Choosing the best mattress for back pain can be a difficult endeavor, especially if you don’t know what to look for. With all the choices of mattresses out there, finding the best mattress for back pain can be hard to make the right choice when in some cases you can’t test out the mattress before buying or don’t know how to choose one correctly. What is the most important criteria for choosing the best mattress for back pain? This guide explains what to look for so that you can ensure to get the proper support and comfort for your back pain needs. Firmness is of optimal importance for back pain sufferers. Having a firm mattress will tend to balance you on the top of the sleeping surface, as opposed to sinking in the mattress which provides deeper body hug and contouring but can worsen back pain. The best mattress for back pain will provide the ideal level of firmness needed to reduce pain or at least not create new pain during sleep. Most people with back pain prefer a mattress that is more medium to firm on the firmness scale.
This corresponds to around a 6-8 out of 10 on a firmness scale (where 10 is most firm.). This level of firmness provides enough back support but at the same time providing comfort to remove pressure points while you sleep. Memory foam mattresses are good choices for those suffering back pain, but care needs to be taken to not choose one that is too soft, or this can cause you to sink too far down into the mattress and worsen back pain. It’s crucial to find a mattress that has good support when you suffer from nightly back pain caused by an improper mattress. Support and firmness are not the same, and you can have a soft mattress that has great support. At the same time, a firm mattress can also not be so supportive. Support comes from a mattress that keeps your spine in alignment while also remaining comfortable. If you aren’t comfortable and have pressure points on your back or spine, you are most likely going to experience pain and discomfort as you sleep. When your back is properly supported, air can flow freely into your lungs, reducing snoring and potentially minimizing the effects of other breathing related sleep conditions that plague many sleepers.
The proper mattress that supports you and has adequate firmness can assist you with this, as will one with good cooling and airflow management. The best mattress for back pain will be able to provide all of these features to help prevent and improve your symptoms. By improving your airflow management you’ll also improve overall oxygenation of the body. This results in better internal temperature regulation, which will help reduce the sensation of sleeping hot during the night. This also helps reduce back and spinal pain by improving blood flow within your body. Certain fabrics and materials have also been shown to improve oxygenation, most notably, Celliant fibers (which are used in a handful of mattress covers, including several by Bear and Bioposture). In addition, the use of copper infused foam is another feature that can aid in alleviating back pain as well, which the Zotto and Layla use as well. Elevating the head and foot of your mattress can help relieve pressure points along your back, which and adjustable foundation can provide you, as they can conform to a variety of sleeping positions.
In addition, elevating parts of your body can increase blood flow and ease breathing and reduce snoring. This can result in reduced back pain, better sleep, and better temperature regulation. The downside of adjustable foundations is the cost primarily. These start at around $7-900 and can go as high as $3000 or more. Therefore, you may want to balance your budget with how important elevating your head and feet are to your sleeping. Despite the negatives of price and aesthetics, an adjustable foundation can be one of the best investments to your sleep and health you can make and make sure that your back pain will be less when sleeping on the best mattress for you. We recommend that those suffering from back pain choose a mattress that: Loom and Leaf is a high quality memory foam mattress that has a medical grade gel cooling layer that is very comfortable and comes in both medium and firm options (read our review of the Loom and Leaf here). The Loom and Leaf mattress provides great support for the lumbar region in all sleeping positions, and the gel cooling layer does a great job at preventing heat buildup.
GhostBed is another good choice for people suffering from back pain. This universal comfort model memory foam and latex hybrid bed is on the firmer end of the spectrum but is very good for those with back pain (read our review of the GhostBed here). The GhostBed adapts to your body over time and the thick foundation provides excellent deep compression support for the lower back and for heavy people as well. Nest Bedding Alexander Signature The Nest Alexander Signature mattress comes in 3 different firmness models depending on your preference and is another great mattress for back pain (read our review of the Nest Bedding Alexander here) The Nest sleeps cool and the choice of firmness options is especially good for individuals that like a firmer or softer mattress to support their spine and don’t want to take a chance on a universal comfort firmness option. Bioposture is one of the most recommended memory foam mattresses for back pain as it is prescribed by chiropractors and spine health professionals.
The Bioposture has very good deep compression support which helps those suffering from back pain as well as features a Celliant cover which aids in keeping the mattress cool and promoting blood circulation. Back pain is an all-too-common complaint. In fact, eight out of 10 Americans will have back pain at some point during their lifetime. Back pain is a primary reason why people visit their doctor and miss work. If you’re one of the millions of Americans suffering, you may be wondering, “What is the best mattress for back pain?” The National Sleep Foundation notes that a good mattress will last about 10 years, so if you’re sleeping on an old, saggy mattress, the answer could be yes. Still, before you run out and buy a new mattress, you should do your homework. Consider not only what brand and type of mattress to buy, but also what really may be at the heart of your pain. If your back pain wakes you up in the middle of the night or is worse when you first rise in the morning, your mattress could be the culprit, or at least contributing to your discomfort.
If you can’t recall the last time you replaced your mattress and/or you almost get swallowed up by the growing sinkhole in the middle, it’s probably time to buy a new one. Mattresses also collect dust mites, fungus and other germs that can aggravate allergies and impact your sleep quality. Keep in mind: there is no such thing as a universal best mattress for back pain. The right sleeping surface will vary from person to person. The body also changes over time, so a mattress that once gave you satisfying beauty rest may no longer do so in the long run. When you do decide to replace your mattress, don’t be afraid to act like Goldilocks. Take your time and test things out. Many stores will let you lie down on their mattresses. Be sure to lie down and relax in your normal sleeping position, and yes, go ahead and bring your own pillow from home. Some stores will even let you trial run a mattress and return it if it doesn’t suit your needs. Back pain can often be caused by keeping our bodies in either a forward bend (flexion) or backward bend (extension) too much.
This pain may be reduced or eliminated with exercise that counteracts the forward or back-bend position. If your sleeping posture causes your spine to be positioned in the same direction that leads to discomfort during the day, then the position could inflame your pain and wake you during the night. For example, if pain improves during the day by bending backwards, then sleeping in the fetal position, which bends the spine forward, is probably not a good idea. If bending forward is what relieves your pain, you should avoid sleeping on your stomach, as this position causes the spine to bend backwards a little. For most people, sleeping on their side with a small pillow or roll underneath their waist will keep the spine straight. This is the best sleeping position, as the support at the waist keeps the spine from sagging down toward the mattress. Sleeping with a small pillow or roll beneath the waist is more beneficial for back pain than sleeping with a pillow between the knees.
Contrary to what you may have heard, sleeping on your stomach is not necessarily a bad position. If sitting aggravates your pain, and standing and walking decreases your pain, sleeping on your stomach could be helpful. However, if the opposite is true (pain is better with sitting, but worse when standing and walking), the fetal position may be more helpful. Sleeping on your back with pillows under your head, shoulder and knees is another option you may want to try. Most of us spend nearly one-third of our lives lying in bed, so choosing the right mattress can be critical to managing or preventing back pain. Getting the z’s your body needs depends on a variety of factors—from room temperature to lifestyle habits to daily stress—but to help ensure adequate rest, your mattress is your foundation. If you’ve ever gone mattress shopping, you already know the brands, types and styles available today border on overwhelming. So how do you pick the best mattress for back pain?
Your personal preferences should ultimately guide your decision. There is no single mattress brand, style or type that will work for everyone who has (or doesn’t have) back pain. Any mattress that enables somebody to sleep well, pain-free and without stiffness is the right mattress for that person. That being said, here’s a good rule of thumb: the mattress you choose should support your body in a neutral position (where your spine has a slight curvature, and your buttocks, heels, shoulders and head are in proper alignment). The right amount of back support can also help you avoid muscle soreness in the morning. While there isn’t much clinical data available on mattresses, researchers in Spain studied individuals with long-term back pain and found that those who slept on a medium-to-firm mattress had less back pain than those who slept on a softer mattress. Therefore, a firmer bed could be a better choice for people with back pain, particularly lower back pain. Again, when you’re sleeping, there are no significant external forces on your spine, so although a firmer mattress can give more support, it isn’t necessary to sleep on one if it just doesn’t feel comfortable for you.
Support, conformability and firmness. These three terms can help guide you when it comes to pinpointing the mattress that’s right for you. How well does the mattress keep your body on a flat and level plane instead of allowing part of your body to be lower or higher than the rest of your body? Support could be a key factor in preventing and relieving pain, especially back pain. How well does the mattress conform to the contours of your body? Good conformability means all of your body is supported equally by your mattress. Gaps in support can cause one part of the body, such as the lower spine, to be placed in a stressed and an unnatural position. Medium-firm mattresses tend to be firm enough to provide support, but soft enough to offer conformability and pressure-point relief. They are often the most effective in preventing/reducing overall pain and discomfort. Firm mattresses have support, but not much conformability. Mattresses that are too firm may cause discomfort as a result of severely felt pressure points.
Soft mattresses provide good conformability and pressure-point relief, but may lack enough support, which could trigger back pain. To begin answering this question, let’s briefly review the four popular mattress choices: These remain the most widely used mattresses, and firmer versions can be good for people suffering from back pain. Innerspring mattresses offer support through coil springs. On top of the individually enclosed coils you’ll find a broad range of materials added for comfort, including pillow, latex and memory foam. Remember, more coils doesn’t necessarily equal more comfort. The good news is there are plenty of innerspring mattress choices on the market, ranging in firmness to fluffiness. The choices can and do accommodate nearly every preference and budget. There isn’t a direct correlation between price and comfort; however, it’s wise to steer clear from the cheapest innerspring mattress, as there may not be enough springs and cushion to provide adequate support.
Memory foam mattresses are made of layers of different densities of foam. These mattresses respond to weight and temperature, and mold to the specific shape of your body. When your weight shifts throughout the night, memory foam will mold to the shape of your body, reducing pressure points and easing pain. Memory foam mattresses also help absorb the movement from a tossing-and-turning partner. Because they are temperature sensitive (softening and molding with your body heat), some who have purchased them have complained the mattresses make them feel too hot during the night. Others have also reported the mattresses emit an unpleasant chemical smell. Made from natural or synthetic rubber, latex mattresses provide very firm, bouncy support that’s uniform throughout the bed. Unlike memory foam, latex pushes back, and therefore, may offer added support. A latex mattress (or latex mattress topper) can be great for soothing back pain, as it delivers a unique combination of comfort and support.
Latex, however, may not be the right option for you if you don’t like the feel of snoozing on a pretty firm mattress. High-end air beds (such as Sleep Number beds, not the camping versions you blow up for your out-of-town guests during a Thanksgiving visit) look like an innerspring mattress, but use air-filled chambers rather than coils. They are then covered by a foam layer on top. These types of air beds have been routinely used for patients who have spinal-cord injuries and can’t move for long periods. The firmness on each side of these beds can be adjusted to suit individual tastes. For example, if you have back pain, your side can be made firmer than your partner’s side for additional support. If, however, you fail to make the air bed firm enough, you could wake up with a backache. A cheaper air mattress could also pop up on one side when you sit on the opposite end. To avoid this problem, you should consider a mattress with multiple air chambers. No matter what type of surface you sleep on—innerspring, air or sofa bed—it’s crucial to remember that in order to feel refreshed and recharged, you must get enough rest.