Best Adjustable Mattress For Lower Back Pain
Saatva Solaire Mattress
- Type: airbed
- Height: 13 inches
With 50 firmness options, the Saatva Solaire Mattress means truly personalized comfort. The mattress is made with dual air chambers and features individual controls that allow you and your partner to choose your level of support on any given night. A five-zone latex layer also offers uplifting support in the lumbar region.
Saatva offers a 180-night trial and free white-glove delivery, which includes removal of your old mattress. The Solaire also comes with a 25-year warranty.
Buy the Saatva Solaire Mattress online.
What To Consider When Purchasing A Mattress Topper For Back Pain
There is a wide variety of different mattress toppers on the market that claim to do a number of different things. Rather than getting caught up in jargon and marketing claims, we encourage shoppers to look at the specific factors that contribute to whether or not a mattress topper will feel comfortable for them. Below, well share some of the most important things to take into consideration as you select a mattress topper.
Suitable For Lightweight Sleepers
Whether resting on their side, back, or stomach, lighter individuals , will naturally experience very little sinking. If these individuals sleep on a firm mattress, tension can build-up near the pressure pointscreating pain and stiffness. Lightweight sleepers need a soft bed that will quickly respond to their body weight for adequate contouring.
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#reason : Your Mattress Is Too Soft Or Too Firm
If you are using a mattress, you know the common factor firmness. It determines how soft or hard the mattress is. Mainly, two common types of firmness are available on the market such as soft and firm. Some people like soft mattresses and some prefer firm mattresses. Sometimes, the firmness may be one of the major reasons for causing your lower back pain.
If you are using a too firm mattress, it does not sink enough and you feel discomfort and pain on the hips, back, spine, neck, and shoulder. On the other hand, if your mattress is too soft, it cant hold your spine perfectly and aligned it in a wrong position which may cause your lower back pain.
Solution 1: Pick The Right Firmness of Your Mattress
So, you have to choose the right firmness while buying a new mattress. Here are some helpful tips for you to choose the perfect firmness of your mattress.
#Soft Mattress
Soft mattresses are perfect for side sleepers because it removes the pressure on the hips and shoulders while sleeping on the side. This is why a side sleeper can get more comfort and perfect support to the back & spine in the side sleeping position. The lightweight sleepers and slim sleepers can use the soft mattress for better pressure relief, ultimate comfort, and great back support. Do not use soft mattresses if you are a heavy sleeper like over 200 lbs. It may sink more and aligns your spine incorrectly and cause lower back pain.
#Medium Firm Mattress
#Firm Mattress
Solution 2: Make Your Firm Mattress Soft
How To Choose Whats Right For You
The two main choices to consider are whether you generally suffer from back pain or not, and which sleeping position you favor. Those without back pain and who sleep on their back or stomach will likely favor a firmer mattress. Side sleepers or those with back issues may prefer something softer although it ultimately comes down to personal preference.
Another thing that should be considered is weight. A heavier person may find a firm mattress deceptively soft, while a lighter person may not get a huge amount of give even from a softer mattress. Generally an average to heavy build will be better suited to a firmer mattress.
Another important element which should not be overlooked is personal preference. Regardless of which is more specialized for your spines needs, if you find it uncomfortable, youre unlikely to get a good nights sleep on it. And that is the main purpose of a mattress, after all. Thats why I recommend taking a look at our picks for the most comfortable mattress to find the best mattress that fits your needs.
Its important to remember that the choice is not exactly black and white. There is a spectrum of firmness within mattresses. Furthermore, one can compromise by having a firm mattress in terms of spring suspension, but adding a plush, soft topper.
Overall, its really important to properly test out a mattress in order to make an informed choice. Simply sitting down on it in stores unlikely to cut it.
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How Can A Firm Mattress Cause Back Pain
Mattress firmness is a setting configured by the manufacturer that influences how hard or soft a mattress is likely to feel when you lie on it.
However, the final firmness, feel, and overall comfort level will depend on how your individual body weight, body type, and dominant sleeping position interact with the mattress.
This means that a firm mattress will typically feel softer to heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs who sleep on their back or front, whilst a firm mattress is likely to feel even firmer the lighter you are and sleep on your side .
Furthermore, back pain can have many causes and is highly dependent upon your individual circumstances and medical conditions.
All of this variability, subjectivity, and uncertainty means that its NOT accurate to make the sweeping generalization that a firm mattress causes back pain, nor would it be fair to say that a firm mattress is automatically the best choice if you have back pain.
For example, Eileen Vollowitz, BS, PT a physical therapist specializing in orthopedics and occupational health who is the founder of Health by Design says that the traditional medical advice of sleeping on a firm mattress may help some individuals but also harm others potentially exacerbating lower back pain .
Based on my own experience of sleeping on mattresses with different firmnesses and what I know about mattresses in general, here are the 3 primary ways that sleeping on a mattress thats too firm for you could cause back pain:
Rest Assured Adleborough 1400 Pocket Ortho Mattress
Rest Assured is one of a few smaller brands that are actually owned by the same company that owns the well-known Silentnight brand. The Rest Assured Adleborough 1400 has a brilliant specification for the price. Its a pocket sprung mattress which is the more common alternative to memory foam. It also features a hand tufted finish, which is another sign of a quality mattress.
The Rest Assured Adleborough 1400 cannot be flipped or turns, so instead has to be rotated. When it comes to flipping, its often considered beneficial to be able to turn a mattress as this is thought to greatly increase its life. This mattress is also one of the only ones available that doesnt come with any form of trial period so its best to read many reviews or to go and actually try one out before purchasing. It does come with a 5 year guarantee though, which although is a long time, its not very long in the world of mattresses.
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Which Mattress Firmness Is Best For Back Pain
A scientific study concluded that a medium-firm mattress outperformed a firm mattress in terms of reducing back pain whilst in bed, upon rising, and throughout the day for 313 adults tested over a 90-day period .
However, this study doesnt mean that everyone with back pain should buy a medium-firm mattress because back pain is a highly individualized condition, and the most suitable mattress firmness is dependant on a range of subjective factors.
The best mattress firmness for back pain could be soft, medium, firm, or another firmness variant depending on your body weight, body type, and dominant sleeping position.
This can make choosing the right mattress firmness for your back pain challenging.
And even if you consult your doctor first , you may still be unclear on the most suitable mattress firmness to help with your back pain.
Thats why Ive put together a list of the different mattress firmnesses and provided some guidelines as to which setting is typically best suited to the different combinations of body weights, body types, and sleeping positions to provide some clarity.
Now That You Know How To Tell If Your Bed Is Causing Back Pain Try A Sleep Natural Bed Today
Instead of dealing with your bad mattress symptoms, buy a new bed thats made to make you feel good! Shop our buying guide online or come to a Marks Mattress Store near you to try a Sleep Natural bed in person. We cant wait for you to feel the difference!
Join the Sleep Natural VIP Club, and stay informed of great sleep advice, sales and more!
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A Mattress With Special Layers Of Memory Foam For Softness And Support
Helix Sleep
Use code FORBES100 to receive $100 off + 2 free Dream Pillows when you spend $600 or more.
Use code FORBES150 to receive $150 off + 2 free Dream Pillows when you spend $1,250 or more.
Use code FORBES200 to receive $200 off + 2 free Dream Pillows when you spend $1,750 or more.
- Materials: Memory foam, Helix dynamic foam, wrapped coils
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: 100 nights
Helix offers mattresses that are tailor-built to your needs. You answer a short questionnaire, and the company will recommend the perfect mattress for you. That being said, the Helix Twilight is a top choice for back pain. It offers a firm feel with no sink or give, but its not so hard that you feel like youre sleeping on a rock. The mattress has a specialized foam layer to help cushion your pressure points, especially when youre sleeping on your side, along with a polyfoam transition layer for added support.
Where Did The Notion That Air Mattresses Are Bad For Your Back Come From
Back pain is commonplace as part of a modern lifestyle. It can stem from not enough exercise, prolonged periods of sitting, or a bad mattress. I have a friend who went through years of back pain, cortisone shots, and was scheduled for surgery. She bought a new bed as a last resort before having the operation and made an unprecedented full recovery: pain free for years now, all due to the right mattress.
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Conversely, sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause pain, especially back pain. Early air mattresses were a simple affair. They consisted of a vinyl exterior that was inflated with air, and many people found they either caused or exacerbated back pain. They were not very supportive, not good for spinal alignment, and could lead to back pain and stiffness. They offered no deep contouring for the body like what you can now get with pocketed coils or memory foam mattresses. Even current bloggers, who report successful sleep trials on an air mattress, may still caution about back pain.
Some of the concerns over back pain, however, may be a hangover from times gone by. Current air mattresses are nothing like they used to be. They were originally designed as short-term or temporary beds. They were used as guest beds, for camping, or as an interim bed when moving. With new technology, you can now purchase a high-quality air mattresses or air bed that is a viable long-term option.
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Best Cooling Mattress For Hot Sleepers With Lower Back Pain
Birch Natural Mattress
- Type: hybrid
- Height: 11 inches
If you deal with dual issues of sweaty sleep and lower back pain, consider the nontoxic Birch mattress. Its made with natural materials like organic cotton, organic wool, and OEKO-TEX, eco-INSTITUT, and Rainforest Alliance certified latex for maximum breathability and support.
The mattress offers superior airflow and temperature regulation, plus pressure relief and contouring, thanks to a mix of foam layers and individually wrapped coils.
Birch offers a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping, and a 25-year warranty.
Buy the Birch Natural Mattress online.
Reylon Ultimate Ortho Mattress
Reylon are a well-established brand of mattresses, popular in the United Kingdom. Being orthapedic, its another pocket sprung mattress as the two seem to go hand in hand. This is because the alternative memory foam tends to be too soft. Othopedic mattresses tend to be on the further side of the scale.
In terms of the spring count, this is about average and what can be expected of an orthopaedic mattress. The thing that sets the Reylon Ultimate Ortho mattress apart from its competitors though, is the thickness. Its 50mm thicker than similar mattresses by Rest Assured and Sleepeezee. This is sure to be a good choice for people who may have mobility issues. Or for those who just like to sleep on a higher bed.
Another great thing about this mattress is the fact that it can be flipped, which is thought to greatly increase its life. There are plenty of good reviews all over the internet about this mattress, so if you want a good mid-range orthopaedic mattress that wont break the bank but has all of the features you need, then this will be a good choice. Dont forget that a lack of sleep will affect you more than any mattress too, according to the Sleep Council.
How do you know which is the right mattress for your back pain? If you are lying on your side and are a side-sleeper, your spine should be parallel to the mattress and your spine should not sag . If it bows then the mattress might be too hard.
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A Cooling Option Thats Unlike Any Other Mattress
Purple
Black Friday mattress sale: Get up to $600 off mattresses and mattress bundles .
- Materials: Memory foam, support coils
- Sizes: Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
- Trial period: 100 nights
Thanks to its patented Purple Grid, the Purple Hybrid Mattress is unlike any other on this list. It consists of five layers, and the Purple Grid gently gives under your body, hugging your pressure points and fully supporting your back while you sleep. The grid sits on top of a 7.5-inch layer of responsive coils that offer additional support while you sleep. Plus, there are open air channels that allow air to freely flow through, making it much cooler than memory foam-only models.
Back Pain Pressure Points
If there is an overly vital area to be attentive to when suffering from back pain, its the pressure points that an improper mattress can cause on your body. These points mean that there is extra push back to a specific area. This can cause misalignment throughout your body and your spine.
Once it has moved out of alignment, there is an increased amount of pressure placed on your spine. Thats one of the common causes of back pain. Thinking about it that way may just help you answer the question, Is a firm mattress good for your back? from a whole new angle.
With this said, its essential to ensure that you arent sleeping on a bed that places too much pressure on your spine. This is also true for any major joints. Thats whats going to allow your body to rest in a relaxed state. The chance of pressure points forming along the spine as well as the lower back is diminished dramatically when the appropriate product is picked.
Pressure points are capable of causing long-term deformations and pains along your spine. This isnt something that you can likely afford as it can quickly turn into a chronic condition.
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Pulled Back Muscle And Lower Back Strain
Lower back or lumbar pain could result from a range of different causes. However, these are causes that are associated with the lumbar disc directly or with muscle strains. This could actually result from sudden movements, lifting heavy objects, or any other twists.
In any case, the thing that you need to do here is to get a proper and professional consultation with your doctor.
This is based on the prediction that you might have fallen into a specific situation with particular medical requirements. These might determine the firmness as well as the material type of your bed. The only person who could provide you with thorough and actionable advice on the mattress that you should get is your doctor.
And, keep in mind that this should happen only after careful and thorough examination. The source of the pain needs to be isolated and targeted properly.
Should You Get An Adjustment
It is a very wise idea to get a wellness adjustment from your chiropractor before you go mattress shopping. This can help relieve pain and help you have better posture and body support while you sleep. Ask your chiropractor for advice on sleeping positions, as well as recommendations for mattresses. Not only is your chiropractor a back expert, but he has probably heard a lot of recommendations from his patients who suffered from mattress-induced back pain.
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Is Your Mattress Suitable For Your Sleeping Position
Another niggle with choosing a mattress for a bad back is your sleeping position, which in turn will affect whether you prefer a Soft, Medium or Firm comfort layer in your mattress.
Different sleeping positions require different support and comfort layers from your upholstery, so its a good idea to try and identify these when shopping for a mattress.
Each type of sleeping position requires different comfort layer combinations to help prevent back or hip pain during the night.
Most people fail to realise that your sleeping position can directly inform the types of bed fibres you will need to sleep comfortably. Leading to picking the wrong mattress which can lead to back issues.
To help you work out what kind of upholstery you may need, we have some guidance below.
