#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Ratings > Mattresses and Bad Back Problems Unbiased Comparisons Based on 22,478 Owner Experiences Some mattresses perform significantly better than others in preventing / relieving pain, including back, hip and shoulder pain. Before discussing which are best, three interrelated terms are important to understand: support, conforming ability, and firmness. Support refers to how well a mattress keeps the sleeper's body on a flat and level plane. Owner experience data shows that support is a key factor in preventing and alleviating pain, especially back pain. Support can be undermined by excessive softness and excessive firmness – but it is most often undermined by sagging of the mattress. Sagging is the top complaint of mattress owners overall with at least 30% reporting a significant problem. Sagging occurs when part of a mattress, usually the middle, becomes compressed and lower than the rest.
Sagging often puts a person's spine into an unnatural position – especially for side and stomach sleepers. Consequently, mattress owner experience data shows a clear connection between sagging and pain, especially back pain. The greater the sagging depth the more likely it is that sagging will cause a person to have discomfort or pain in bed and possibly out of bed. * especially for side and / or stomach sleepers. It should be noted that despite the fact that back pain for many people may occur with less than 1.5 inches of sagging depth, many mattress warranties cover sagging only if it has a depth greater than 1.5 inches. Conforming ability refers to how well a mattress conforms or molds to the contours and curves of a person's body. A mattress has good conforming ability if all of one's body is supported equally by the mattress. A lack of conforming ability means there are gaps in support. The result can be that at least one part of the body – such as the lower back – is placed in an unsupported, unnatural and therefore stressed position which can cause pain.
A lack of conforming ability also often results in some parts of the body – namely shoulders and hips of side sleepers – feeling more pressure than other parts because of unequal support. Such pressure can be a source of significant discomfort. Having the right firmness is an important factor in preventing / relieving pain. Learn more: Mattress Firmness Guide & Comparison. The graph below shows the pain-relieving ability of the different mattress types based on actual owner experiences. The types that are better at reducing (back, hip and shoulder) pain are more supportive, less likely to sag and more likely to have effective conforming ability. Keep in mind that the chart represents what is often but not always the case; model or individual mattress may go against these findings somewhat. Sagging and loss of support (barring mechanical breakdown) is usually less of a problem with airbeds compared to most other bed types. And the air chambers inside an airbed provide at least fair conforming ability and allow for adjustable firmness / support to suit personal preference and sleep position.
Airbeds, however, with little or no comfort layer can be too firm on hips and or shoulders of small- to average-sized side sleepers. While memory foam mattresses can develop problems (sagging, excessive softness, and loss of support) these problems tend to not be as common or serious as they can be with innerspring-based mattresses (memory foam's main competition). Memory foam also provides good conforming ability for average- to large-sized people. Firmness levels tend to be mostly medium to medium-firm. Smaller-sized people may experience excessive pressure points as they tend to not exert adequate pressure on the mattress to benefit from the foam's conforming ability. Latex can develop body impressions and soften to some extent, but these problems tend to not cause widespread pain problems. Latex often conforms moderately to the body. Firmness tends to be medium to firm (but soft varieties are available). Hybrid mattresses often provide above-average support, but such support breaks down for at least 18% of owners within three years due to sagging.
Conforming ability tends to be good if at least two inches of memory foam is present. A variety of firmnesses are available. While waterbeds are often highly conforming, their support is questionable. At least 15% of owners claim that their waterbed causes back pain because of poor support. Firmness can be adjusted somewhat by adding or removing water. Innerspring mattresses often provide at least fair support, but such support breaks down for at least 20% of owners within three years due to sagging. Models with a significant comfort layer often provide fair conforming ability, while models with a minimal comfort layer often provide poor conforming ability especially for small- to average-sized people. Futon mattresses offer mostly fair support and conforming ability. Futons tend to be more firm than soft. While mattress support, mattress conforming ability, and mattress firmness are crucial factors for preventing / relieving pain, they are not the only factors. One's choice of pillow is important as well.
If your pillow – specifically its loft or height – is not compatible with your mattress – specifically its firmness level – then neck, upper spine, head and shoulder discomfort or pain are possible. See our pillow loft guide and calculators to learn how much loft may be best for you.A comfortable mattress is important to have for obvious reasons. For a person who lives with chronic arthritis pain, it is essential. There are coil, air, memory foam, and latex mattresses available. The best mattress is not necessarily the most expensive. You should look for a mattress that is firm enough to provide support, yet sufficiently cushioned for comfort.Choosing the best mattress boils down to personal choice. For example, some people may prefer extra firm support, while others may find that to be uncomfortable. If you think there are just too many to choose from, do yourself a favor—don't feel overwhelmed, just dig in and learn about their features, try them out in person, and soon you will recognize which is the best mattress for you.
New Tempur-Pedic Flex Prima Queen Mattress Tempur-Pedic offers several mattress collections, ranging from softer materials to a higher density material which provides more support. Tempur-Pedic mattresses conform to your body to minimize pressure points while still supporting and aligning your body. Many arthritis patients love this mix of comfort and support.This particular mattress also features moisture-wicking, a high-loft super-stretch cover with grey upholstery sides, and a base layer that disperses heat from the mattress. Select Comfort Sleep Number Mattress With Select Comfort, firmness or softness adjusts on each side of the bed. The mattress comes with a wireless remote. Your comfort no longer depends on how firm your partner likes the bed to be—you can both be happy at the same time. The mattress is made of pressure-relief memory foam with breathable fabric. It is advertised as the only bed clinically proven to relieve back pain and improve sleep quality.
Queen Sealy Posturepedic Mountain Ridge III Euro Pillow Top Mattress The Sealy Posturepedic Mountain Ridge III is a softer mattress option with a pillow top for comfort. This mattress works well for someone who prefers comfortable support versus firm support. The design helps to reduce tossing and turning. Cooling layers of foam help you to remain comfortable while falling asleep. It is recommended for side sleepers, but it may be too soft for some stomach or back sleepers. Simmons Beautyrest Recharge Plush Pillow Top King Mattress This Beautyrest selection has geltouch foam for added comfort and pressure relief, plush comfort foam for comfort and conformability, and energy foam which acts as the support for the coil system.The AirCool design—which features channeled AirCool foams, ventilated AirCool beautyedge foam encased edge support, and a high tech mesh border fabric—helps to keep you at a comfortable sleeping temperature. Kingsdown Passions Imagination Firm Mattress, Queen