What Are the Best Mattresses For Back Pain?
If you are reading this article, you are most likely experiencing aches and pains when you wake up in the morning. Upon further investigation and confirmation, you may need to look for a mattress that offers adequate support to your body. The correct mattress will keep your spine in alignment while relieving pressure points. However, the process to evaluate all the mattress options on the market can be confusing and difficult. To simplify this process, we developed our step-by-step guide to reviewing all the relevant factors. At the end of the process, our mattress selection guides will help answer the ‘What are the best mattresses for back pain’ question.
Types of Back Pain
Back pain is either acute or chronic. Ligament injury or back muscle injury are the main causes of acute back pain. These injuries usually result from lifting something heavy, incorrect lifting positions, or falling. Acute back pains are sharp pain that often subsides with time or through pain treatments.
Back pain is classified as chronic if it lasts for three months or longer. The pain often feels like a dull pain. While treatments bring temporary relief, the pain can still come and go. It is not always clear what causes chronic back pain, but many individuals can trace the pain back to older injuries. The following are various types of back pains.
- Lower back pain
- Mid back pain
- Upper backpain
- Neck pain
Sleeping Positions
Your body spends hours every night on the mattress. Your sleeping position creates different press points against the mattress. Therefore, your typical sleeping position and the pressure points play a big role when it comes to selecting the best mattress.
Back Sleepers
Sleeping on your back is a good position for head, neck, and back alignment. Your spine can rest in a neutral position since there is no additional pressure on those areas. The pressure points are on the lumbar area along the lower back, which is the heaviest portion of the body in that position. If the mattress is too soft and does not provide enough support, the sleeper’s lower back and hips will sink into the mattress. This will result in a misaligned spine and may cause lower back pain.
As a result, most back sleepers prefer a medium-firm to firm mattress that provides support to their hips, keeping the spine aligned.
Side Sleepers
Sleeping on the side is the most popular sleep position. When sleeping on the side, the contour of the sleeper’s body requires proper support to the head, neck, shoulder, spine, and hips. Without the right support through pillows and mattresses, these body parts will easily misalign, causing back pain.
To provide support to these body parts, many side sleepers prefer a medium or medium-firm mattress that contours their body better.
Stomach Sleepers
Sleeping on the stomach put extra strain on the neck and the spine. The pressure points are on the neck, the lumbar region, and the back. If the mattress is too soft, the lower body will sink deeper than the upper body, causing a misaligned spine and straining the lower back muscles and ligaments.
To keep the spin aligned, stomach sleepers prefer firm mattresses.
Combination Sleepers
Sleepers who go through two or more sleeping positions overnight would need support for various pressure points. They should look for mattresses with balanced firmness. The mattresses need to support their lower back when they are sleeping on the back or stomach. In addition, they also need support for their body contour when they sleep on their sides.
Bodyweight
Bodyweight is another factor that plays a role in the mattress selection process. In the same sleeping position, heavier sleepers sink into mattresses deeper than lighter sleepers. Sleepers that are more than 230 pounds should use a firmer mattress for more support. On the contrary, sleepers that are lighter than 130 pounds may find softer mattresses adequate.
Is the Mattress Responsible for Your Back and Neck Pain?
The mattress may be responsible for neck and back pain. While there are many causes for neck and back pains, an unsupportive mattress that does not offer adequate support at night is a possible reason. If the level of pain intensifies right after a few hours of sleep in bed, chances are the mattress may be a cause of the pain.
How To Find Best Mattress For Back Pain
Firmness
Using the guidelines provided earlier on sleep position and body weight, you can now determine how firm the mattress should be. In general, a firm mattress should help relieve lower back pain. Medium-firm mattresses along with supportive pillows are for sleepers with upper back pain. Softer mattresses are generally recommended for users that do not experience discomfort after a night of sleep.
Materials
Memory foam, hybrid, and traditional innerspring are three popular types of mattresses that may meet your needs.
Memory Foam Mattress
A memory foam mattress combines a layer of memory foam with springs or support foam. Memory foams rely on users’ body heat to soften and frame their shape. They offer a soft, comfortable, and supportive feel. This is what makes memory foam great for users with back pain. Users such as the elderly or those with pain in their joints or spine love memory foam as it contours their bodies and evenly distributes the pressure.
The following are some of our recommendations.
Zinus 6 Inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
- Green tea infused memory foam
- Pressure relieving design
- CertiPUR US certified
- Available in various sizes
Lucid Gel Infused Memory Foam
- Gel infused to regular temperature
- Universal pressure relieving design
- Low motion transfer
- CertiPUR US certified
- Available in various sizes and firmness
Hybrid Mattress
A hybrid mattress combines the best mattress features from different types into one. It is a multi-layer mattress that combines memory foam, latex, or gel, as well as an innerspring system. Typically, a hybrid mattress will have a combination of innerspring coils and memory foam. The coils provide back support, and the memory foam provides a good sleeping experience by conforming to the body. The resulting product provides joint support and back support for various sleeping positions.
The following are some of our recommendations.
LINENSPA Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress
- Responsive hybrid design
- Comfort of memory foam with bouncy feel of steel springs
- Made with durable materials
- Available in various sizes and thickness
LINENSPA Innerspring with Foam Layer Hybrid Mattress
- Great relief for back pain
- Durable heavy gauge steel coils
- Firm profile for support
- Available in various sizes
Traditional Innerspring Mattress
Traditional innerspring mattresses use a metal wire system combined with springs to create a support frame covered in fabric. Then, cushioning materials are placed on top for extra support. Also known as open spring or open coil mattresses, traditional innerspring mattresses provide excellent comfort for the money. This is why they are widely owned in the United States.
Mattress Firmness vs. Sleep Position vs. Bodyweight
The following table summaries the recommended mattress firmness based on the user’s sleep position and bodyweight.
Mattress Guide by Bodyweight
Bodyweight | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
Light or < 130 lb. | Soft to Medium | Medium | Medium to Firm |
Medium or 130-230 lb. | Soft to Medium | Medium | Medium to Firm |
Heavy or > 230 lb. | Medium | Firm | Firm |
Mattress Guide by Firmness Scale
Firmness Scale | Firmness Level | Sleep Position & Bodyweight |
2 | Extra Soft |
|
3 | Soft |
|
4 | Medium Soft |
|
5 | Medium |
|
6 | Medium Firm |
|
7 | Firm |
|
8-9 | Extra Firm |
|
Conclusion – What Are the Best Mattresses for Back Pain
The answer to ‘What are the best mattresses for back pain’ is different for everyone. You now have the guidelines to select the best mattress. First, identify where the pain is coming from. Then, your sleeping position will likely identify where your pressure points are. Next, depending on your body weight, you can determine the level of firmness that best fits you. Finally, evaluate the key features of various mattress types and finalize the best mattress to relieve back pain. Take advantage of the the mattress store’s trial period and make sure the product meets your needs!
If applicable, our “Best Pillows for Pregnancy” and “Best Mattress Toppers for Pregnancy” offer additional helpful tips. In case you have visitors and use air mattresses, our “How to Make Air Mattress More Comfortable” offers more insights.
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