Mattress Advisor’s Review Process
Each mattress on this list was put to the test in Mattress Advisor’s lab, which is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bedding experts spent over 1,200 hours evaluating and comparing mattresses using a 14-point testing methodology to find the best mattresses that help relieve back pain.
While some of the factors tested are tied directly to performance, like responsiveness, edge support, and pressure relief, others are based around brand operations, such as customer service, shipping policies, and trial period. The Mattress Advisor team combines this proprietary methodology with in-depth interviews and customer experience to arrive at a weighted score out of 10.
Sheryl Grassie is an academic writer and researcher for Mattress Advisor.
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What Causes Back Pain
If you are experiencing constant back pain, the cause may be your mattress. Good posture is important when sleeping and a mattress with good support can ensure you maintain a healthy spine and help with back pain relief. A bad back can lead to problems in your daily life and create health issues down the road. Since you spend a third of your life sleeping, it is important to invest in a decent mattress. A good mattress will relieve back pain and adjust to your natural spinal alignment. This will relieve the pressure points in the curves of your spine and neck.
. A mattress should ensure that your spine makes a nice curve. This means when lying in your sleep position, your neck should curve towards or through the throat. The middle of your back should curve outwards or to the back and your lower back should always curve forward towards the stomach. A mattress should also provide enough support to the body’s joints, muscles, and ligaments. These parts of the body are used extensively throughout the day and need to time to recuperate. Also, your mattress should be changed every 8-10 years otherwise the mattress quality has degraded and is most likely not providing the proper support your back needs.
Logan & Cove Luxury Hybrid Pillow
Between the ultra-soft silk blend pillow top and the cooling gel foam layer, you will feel like royalty as you lay down on this precision-crafted mattress from Logan & Cove. It is a hybrid mattress that is just loaded with so many great features it is hard to know where to start.
So, lets start at the top! The top layer of this mattress is woven from a silk blend and stuffed with plush pillow filling. The next layer down is a supportive yet soft gel foam that contours to your body while also pulling away heat to keep your temperature regulated.
Next up is a layer of high-density foam that supports the spine and allow for motion isolation. Below that is another layer of cooling gel foam followed by another layer of high-density foam. This alternating pattern is unique and allows for so much more flexibility without losing an ounce of support.
At its foundation, this mattress has pocketed coils, providing a responsive bed that lets you move without making you sink into it. It is one of the most unique and cozy designs out there!
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Best Cooling: Cocoon By Sealy Chill Hybrid Mattress
The Sealy Chill Hybrid Mattress just sounds cool and it lives up to its name, thanks to a cooling cover and multiple cooling foam layers underneath.
It’s kept in place by a steel perimeter, perfect for cocooning you into a better night’s sleep. And because it’s made with memory foam, it also conforms to your body, no matter which position you sleep in.
Buy it:CocoonBySealy.com Price: $739$1,299
Different Types Of Memory Foam Mattresses
Since the introduction of memory foam into the mainstream market there have been different advancements on the memory foam mattresses. There are three main types of memory foam mattresses traditional memory foam mattress, plant based memory foam mattress, and gel infused memory foam mattress.
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Casper Original Foam Mattress
The Casper Original Mattress is quality built with meticulous attention to detail to ensure you get the best night of sleep possible, every night. It is especially suited to anyone who tends to sleep hot or live in hot climates. Because of the gel foam layer, this mattress has a cooling effect, whisking away heat and keeping your body cool through the night.
The foam also perfectly contours to your body so that you can sleep comfortably on your back or side while still providing the support you need. It will perfectly cradle your hips and shoulders while providing full support to the spin. This is one of the best choices for those who deal with chronic back pain.
If all that is not enough, the mattress arrives in a box just like all the other mattresses on this list, making it easier to unpack and set up than unboxed mattresses. Just make sure to give it enough time to return to its shape after being compressed into a box.
Not Enough Time Has Passed
It can take up to 30 days or more for a new memory foam mattress to break in and adjust to your body weight, body type, and preferred sleeping position.
This is why many sleep trials stipulate that you cannot return the mattress until this 30 night adjustment window has passed.
Solution: Adjust or Return
The solution is to wait for the 30 night trial period to pass to see if you get used to the mattress and your back pain eases returning it for a refund if youre still unhappy.
However, spending 30 nights in agony isnt recommended.
So you might like to try some of the adjustment strategies that Ive already listed in this guide to help you cope in the meantime if you have no choice but to sleep in the mattress.
You could try using a mattress topper, walking/rolling on the mattress to break it in, heating/cooling the room, trying a different base, or switching your sleeping position.
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How To Choose The Best Mattress For Back Pain
Youre much more likely to have problems sleeping if you have back pain during the day, Dr. Huff says, so its imperative that you find the right mattressotherwise, you could be stuck in a painful 24-hour cycle. Heres what you need to know before you go shopping:
Look for the right density. Just 20 years ago, orthopedic surgeons would have recommended going with a firm mattress, but that recommendation has since changed, Dr. Huff explains. The ideal density is medium-firm, per a landmark 2003 study and another from 2015, which promotes sleep comfort, quality, and spinal alignment. Foam mattresses may also have a slight edge over spring options, but density has a bigger impact on sleep quality and back pain than material does, Dr. Huff says. The right firmness is attainable with foam, coil, and hybrid mattresses.
Think of your sleep position. Consider your sleep position, then buy a model that matches it. If youre a side-sleeper, you likely want a softer mattress, because that relieves some of the pressure on your hips and shoulders, Dr. Huff explains. It also helps you align your spine. Back-sleepers, meanwhile, can go with firmer mattresses, since their weight is more evenly distributed. And stomach-sleepers should seek out pillow-top mattresses that allow easy airflow and less pressure on the neck.
Ready to settle in for your best nights sleep? Shop these top-rated mattresses to help aleviate back pain, below.
120-night trial | 10-year warranty
What Is The Best Firmness For Back Pain
Although many people believe that a firm mattress will provide the best support for an aching back, it has been proven through a variety of studies that a middle firm mattress is optimal for the spine. Sleeping on a mattress that is too firm can cause aching joints and muscles. Softer mattresses provide little to no support for the back and the bodies pressure points. An optimal choice would be the middle firm mattress which allows the body to slightly sink into the mattress, thus keeping the spine in alignment and allowing for just the right amount of body support. Nevertheless, the firmness of our matress is adjustable! You can try our Emma Mattress for a few days and request a free memory foam comfort layer or buy our memory foam mattress topper, either soft or firm, to adjust the mattress to your preferences. Always speak to your doctor before deciding on a mattress type and each individual can vary.
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What Type Of Mattress Is Best For Back Pain
Back pain often occurs when your mattress doesnt provide adequate support to your body throughout the night, causing misalignment in your spine. The key to alleviating an aching back is finding a mattress that provides appropriate support.
In general, memory foam and latex mattresses are often considered the best options for back pain, as they conform to your body, cradling pressure points while supporting your spine and keeping it aligned. However, hybrid and coil mattresses can provide similar benefits, as long as you choose one thats specifically designed for that purpose.
Ease Aches With These Trusted Buys
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Verywell / Sabrina Jiang
Anyone who lives with back pain understands what a major difference a restful nights sleep can makeand, on the flip side, how disruptive it is when you wake up already experiencing discomfort. Though there are many causes of back pain, regardless of how it started, you want to make sure that the mattress you sleep on every night is meeting your needs. But finding one that works for you is often easier said than done.
There is no best kind of mattress for your back problems, so you may need to be open to some trial-and-error, says Dr.Gregory Funk, a chiropractor and the owner of Ideal Health Chiropractic in Denver. At the end of the day, you should look for a mattress that not only aligns with your personal preferences, but can also provide adequate support for the natural curves and alignment of the spine.”
Here are the best mattresses for back pain on the market.
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Mattress Type And Materials
So what is the best mattress for a bad back? Mattresses can be made of many different natural and synthetic materials but some materials are better than others when it comes to providing the extra support needed to alleviate back pain.
Memory foam and latex
The most commonly recommended beds for back pain are memory foam and latex. Memory foam mattresses and their natural alternative, latex mattresses, both offer amazing support and contouring. They hug the body and cradle all your natural curves, supporting pressure points like shoulders and hips while relieving pressure for reduced pain. Memory foam and latex also help keep your spine aligned while sleeping, which further reduces stress on the back and lowers pain in all areas.
Innerspring
An innerspring mattress, sometimes referred to as a traditional mattress, is a bed of coils with a foam layer on top. These mattresses were the standard for around a century, but, despite improvements like pocketed coils and better motion isolation, a regular innerspring with a foam top generally doesn’t offer enough support for substantial back pain relief.
Airbed
Airbeds don’t offer the kind of contouring that memory foam or latex does. However, there are beds with air components that can be mechanically adjusted for more or less fill and firmness. The ability to customize your bed can be a great asset when trying to get good support for alleviating upper or lower back pain.
Hybrid
A Luxury Model Thats Worth Every Penny
tempurpedic.com
- Sizes: Twin, Twin Long, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King and Split California King
- Trial period: 90 nights
Filled with special Tempur-Material that was originally developed by NASA, this luxury mattress provides advanced pressure relieving power thats ideal for those with back pain. Responding to your weight, shape and temperature, this adaptive mattress conforms to your body even if you shift positions throughout the night. The proprietary material also absorbs motion better than other memory foam mattresses so if you sleep with a partner, you wont get jostled awake if they toss and turn in the middle of the night.
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What Is The Best Bed For Back Pain
- purple bed. The purple bed concept originated from common problems with most conventional mattresses that lead to chronic sleep deprivation.
- Tuff & needles mattress. The Tuft & Needle mattress is a memory foam mattress supplemented with T& N adjustable foam.
- LUCID 16 inch plush toy.
- Live and Sleep Resort sleeping mattress.
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.
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Best Mattress Combo Sleepers With Back Pain: Amerisleep As3
Best for: Combination Sleepers with Back Pain
Our Amerisleep AS3 is a 12-inch tall, medium mattress. Its perfect for combination sleepers with back pain because it strikes a balance between soft and firm, so it can accommodate a range of sleeping positions.
Combination sleepers need a mattress thats firm enough to support a neutral posture in the stomach or back sleeping position, but also provide enough contour and cushion to alleviate pressure points while in the side sleeping position. Our AS3, with its contouring Bio-Pur® memory foam and a targeted support layer, is an excellent choice for combination sleepers, catering to the firmness needs of sleepers who toss and turn.
The AS3 includes 3 inches of Bio-Pur®, 2 inches of Affinity with HIVE®, and a 7-inch Bio-Core® support layer. Each layer serves a specific purposethe top comfort layer gives the bed cushion, the transition layer provides targeted support, and the base layer boosts firmness and durability.
The Bio-Pur® foam in the top comfort layer is 3 inches thick, 1 inch thicker than the AS2. The extra thickness makes the AS3 a bit softer than the AS2. This provides required cushioning to side sleepers with a bad back and adequate firmness to nurture back and stomach sleepers spinal alignment.
The last layer is 7 inches of Bio-Core® foam. This base foam strengthens the mattress core and prevents it from sagging.
What Are The Memory Foam Mattress Problems And Solutions
The memory foam mattress is highly comfortable than other types of mattresses in the market but it may cause few problems due to the wrong choice while buying it. Most people do wrong in the following points such as wrong firmness, lack of support, cool or hot foam. The medium to firm range memory foam mattresses are good for all sleeping styles. The high-density support foam mattresses are great for better back support. The gel foam mattresses are good for cool.
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Sleep Trial Warranty Return Policy
Buying a mattress with a sleep trial period and warranty gives you time to test out your mattress and the reassurance that a company will repair or replace a defective mattress. We strongly advise purchasing a mattress with both, although a 30-day return policy can substitute for a sleep trial if needed.
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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