Best Mattress Type for Back Pain

Did you know that the average person will spend about one-third of their life sleeping? If you sleep comfortably and easily, that might sound rejuvenating. But, if you suffer from back pain during sleep, those hours can quickly add up to many nights of tossing and turning. Luckily, a high-quality mattress can help ease back pain and provide more relaxation at night. Read on to discover the best mattress types and features to provide restful sleep and reduce back pain.

What causes back pain during sleep?

Back pain is typically categorized as either lower back pain or upper back pain. Lower back pain is much more common and it affects the lumbar region, or the five lowest vertebrae in your spine. Upper back pain affects the area between the lower neck and the bottom of the rib cage.

Back pain happens during sleep when some or all of your spine is not properly supported. Your neck, shoulders, and hips need to be in alignment, or you could suffer from lower or upper back pain. If a bed is too soft, for example, your hips may sink down into the mattress in an unnatural way. This misalignment can put strain and pressure on your lower spine, causing pain in the lumbar region. Similarly, if your mattress does not allow your shoulders to slightly sink in, you may wake up with upper back pain.

What level of firmness is ideal for back pain sufferers?

As a general rule, a medium-firm mattress works best to reduce back pain. This level of firmness will be hard enough to support the spine but cushioned enough to reduce pressure on the neck, shoulders, and hips. The medium-firm guideline will vary between manufacturers, so it is important to test out various mattresses to determine which ones fall into your preferred firmness level.

Your sleeping position will also help you narrow down your mattress selections. If you are a side sleeper, you will want a slightly softer mattress. This extra cushion will reduce the pressure on the joints that are pressing into the mattress. If you sleep on your back, your spine rather than your joints will want to be supported. Back sleepers should look for slightly firmer mattresses. Stomach sleepers should choose the firmest options for mattresses. This will make sure that the hips don’t sink into the mattress and contribute to misalignment of the spine.

What type of mattress is best for people with back pain?

An innerspring coil mattress is what many people call a "traditional" mattress. It tends to be firm and supportive without the extra plush layer on top. A coil mattress is generally not recommended for people with back pain as it is difficult for the coils to provide enough support.

A memory foam mattress is made entirely of foam material and contours well to your pressure points and spine. It is the most commonly recommended type of mattress for people who suffer from back pain as it provides good support for the spine as well as cushioning to relieve pressure.

A hybrid mattress combines the traditional coil innersprings with a top body-contouring memory foam layer. Hybrid mattresses are also a good choice for people with back pain but be sure to look for one that has several layers of foam and not just a foam top.

Each type of mattress has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and the right one for you will depend on your firmness preference, age, weight, and preferred sleep position. The best way to determine which type of mattress will provide a good level of support and comfort without putting pressure on your neck, shoulders, and hips would be to look for a mattress that offers an in-home trial period.

Beat That Back Pain

If you suffer from back pain, you are likely to get a better night's sleep if you are sleeping on a medium-firm memory foam or hybrid mattress. The perfect mattress for you will be one that helps keep your spine aligned from your hips through your neck but also allows each of these pressure points to slightly sink into the mattress.

While there are hundreds of options out there, most people will find relief from back pain simply by trading in their ten or fifteen-year-old mattress for a new one. With many manufacturers offering lengthy in-home trial periods, there is not as much risk in this big purchase as there once was. If you are ready to start your search for a new mattress, check out our best mattresses for back pain.