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.What is a futon? It sounds like a simple question, but there is still some confusion about what constitutes a futon. Is the futon a couch? Is it a folding sofa frame? Is it just a bed without springs? The answer to that question is actually fairly simple: the Japanese word for a traditional bed is futon, so, technically, futon simply means "bed". The parts include the shikibuton - the mattress; the kakebuton - the comforter; and the makura - the pillow. The shikibuton is the ancestor to what Americans call a futon. Traditionally, the cotton-filled futon is only about three inches thick, which makes a good firm bed, though they are generally too firm for side sleepers. The common American idea of a futon is a sofa that doubles as a guest bed.
This along with construction are what differentiates a futon from a standard mattress. Futons are made up of compressed layers of material, such as organic cotton, wool, and latex. These layers are then tufted in place to keep all the batting secure and insure a long lasting product. Being made of mostly natural fibers and with little latex, if any, futons require more maintenance, and need to be flipped at least once every other week. A futon mattress is generally on the firm side of the mattress spectrum and with proper care should last between 8 and 15 years. We handcraft both shikibutons (the traditional Japanese style thin futon) and classic futons with various organic fills right here in our Seattle workshop. We make our futons with only the finest, locally sourced, organic and natural fibers; organic cotton, Eco-Wool, and natural and organic latex. We use no synthetics and no chemicals of any kind and the reason is simple, organic materials are better. A futon made with resilient organic cotton, wool, and latex will outlast the cheaper synthetic models by years, while maintaining their comfort and support.
Some companies offer futons with spring cores. These futons generally do not last very long as springs don't hold up to the riggers of folding and unfolding a futon set-up. If springs are desired, we recommend buying a traditional innerspring mattress, such as the Soaring Heart Signature Mattress, the Aspen, which is built to much higher standards and with superior organic and natural materials. Finally, we will caution you that a futon is not a cheap substitute for a couch or a bed. Futons have earned a bad reputation as a cheap alternative to real furniture. As with everything else, you get what you pay for. Over 100 hours of artisan craftsmanship goes into every one of our organic futons, from the organic carding mill to our builders and they make great mattresses or couches. They are not cheap, but they will provide you with long lasting comfort and support. How to find the right bed Which natural fibers are used? Ailments, allergies and sensitivities How we make futons