A mattress is one of the most important pieces of furniture in your home. What you choose isn’t just a purchase for fancy decor, but a personal decision that affects your quality of life, how well you sleep, and even your health.
A good mattress can make all the difference to how well you sleep at night. It’s supposed to provide comfort and support for many hours over the years. Often, though, this is not the case, because people end up buying the wrong mattress, which isn’t suitable for their needs. Many people have a hard time finding a mattress that suits their needs. Some are too firm, and others are not supportive enough for back pain sufferers. Some mattresses do not provide adequate support for heavier individuals, and others do not stay supportive throughout their entire lifespan.
If you suffer from back issues, you should be sure to buy one with adequate support for your body and proper support for your back. The mattress needs to be firm enough to keep its shape but soft enough, so it doesn’t cause pressure on your spine when you turn over or roll over in bed at night. However, with so much choice and competition in the industry, it’s hard to narrow down the best mattress for back pain sufferers and differentiate between good and bad. To save you the hassle, we’ve compiled a detailed buying guide and summarized the top 10 choices that would suit people with back issues and in search of a new mattress. Let’s take a closer look below.
How To Choose A Mattress For Back Pain Relief
The mattress you purchase is not just meant to fulfil your physical needs, but to provide a level of comfort needed for a good night’s sleep. This can be especially difficult to achieve if you suffer from back issues, as there are many different mattresses on the market today with varying degrees of firmness. The best mattress for back pain will keep you comfortable all night long without causing too much pressure on your spine. While shopping around for a new mattress, keep a few things in mind.
Choosing a Firmness Level
The firmness of the mattress is an important factor that you should consider. A mattress that is too soft will still provide adequate support, especially for those who have back problems, but it will not provide the level of support that you need. The firmness of your mattress is measured on a scale from 1-10. higher numbers mean firmer mattresses, and lower numbers mean softer mattresses. Most mattresses fall somewhere between a 4 and a 7 on the scale, but some are rated higher or lower than this point, depending on how they are constructed and how they are filled with material to achieve their desired feel and firmness.
Consider Your Body Type
The size and type of your body also comes into play when choosing the right mattress. Tall people tend to need firmer mattresses than shorter people. Heavier individuals should buy thicker, deeper mattresses than lighter individuals. People who are obese or overweight should get extra support in their mattresses to ensure they do not suffer any back problems due to the added weight.
Weight
Most mattresses come with a weight limit to ensure that they can support different types of people. People should check the size and weight restrictions on the product they are interested in and follow these rules so that they will get a mattress which will work for their body type. For example, if you weigh over 300 pounds, you may want to check some of these mattresses for heavy people that we have reviewed recently. Some are specifically aimed at heavier individuals, while others are simply everyday mattresses with great support and increased weight-holding capability.
The Price
The price is not always the most important factor when choosing a new mattress. You might be able to find some great deals on some of the top rated mattresses currently available, but you may end up paying more in the long run due to poor support, an uncomfortable feel, or an unstable structure.
Check The Warranty
Warranty is always a consideration for any product you buy today. A warranty ensures that your mattress will be replaced if it develops any problems within a certain period of time after you first start using it. If you end up having to use your warranty, it should be much cheaper than constantly replacing your mattress.
Type Of Material Used
Many mattresses use various types of foam to provide their optimal level of support and comfort. Memory foam, latex foam, copper-based foam, and graphite-based foam are the most common types of mattress materials used today.
Sleeping Position
You should consider the type of mattress you are going to be sleeping on. The position in which you sleep can make a difference for how well your back functions the following day. If you sleep on your side, you will want a mattress that is firm enough to support your body, yet soft enough to provide the right amount of support and comfort. If you sleep on your stomach, a harder mattress will be more supportive and help keep your spine in a good position without causing too much pressure or pain.
Durability
Most people would prefer not to purchase a new mattress every few years because it is costly and inconvenient. If you are shopping for a new mattress, choosing one with some extra durability can be beneficial for your situation. The higher end models tend to be more durable, but they also come with a higher price tag that may or may not be within everyone’s budget.
Heat Retention
In order for a mattress to provide optimal support and comfort, it must be able to keep its shape without warping or losing its shape when you sleep on it. If a mattress feels too soft when you first try it out but becomes uncomfortable within a few weeks, you might want to consider a different one. A mattress that loses its shape at night can become uncomfortable and reduce the amount of support that the bed gives.
Common Types Of Back Pain
Sciatica
Sciatica is one of the most common types of back pain. Chiropractors are often able to identify the problem associated with sciatica by performing certain movement tests, so it’s important to seek professional care if you think you’re suffering from this issue.
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed, resulting in pain that radiates through the lower parts of your body. The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disk in your back. This condition can cause numbness or tingling in your legs as well as weakness, but these symptoms are less common than the lower back pain associated with this issue.
If you’re suffering from sciatica, check out these mattresses.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spine becomes narrowed over time, causing back pain and other symptoms. This issue can cause pain in one or both of your legs.
The most common cause of spinal stenosis is age-related degeneration, but this condition can also be caused by injury or abnormalities in the spinal cord itself. If you think that you may have spinal stenosis, it’s important to see a chiropractor before the condition worsens.
Disc Degeneration
Disc degeneration is a common cause of back pain among middle-aged adults, and it typically occurs later in life. This condition typically causes pain in the lower part of your back. The degenerative process that causes disc degeneration can cause a herniated disk to form, which can cause sciatica symptoms.
In many cases, doctors can manage this condition with conservative treatment options. In other cases, surgery may be required to repair spinal bones and other structures in your spine.
Spondylolysis
Spondylolysis is a condition that can cause pain in your lower back, as well as other symptoms. In the majority of cases, spondylolysis is a congenital disorder that presents itself during adolescence and young adulthood. This condition is also known as “slipped vertebrae.”
Spondylolisthesis occurs when the bones of the spine slip out of line under pressure and stress. It typically causes no symptoms if it’s mild, but it can cause severe pain and other symptoms if it’s more severe. Spondylolisthesis is often misdiagnosed as lower back pain.
Shoulder Pain
Back pain that radiates into your shoulder blades can be a sign of either a serious back problem or a more minor issue. It is typically caused by soft tissue damage in the front of your shoulder. Damage to the front of your shoulders can include inflammation of the rotator cuff, osteoarthritis, or slipped discs.
Rotator Cuff Pain
Rotator cuff pain usually occurs when the rotator cuff becomes inflamed or injured. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles located in front of your shoulder blade. When this area becomes inflamed, you might experience pain in the middle and lower part of your shoulder blade.
Epicondylitis
Epicondylitis is a painful condition that occurs when the tendons around your elbow become inflamed or injured. As with many other types of back pain, this condition can be caused by overuse, but injury can also cause the condition. Tennis elbow is one of the most common types of epicondylitis to affect the arm, but it can also be caused by sports injuries and work-related activities that require repetitive use of your arms.
Stress Fracture
Stress fractures in the spine are among the most common types of back pain in older adults. These fractures typically occur in adults who are at risk for osteoporosis, but they can also occur in younger patients. Stress fractures typically occur in the lumbar spine, but they can also be found in other parts of the spine when osteoporosis is present. This condition is caused when stress on either bone or connective tissue causes it to break. When this issue occurs, you might experience pain and tenderness at the site where the fracture occurs.
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is a common source of issues for older adults. This type of pain can be caused by osteoarthritis, slipped discs, inflammation in the rotator cuff, or an injury to the front of your shoulders. Lower back pain can also be caused by nerve problems, but it’s most often caused by local issues with your spine itself. In most cases, using a good mattress for back pain relief can easily manage most issues, and if not, try over-the-counter medications and physical therapy.
Back Pain Causes & Prevention
There are a few things that you can do to avoid back pain, including staying in a good posture while working, exercising, and sitting. Let’s discuss some of the more common causes below:
Sleep Positioning
It would help if you never slept on your stomach. When you sleep on your stomach, your head will sway from side to side. This motion can cause your back muscles to tighten and put pressure on the spine. This motion makes it very difficult for the spine to relax and get into a natural position for sleeping.
When you sleep, you should aim to have your head aligned with the rest of your body. You can place a pillow under your knees or between your legs to help position your hips better. Your hips should never be higher than the rest of your body, as this can also cause pain in the back and long term damage.
If you have issues with your hips, perhaps check out our latest roundup and reviews of mattresses for hip pain which we conducted recently.
Laying In Bed Too Long
It would be best if you always got up from bed when you wake up. Some people think that they need to stay in bed for a certain length of time before getting up and moving around. This is not true, as you can stay in bed for any amount of time that you choose. You will just need to move around to prevent back stiffness that may develop if you stay in one position for too long.
Staying in the same position for too long, especially when lying down, can cause back pain. You should always sit or stand up after a certain period of time if you are lying down. This extra movement will help keep your spine flexible and keep it healthier than it would be otherwise.
You should also try not to lay flat on the bare hard ground when sleeping, especially if you have had back issues before.
Use a Pillow
Sleeping on your side with one or two pillows between your legs can help prevent back problems. You should always try to sleep like this when you are not experiencing any pain in your back.
To help release the muscles, you can try lying down with a towel rolled up underneath your mid-back. This will provide you with some relief without putting too much pressure on any one area.
Stretching
You should try stretching out when your back is bothering you. You can start by touching one ankle with the opposite hand, then the other ankle before gradually moving up to touch your toes.
Another way to stretch is to lie on a carpeted floor, put your legs in a V-shape and bend your knees so that your heels are pushed up towards your bum. Your knees should not touch the ground, as this will place too much pressure on your back. This is an excellent exercise for sciatica.
You can also bend from the waist, keeping your elbows close to your body. You will feel back pain relief as long as you do this for at least five minutes every day.
Exercising Regularly
You should exercise regularly to strengthen and maintain healthy muscles in your back. This will help you avoid any serious injury, such as strain or pull of hamstring muscles if you overexert yourself. If you are not used to working out, talk to your doctor before you start anything too strenuous.
Long-Term Diet
You can prevent back pain by following a proper diet. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables will help your body get the nutrients it needs while also controlling your blood sugar. You should try to eat lean meat, which contains more protein than other types of meat. Protein helps the muscles in your back stay strong and healthy.
You should also drink plenty of water, as dehydration can increase your risk of back problems.
Our Favorite Mattress For Back Pain Relief
Best Mattress For Bad Back (Top 10 Roundup)
To find the best mattress for people with back pain, we rounded up a total of 30 mattresses and then narrowed it down to just 10. We also checked 13 different sources for information regarding mattresses, back pain and sleep science-related data which totalled 49 hours of research. Below you’ll find some of the criteria we evaluated when finalizing our selections:
- How well the mattress provides spinal alingment
- How well the mattress provides pressure point relief in painful areas
- Whether or not the mattress provides effective support in various areas of the back such as the shoulders and lower back
- If the mattress has an effective body contouring ability
- The type of sleeping position best suited for the mattress
Here’s our top picks at a glance
- Editor’s Pick – WinkBed
- Best Value – Nectar
- Best Luxury – Saatva Classic
- Best For Side Sleepers – Brooklyn Aurora
- Most Comfortable – DreamCloud
- Best Cooling – Casper Original Hybrid
- Best Pressure Relief – GhostBed Classic
- Best For Spinal Alignment – Puffy Lux
- Best Memory Foam – Leesa
- Best Hybrid – Amerisleep AS2 Hybrid
Conclusion
Our aim is to provide quality reviews that will help you choose the best mattress that will cure your back pain and let you sleep through the night without waking up with stiff or aching muscles.
On that note, we have chosen the WinkBed to be our number one choice. The premium materials and detailed hybrid design make the chiropractor recommended mattress an ideal option for sleepers who suffer from different types of back issues. It comes with an excellent lifetime warranty, a 120-night sleep trial, and 4 different firmness options (we recommend the Firm option).
Author Info
Helen is a passionate writer contributing her expertise in sleep science and wellness to our readers. With a background in psychology and a love for exploring the intricacies of a good night’s rest, she aims to help readers achieve improved sleep and overall well-being through her insightful articles.