatica is a common condition that makes you sensitive to certain forms of pressure, with symptoms often fluctuating day to day. Because of this, mattresses that offer an adjustable firmness setting such as Sleep Number’s m7 Smart Bed could be ideal for those experiencing this form of back discomfort.
Medium-Soft
At the core of any effective back pain relief strategy is an appropriate mattress with adequate spinal support. Over time, mattresses sag and lose their ability to support the spine properly – leading to or worsening back pain. Altering sleeping position or selecting a mattress that encourages aligned posture may help relieve or prevent this condition; but oftentimes people find the most effective way of alleviating their backache is purchasing a new one.
Memory foam mattresses do an exceptional job of evenly dispersing weight across their surface, helping avoid pressure points in hips and shoulders. However, heavier sleepers typically require a firmer mattress in order to support the natural curve of the spine in the lumbar region.
Medium-firm mattresses are the optimal choice for most back pain sufferers, providing enough support to avoid spinal misalignment but without being so firm as to cause discomfort. Hybrid mattresses may also offer benefits by combining supportive coil layers with soft comfort layers on top for increased contouring and support.
The Nolah mattress is an outstanding example of a medium-firm mattress that offers both support and comfort, at an excellent value. Conveniently shipped directly to you via mail-order, its three layers of AirFoam help prevent sinkage so your spine stays aligned throughout the night.
The WinkBed mattress is an excellent option for relieving back pain as it combines affordability with sufficient support. Featuring pocketed coils and an “LumbarLayer,” designed specifically to offer targeted lower back support. If you prefer something firmer, DreamCloud mattress provides another solid choice; made from high-grade materials and featuring a lifetime warranty!
Medium-Medium
People suffering from back pain should look for mattresses with solid support but enough cushioning to protect against pressure points in the hips and lower back, particularly. A medium-firm mattress provides the optimal balance; not too soft as to cause hip sinkage but not too firm as to compromise proper spinal alignment while sleeping.
At Mattress Reviews, we have come across numerous mattresses that meet this criteria, such as the Helix Midnight Luxe and Bear Elite Hybrid beds. Both beds combine memory foam with supportive coils for a luxurious experience while still offering solid back support and enough cushioning for those suffering from back pain.
However, several other considerations go into selecting the ideal mattress for back pain; these include sleep position, body type and personal preference. Based on these factors, your perfect mattress for back pain could vary from what we have listed here; our mattress firmness guide may be of more assistance in finding your ideal match!
Weighty people require additional cushioning and support in order to keep their spine properly aligned while sleeping, so we highly suggest checking out the Helix Plus mattress, designed with larger sleepers in mind and featuring layers of marshmallow-soft “floatfoam,” two layers of firm cooling memory foam, and high density pocket springs – providing optimal spinal alignment while sleeping. If you require even more cushioning or support, the Helix Plus can support up to 230 pounds; and additional layers of memory foam or pocket springs may be added if necessary.
