What Is A Firm Mattress
Typically, the type of foam used in a mattress comfort layer determines how firm it is. A firm mattress may only have 1 to 2 inches of memory foam or other padding, while a soft mattress may have 4 inches or more, explained Logan Foley, managing editor at Sleep Foundation. The density of the foam can also affect firmness mattresses with a higher density will have a much firmer feel.
Youll be able to get an initial feel of how firm a mattress is by lying down on it. How much the mattress gives or flexes to your weight determines how firm it is, said Alex Dimitriu, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist. Imagine a 10-pound bowling ball, he said. On a firm mattress it would sink in less deeply on a soft mattress it would sink in more deeply.
Thickness For Back Pain Sufferers
Thickness is something to look for in latex mattress toppers and foam ones for back pain. Generally, mattress topper product will range from 2 inches to 4 inches thick. If you tend to have worse levels of back pain, youll want something thats 4 in thick and has more support to it to relieve pressure points. If your back pain isnt as severe, youll likely be okay with something thats a little thinner since you don’t have as much of a need to relieve pressure points.
Simple Ways To Reduce Back Pain
A new mattress is a big investment, and sometimes its too expensive to fit into your budget. If you want to reduce back pain in a cost-effective way, there are a few other options you can test out.
- Pillow: A new pillow that works with your sleeping position and provides good neck support can be a great way to quickly improve your sleep posture and reduce some back pain. Our best pillows for back pain roundup includes a few options, and explains how pillows can help fight back pain in more detail.
- Mattress Topper: Adding a firm mattress topper to a sagging or unsupportive mattress can be a nice quick fix for back pain. It also gives some much-needed support and can extend the life of your mattress by a few months. Check out some of our best mattress toppers to see some options.
- Change your sleeping position: Your sleeping position could be creating some back pain. Back sleepers have the easiest time achieving a neutral spinal alignment, which can really reduce pain. Stomach sleepers, on the other hand, are particularly prone to waking up with back pain. Side sleepers can also have some issues with pain if they arent careful about not twisting their back into odd positions as they sleep. If youre struggling with back pain, training yourself to sleep on your back could be a big help. Check out our How to Train to Sleep on Your Back article for some tips.
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What Makes The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Stand Out
- Its available in three firmness options: Soft, Medium, and Firm. We tested the Medium, which scored a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
- The top comfort layer of proprietary TitanFlex foam is infused with a gel that helps the mattress stay cool.
- Theres some additional softness in the cover. Its quilted with foam and has the appearance of a classic pillow-top.
If youre looking for a high-quality mattress thats good for back pain without having to make a huge investment, the Nectar mattress is a great affordable option. With an all-foam construction, it has the slow-moving feel of memory foam, but without the cost of some high-end beds. You should feel a lot of pressure-relieving comfort and contouring. But it also has supportive base layers that should create an ideal balance to keep your spine aligned while you sleep.
Firm Mattresses For Back Support To Shop In 2021
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You spend a lot of your life in bed, and anyone whos had a poor-quality mattress knows how much it can affect your sleep. But if you feel like youre constantly sinking into your mattress or dont get enough support while you sleep, it may be time to consider a firmer mattress.
Finding a mattress that offers the right amount of cushion and support can absolutely help you to have a better night’s sleep, said Meghan Hunter, senior editor at Mattress Nerd. To help you narrow down the sheer amount of mattress options online, we spoke to experts about features to look for in a firm mattress and used their advice to round up highly rated options on top of their own recommendations.
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What To Know About Mattress Model Kind
Should you acquire a stylish online-only foam mattress or a more-traditional innerspring?
Just how around a so-called hybrid?
What regarding latex? What Mattress Is Best For Back Pain
In this primer on mattress types, we unbox the pros and cons of whats inside that shrouded rectangular shape so you can pick the bed thats right for you.
A Zoned Model Thats Firm In The Middle And Softer Around The Edges
Parachute
- Materials: Pocketed coils, wool comfort layers
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: 100 nights
Made with layers of pure New Zealand wool and 100% organic cotton, the Parachute Eco Comfort Mattress is another eco-friendly mattress that can help alleviate back pain. It has two layers of pocketed steel coils, and its designed to be firm in the middle for back support and softer at the head and feet for pressure point relief and spinal alignmentgreat for combination sleepers. In between the coils is a comfort layer made from real wool, and the whole thing is wrapped in an organic cotton cover.
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Best Flippable Mattress For Back Pain Layla Medium Firm Mattress
Layla is a high-quality mattress that we could write about in almost all mattresses categories, but we decided to highlight its incredible versatility. It offers you a rare opportunity to decide whats more comfortable and beneficial to your well-being and even change your mind if your problems or sleeping positions are altered.
It is a flippable memory foam mattress, providing you with two different sides the softer side was specially designed for side sleepers who need support for the pressure points. In contrast, the firm side wont let you sink into the mattress, which is ideal for stomach and back sleepers. On both sides, memory foam responds to your heat and body pressure, allowing even bodyweight distribution. Thanks to its copper gel, this is the best memory foam mattress that firms even in response to more significant pressure, plus transports the heat away from your body. If you are looking for the optimal support, foam mattresses are the best for back pain in any sleep position.
Additionally, these memory foam mattresses for back pain use the Motion Transfer Control technology, hence it will be less disturbing for your partner when you change your sleep position at night .
Best Mattress Model For Couples
Puffy mattress model holds lots of honors, including one of the most Comfortable Mattress of 2020.
Made in the U.S.A., the Puffy Lux is Puffys most preferred marketing mattress.
For memory foam lovers that desire both luscious comfort as well as durable support, Puffys high-end mattress model the Puffy Lux may be your next bed room buy.
This USA-made mattress model includes four layers of various foam that intend to thaw the stress and anxiety as well as pressure from the bodys pressure factors.
As a result of its wonderful motion seclusion and also great resting experience, it has actually been elected the very best mattress for couples.
Mattress model Type: All foam
Client Score: 4.9 out of 5
Firmness: Medium-soft
Test Durations for Returns: 101 nights
To get:
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What Makes The Helix Midnight Luxe Stand Out
- The top memory foam layer provides good contouring, while the coils provide excellent support.
- Many side sleepers should get good pressure relief.
- The mattress boasts excellent cooling features.
If you deal with back pain and prefer a mattress thats a bit more traditional, the WinkBed could be right for you. Its an innerspring mattress that features two sets of coils and a comfortable pillow-top. You have multiple firmness options to choose from, but the Luxury Firm model should be the best for back pain. It boasts an excellent balance of comfort and support that will help to keep your spine in proper neutral alignment.
Best Mattress For Pressure Relief
The GhostBed Flex is an affordably-priced hybrid version created of 6 layers, consisting of a quilted cover, two layers of memory foam, 2 layers of polyfoam, and a layer of pocketed coils.
It amounts to 13 inches thick, and it has a firmness ranking of 6 on the 10-point firmness range..
With gel-cooling innovation, the comfort of memory foam, and a durable innerspring coil layer, the GhostBed Flex can accommodate many different sorts of sleepers.
The GhostBed Flex features wonderful side support as well as separately covered coils which reduce motion transfer, making this a best mattress model for couples.
Mattress Model Kind: Hybrid
Client Score: 4.8 out of 5
Firmness: Medium-firm What Mattress Is Best For Back Pain
Trial Period for Returns: 101 evenings
To get:
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Botanical Bliss Organic Latex Mattress
Best for pressure points
This mattress is made with a range of materials certified under the Global Organic Textile Standard and Global Organic Latex Standard. These materials include organic cotton, wool, and organic latex. It also comes with recommendations from orthopedic specialists and chiropractors.
Two layers of Dunlop latex sit beneath a layer of Talalay latex. The two types of latex offer different levels of firmness, so the mattress blends softness and support.
This mattress also helps keep pressure points on the body free from pain due to the added buoyancy of the latex layers.
The 10 pounds of organic wool keep the mattress breathable and cool to sleep on while offering high levels of support to keep the body in alignment.
Best for mold and odor resistance
The Inofia Mattress is handcrafted and features three memory foam layers that absorb body weight.
A base layer of high density memory foam balances the body, and another layer of memory foam relieves pressure. On top of this is a layer of cloud foam, which keeps the mattress soft.
Supporting these three layers of foam is a layer of barrel springs that are slightly softer than pocket springs. These may be good for relieving back pain due to their ergonomic design.
This mattress is also OEKO-TEX-certified, meaning it is naturally hypoallergenic and resists mold, bacteria, and odors.
What Are The Best Mattresses For Back Pain
In the past, it used to be way less complicated but also less effective. An old-school expert would tell you to get an irritatingly firm mattress and if it doesnt work, its all your fault, and the cause of your back pain is probably somewhere else.
Luckily, both mattress and sleep specialists know better these days. They realize that a lot depends on ones individual preferences and characteristics, such as a preferred sleeping position that cant always be helped.
Whats more, doctors have found that a firm mattress is, in fact, not the absolute best choice for someone with back pain. Right now, the universal best recommendation is a medium-firm mattress. However, all of them agree that you should try different mattresses first to find the perfect one and, most significantly, listen to your body and the signs it gives you.
To provide you with an excellent place to start, we have prepared the following propositions a selection of the best mattresses for sleepers with back pain:
- Best Firm Mattress for Back Pain WINKBED
- Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Pain HELIX PLUS
- Best Innerspring Mattress for Back Pain SAATVA
- Best Flippable Mattress for Back Pain LAYLA
- Best Eco-Friendly Mattress for Back Pain AMERISLEEP AS2
- Best High-Quality Mattress for Back Pain on a Budget PUFFY
- Best Mattress for Back Pain for Athletes BEAR
- Best Mattresses for Back and Neck Pain IDLE HYBRID
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Can Your Sleeping Position Affect Back Pain
The position you sleep in also plays an integral role in either mitigating or worsening back pain. Authorities like Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic emphasize the correlation between sleep position and back pain and offer tips on how to reduce pain in each position. On a scale of 1 to 10 , here’s what to look for in a mattress depending on your regular sleeping position.
- The best mattress for side sleepers with back pain is a slightly softer bed that cushions the pressure points and has a firmness between 5.5 to 6.5.
- Back sleepers need a solid medium-firm mattress that maintains spine alignment while softly supporting the hips and should aim for a 6 to 7 on the firmness scale.
- Stomach sleepers need a slightly firmer mattress in the 6.5 to 7.5 range that keeps their hips elevated for a neutral spine posture.
What Type Of Mattress Is Best For People With Low Back Pain
Back pain is one of the top reasons that people begin to lose mobility in middle age. Pain can keep people from engaging in physical activity, making it more difficult for them to maintain a healthy weight and keep up their strength, stamina, and balance as they age. So treating and managing back pain that results from injuries or health problems is crucial for staying on the path of a healthy and active life.
Considering that most people spend roughly a third of their lives lying in bed, choosing the right mattress is essential for managing low back pain. It can make the difference in whether you can sleep at night and function the next day.
In the past, doctors often recommended very firm mattresses. But one survey of 268 people with low back pain found that those who slept on very hard mattresses had the poorest sleep quality. There was no difference in sleep quality between those who used medium-firm and firm mattresses.
Soft mattresses, on the other hand, can also be problematic. While a soft mattress that conforms to your body’s natural curves may help the joints align favorably, you might also sink in so deeply that your joints twist and become painful during the night.
If you want to find out whether a firmer mattress would feel better than the one you’re currently using, try putting a plywood board under your mattress to dampen the movement from the bedsprings, or try placing your mattress on the floor.
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Brooklyn Bedding Signature Mattress
Brooklyn Bedding has amazing products that are sold at very affordable prices. This mattress is extremely high-quality and a great option for combination sleepers.
Seniors who experience back pain are going to need a balance of comfort and support. Their bed should have a bit of plushness, but they wont want to sink too far into it, either. They may find what theyre looking for in the hybrid construction of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature. The mattress provides some softness in the top comfort layers while also giving elderly sleepers a slight lift from a 6 support layer of individually wrapped ascension coils.
What Makes The Ghostbed Flex Stand Out
- It has a very breathable construction that allows air to flow through the mattress and helps prevent your body heat from becoming trapped.
- It does a good job of isolating motions, so it should be a good fit for couples sharing the bed.
- The layers of foam work together to create a comfortable sleep surface.
Read our full GhostBed Flex review.
The Helix mattresses are a fantastic choice for those shoppers who just cant make up their minds. Customers take a sleep quiz, after which the brand customizes a hybrid mattress based on those answers. People can also select from their line of mattresses, with the medium-firm Helix Midnight being the most popular. And as far as back pain goes, the Luxe version of the bed could be a great choice. Featuring soft foam layers over supportive coils, it has a great balance of comfort and support for back sleepers.
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Closing Thoughts For Back Pain Sufferers
Back pain is debilitating. Its even worse when your back hurts just after you wake up and you have to deal with it for the rest of the day. Relieve your back pain with a good mattress topper then, which will support your body completely and help you sleep well. You just have to make sure that you dont lose any sleep picking one out! Make sure to weigh the pros and cons of each topper, and consider things like the material it’s made out of and the thickness.
Gabe is the newest member of The Sleep Shop team. If you like the design of The Sleep Shop, give Gabe a thumbs up. Hes a digital marketing and design guru and the brains behind the design and SEO of The Sleep Shop. He also wont say no to testing a ton of mattresses either, and helps on almost every mattress review.
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.
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