Back pain can have a serious impact on many aspects of your life, but by choosing the right mattress for you, you can at least help yourself to get a great night's sleep. Resting comfortably is a vital part of getting better, and will help you to tackle Lower back pain, also known as lumbago, affects around two in five people at some point in their lives. It can simply be caused by strain on the muscles and joints of the back, or it may be due to a more serious problem like a slipped disc, sciatica or injuries such as whiplash. In some cases it will go away by itself within a few days or weeks, but if it lasts for longer the pain and discomfort can begin to have a serious impact on your sleep. To understand why, take a look at the three natural curves of the spine: The cervical spine at the top curves outwards to support the head. The thoracic spine in the middle curves inwards to support the upper body. Finally, the lumbar spine at the bottom curves back outwards again to support the back.
Ideally, these three curves should be maintained at all times – when you're up and about, when you're sitting down, and for the eight hours a night you ideally spend in bed. You might find that your normal sleeping position is too uncomfortable, so try different positions. Sleeping on your side, with your knees drawn up, can help to alleviate pressure on your spine. Try using a thicker pillow than you usually have if you feel like your head isn't getting enough support. If it's more comfortable to sleep on your back, try placing a pillow underneath your knees, which will help to keep your spine correctly aligned. Sleeping on your front is not generally a good idea if you have back pain. It can flatten the natural curve of the spine, placing unwanted strain on your back muscles. It also means your neck is rotated, which can exacerbate pain between the shoulders. Although there's a perception that people with bad backs are more comfortable on firmer mattresses, in reality it depends on the individual.
A 2003 study in medical journal the Lancet suggested that a medium-firm mattress provides the best results for people with non-specific back pain, but if you find a softer mattress helps you to sleep comfortably, that's the right mattress for you. It's also a good idea to replace an old mattress that you've slept on for years, as these tend to develop sags in the spots where you sleep. Even small sags of half an inch mean your mattress isn't providing optimum support, and sags an inch deep or more mean your spine isn't being correctly supported. With that in mind, it's best to visit a mattress store and "test drive" a number of different ones for yourself. Get into your favoured sleeping position, and don't be shy of taking a good few minutes with each one to really make up your mind! You might wish to start your search with memory foam and latex mattresses. According to research by the independent sleep website Sleep Like the Dead, these are some of the best mattresses for people who live with back, hip and shoulder pain, because they give plenty of support and they're less likely to sag.
Memory foam in particular has high "conformability", meaning the mattress moulds to the specific shape of your body – that's exactly what memory foam's for, after all. This can be a particular benefit for people suffering from pain in their lower backs. Air beds aren't just for camping! It might be tempting to assume that the more you spend on a quality mattress, the more it'll do for your back pain – but in fact, some people find an inexpensive air mattress best of all. One of the greatest benefits of an air mattress is that by adjusting the level of inflation, you can increase or decrease the firmness and support it provides to your liking. It might not be a solution for everybody, but if you're finding traditional mattresses aren't doing the job, an air mattress (or alternatively a water bed) is certainly worth a try.Eight out of ten people will have back pain at some point in their lives1. Symptoms range from a dull, constant ache to acute, debilitating pain. And since people spend about one-third of their lives in bed, the mattress you use can impact whether or not you suffer from back pain more than almost anything else.
That's why so many people are searching for the best mattress for back pain. Scientific studies have proven that getting the right mattress for back pain can improve your symptoms and sleep quality2. The best mattresses for back pain will evenly support your weight and allow your spine to remain aligned. When looking for the best mattress for back pain, the two main things to consider are its firmness and the materials it's made from. Scientific studies have proven that getting the right mattress for back pain can improve your symptoms and sleep quality.Want the best mattresses under $300 in memory foam? Do buyers rate Best Price and Lucid beds as worth the money or just cheap Tempurpedic rip-offs? All of the beds in the article below cost less than $299.99, But just in case you can spend just a bit more, check the menu on the left for some great options in other price ranges. Way back in 2009 I would have said that memory foam problems were too common in beds under $300 to make a purchase worthwhile.
LUCID by LinenSpa 8" Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars 60% of buyers gave it the highest score possible. Do you like firm beds? Michelle finds that soft mattresses make her ache. But she also hates waking up with her arms tingling from sleeping on a too hard surface. She bought the Lucid 8 inch and put off posting any comments for months until she could say for sure that she loved it. What Michelle likes about the Lucid 8 inch memory foam mattress will make for some high quality dream time for you if you also like a firm bed. It has two inches of three pound density cushy top on a 6 inch high density foam base. The Lucid 10" has 2.5". If you're a bit older or heavier, and sleep on your side you might be happier with the 10 inch one below. Do you have kids? The Maniac stopped counting buyers who said that their kids loved the feel of this bed. Moms like it too because it's light enough for most kids to easily move it to change the sheets, even in bunk beds. Never too early to get them started with good habits, right?
Are you a soldier being deployed overseas? Or do you know one? You've heard how bad the beds are, right? Several soldiers stationed in Afghanistan say that this bed was a must have item that made a real positive difference in their lives. Lucid Spa is one of the few mattress companies that will ship to an APO/AE address in the Middle East or elsewhere. These best mattresses are often on sale, you can check current prices at the link above. LUCID by LinenSpa 10" Memory Foam MattressRated 4.2 out of 5 It earned the highest rating from more than 62% of buyers. Back Injured or Pregnant? Try sleeping with both at the same time! Libby injured her back and then found out she was pregnant. She couldn't remember the last time she'd woken up rested and feeling wonderful ...except the night after she slept on this bed for the first time. She's not alone in loving Lucid 10 inch memory foam mattresses. This bed has more than 750 reviews. It's been tested for years and the percentage of buyers that love it is extremely high.
It's a firm bed Most reviewers say that the Lucid 10" is a very supportive memory foam mattress (but not as hard as the 8 inch model). It has 2.5 inches of 3 pound density foam in the top comfort layer. If you like a softer bed, or you're larger framed you may find that you'd be more comfortable with the Best Price 8 inch choice. Both have a 20+ year warranty and do not hug the heat, both have a lot of positive reviews. They also both have the nifty washable, zippered cover. So your decision depends on your priorities. Are you counting every penny in your budget? The eight inch model usually costs between $25 and $35 less. The 10 inch is often sale priced under $300, but sometimes not. Are you bigger, taller or older? The 8 inch model is probably not for you, especially if you tend to roll onto your side. Younger, more athletic people like the skinnier mattress best. Click the picture or the link at the beginning of the review to check for sales on these best mattresses.
Best Price Mattress 8" Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 71% top rating- Very high percentage of happy buyers This model is more plush than the Lucid beds. Tammy has back pain, but says lying down on most memory foam feels like she's resting on a stone slab. She loves the soft feel of her Best Price 8 inch bed. It has 2 inches of top memory foam which contains green tea and charcoal for long term freshness. It also has an additional 2 inches of softer standard foam to provide deep down cushioning that's like a hug. Do you have arthritis? This is a bed that you will appreciate. Even though its not as tall as some beds you might have tried, it is more cushioning. Because of the way that the bed envelops you, it might also sleep just a bit warmer than what you're used to. But the warmth is wonderful on sore joints. Pregnant women appreciate its deep support too. Late in term when you're huge it really helps you to sleep if your bed can carry some of the weight. You might not even need a special pillow for pregnancy.