Related to Back Pain Best Mattress for Lower Back Pain Study Disputes Long-Held Belief by Some Doctors That Firmer Bedding Is Better Nov. 13, 2003 -- For years, many people with back pain have been advised to sleep on a firm mattress. But a new study shows that might just add to the nightmare of their morning-after misery. Researchers in Spain say that people who sleep on a medium-firm mattress were twice as likely to report improvements in lower back pain compared to those sleep on more firm bedding. They reach this conclusion after replacing bedding of 313 patients with a history of back pain with new "firm" or "medium-firm" mattresses. The patients didn't know which mattress type they received. This study, published in the upcoming issue of the Lancet, is among the first to test the popular belief -- at least among some orthopaedic doctors -- that the firmer a mattress is, the better it is at preventing or relieving lower back pain. While there's little hard scientific data to support that firm mattresses are better -- only a handful of studies have been conducted -- the Spanish researchers say that about three in four orthopaedic doctors recommend firm mattresses to their patients.
In fact, a survey of Atlanta-area orthopaedic surgeons indicates that two in three said they recommend a firm mattress to their patients, and most believed that a mattress' firmness had a definite role in managing back pain. This finding, by Emory University orthopaedist Howard I. Levy, MD, was presented at the 1996 annual meeting of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. But chiropractors have long argued that firm mattresses are not the best choice, says George McClelland, DC, spokesman for the American Chiropractic Association. "Traditionally, what we have recommended is that a moderately-firm works best, or when using a firm mattress, you should add a 1½- to 2-inch thick padding on top of it," he tells WebMD. "It's wonderful to be validated by some form of research." McClelland says that this extra padding -- or using a medium-firm mattress without the extra padding -- better adapts to the natural curvatures in the spine. This padding is available at most stores that sell mattresses or bedding supplies.
"The spine is not a straight line, and padding or a moderately firm mattress 'gives' better to the concavities and convexities of the spine," he says. "A younger spine may tolerate a firm mattress perfectly well. But as we get middle years any beyond, when back pain is more prevalent, we find that more equalized support seems to be better." The researchers, led by Francisco Kovacs, PhD, who operates an independent medical research company in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, say that a medium-firm mattress leads to better "pressure distribution" when lying in bed, resulting in less pain while lying or after getting up. But McClelland and others say you also shouldn't use a soft mattress, because it doesn't provide enough support. "From my own perspective, if a mattress is soft or too hard, it's not comfortable," says orthopaedic surgeon Dana C. Mears, MD, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "Something in the middle works best for me -- a medium-firm mattress.
If a mattress is too firm, you might as well be sleeping on the floor." When buying a mattress, McClelland advises against relying on store ratings as an accurate guideline. "These numbers are all over the place," he says. "Individual companies use different rating systems, so you don't really know what you're getting." In fact, in the U.S., firm mattresses typically have a higher rating number; in Europe, a lower number goes to firmer mattresses. His advice: "When testing for a mattress, don't push on it or bounce up and down, as many people do. What's better is to lie on it for 10 minutes or so -- on your back, on your side, every way. It shouldn't be too hard. If it is, get some padding to place on top of the mattress."PureBliss 3" Latex MattressToppers, Latex Pillows, Waterproof Mattress Protector. EverEden talalay latex mattress topper on the too firm Simmons Beautyrest. ILD rating on soft and medium all natural EverEden talalay latex mattress toppers?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. Please rate your experience with this information: LATEX & MEDICAL CONDITIONS LATEX & SLEEP DISORDERS 5 out of 5 based on reviews Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Can Sleeping on a Latex Mattress Help the Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease? What is Degenerative Disc Disease? To understand degenerative disc disease you need to understand the anatomy of the spine. The human spinal column is made up of individual vertebrae that extend from the base of the spine (commonly called the tailbone) all the way through lower back, middle back, upper back, and neck to the base of the skull. The "discs" referred to in degenerative disc disease are soft, round, spongy "cushions" known as intervertebral discs. There is one disc between each vertebra in the spinal column, acting as a shock absorber so the bones in the spine don't rub against one another. Over time, small damage to the strong, fibrous outer tissue of the disc (the annulus fibrosas) can allow fluid to leak from the soft, spongy shock-absorbing tissue of the inner disc (the nucleus pulposas). Repeated small damages to the disc over the course of a lifetime can add up to major spinal problems later in life.
A damaged disc can't provide normal support to the vertebrae. A spine that suffers degenerative disc problems loses normal bend, torsion, and range of motion in a portion of the spine and usually causes serious pain. Degenerative disc disease can affect the interstices between any vertebrae, but lumbar (lower back) and neck problems are most common. How Does Your Mattress Help Your Back Problems? According to the Laser Spine Institute, sleeping in any position that puts stress on your spine for eight out of every 24 hours can exacerbate spinal pain and disc problems. The Institute recommends finding a medium-firm mattress that balances support with enough give to keep your spine in proper alignment. They also recommend a mattress that cradles the lumbar region, holding hips comfortably for side sleepers and properly supporting the back or stomach in supine sleepers. 100% natural latex is an excellent choice to fulfill all of the Laser Spine Institute's mattress recommendations.
Natural botanical latex foam supports the body but gives easily for a soft-to-the-touch, body-contouring feel that avoids painful pressure points. You can order latex foam mattresses along the continuum from very soft to very firm, so you can find the perfect medium-firm mattress that gives you pain-free sleep. Latex will give under the hips to avoid pressure points, but still conform to your body to actively support the waist and lumbar vertebrae. You'll find that your spine stays in natural alignment all night, even if you shift positions. Latex "springs back" immediately to gently cradle your sore spots as you move. Comfortable Sleep is Possible ... With the proper support and medical treatment, you can still get a good night's sleep with degenerative disc disease. Comfort, alignment, and pain management are the three keys to sleeping will with disc problems. , recommends sleeping on the stomach to alleviate the pain of pressure on the intervertebral discs. In difficult cases, he recommends a pillow under the hips to further alleviate pressure.
A medium-firm latex mattress will cradle your body comfortably while still providing the support necessary for comfortable stomach sleeping. Only serious cases of degenerative disc disease will need extra help on the right latex mattress but if you find that you do need a pillow to take all pressure off your hips, latex offers a mixture of support and cradling comfort that will adapt easily to such unusual sleeping positions. Why Should You Find Out Whether You Have Degenerative Disc Disease? A backache can become much more than an inconvenience if left untreated over time. Degenerative disc disease can be ameliorated but not reversed, so catching it early and minimizing the damage can make a big difference in your quality of life and quality of sleep. If your doctor or back specialist determines that you have degenerative disc disease, in most cases "conservative treatments" like pain relievers, proper support during sleep and when sitting, exercise, and physical therapy are all that's needed to relieve the pain and stop (or at least slow) the degeneration.