Sleep is a vital time for the body to recuperate at the end of a busy day. Unfortunately, back pain, whether lower or upper, can negatively affect your sleep quality. Sleeping on a mattress that does not provide adequate comfort and support can compound the problem and cause new aches and pains in the morning. Our data has shown the best mattress for back pain supports the spine and promotes even alignment. This relieves back pain and helps provide more profound and therapeutic sleep.
For this guide, our data focused on customers who suffer from back pain and which of our mattresses provided pressure relief, comfort, support, and ease of movement. As a result, the mattresses on this page were considered by our customers the best mattresses for back pain.
Back pain is a widespread issue that impacts an estimated 80% of adults. It can make daily activities difficult, including working, walking, sitting, driving and lifting even light items. Unfortunately, we know that back pain also problematizes sleep, making it hard to find a comfortable position to fall asleep and sleep undisturbed through the night.
Research studies have discovered that over half of people with lower back pain report sleeping difficulties. These adverse sleep effects emerge in people with both sudden and acute back pain and those with long-term, chronic back pain.
People with back pain tend to have a fragmented sleep from waking up at night. In addition, getting back to sleep can be challenging because of persistent aches and pain. Back pain can also contribute to depression, stress and anxiety, affecting quality sleep.
Individuals with back pain can take several steps to feel and sleep better. In addition, getting medical assistance for severe back problems can help relieve pain. Treatments depend on the cause of your symptoms and can range from physical therapy, pain-relieving medications and surgery.
More minor changes can contribute to pain relief as well. For example, sitting with proper posture, taking care when lifting and avoiding unnatural movements can reduce the aggravation of back pain. In addition, based on our data, we’ve found that having a mattress that keeps the spine aligned can relieve stress on the spine and promote better sleep.
Back pain can show in many distinct ways and for various reasons. However, to help categorise back pain, it is usually defined as either acute or chronic.
Acute back pain comes on suddenly and is usually a sharp, extreme pain. In many cases, acute back pain is tied to a specific event, such as an awkward body twist, fall or lifting a heavy object. It is a pain generally from an injury to your muscles or ligaments.
Chronic back pain lasts for a few months or longer and continues despite your attempts to fix it. It can involve intense pain but may occur as dull soreness or stiffness. Occasionally it can be related to a prior injury but usually has no clear or direct cause. Another way you can differentiate between types of back pain is by concentrating on which part of the back is impacted.
Lower back pain
Mid back pain
Upper back pain
Sleeping position may have a direct impact on back pain. This is because each sleeping position forms a unique set of pressure points that need cushioning. Our data shows that having the right mattress to conform to your sleeping position is essential in preventing and relieving back pain.
Back sleepers tend to have the most pressure points around the lumbar area. Our data has shown the weight of the stomach will cause this area to fall out of alignment with the back and hips if a mattress feel is too soft. Conversely, if the mattress feel is too firm, it won’t adjust to the spine’s natural curvature in the lumbar area. For this reason, a medium-feel mattress usually works best for back sleepers.
Side sleepers have high-impact zones where the body is the widest, typically at the hips and shoulders. A mattress must be soft enough to cushion those pressure points but not too soft to let you sink too deeply and out of line with the rest of the body. Our data shows side sleepers with back pain get the best sleep quality and comfort from a medium soft feel mattress.
Stomach sleepers have pressure points in the lumbar area and near the neck. Therefore, if their pillow is too lofty, it may put an excess bend in the upper back and neck. On the other hand, if the mattress feel is soft, the pelvic area can sink too far, positioning the body in a U shape that may apply stress to the spine and the ligaments muscles in the lower back. As a result, our data shows stomach sleepers have reduced back pain if they have a medium-feel mattress and use a thinner pillow.
Body weight is an essential factor to think about, along with the sleeping position. People with more body weight will sink further into a mattress, heightening the risks in all sleeping positions of the heavier body parts becoming misaligned. For example, sleepers over 16 stones generally need a firmer mattress than someone who weighs 10 stones and sleeps in the same position.
A mattress can cause back pain because it is essential to how your body is positioned through the night. Unfortunately, people neglect the significance of having a mattress appropriate for them based on their body weight and sleeping position. If your joints and spine aren’t cushioned and aligned during sleep, they won’t be capable of relaxing. So instead of recuperating, the body will be strained, aggravating back issues and planting the seeds for new ones. The easiest way to know whether a mattress contributes to back pain is if the pain is most apparent when you wake up. If the pain is the worst in the morning and diminishes during the day, we advise looking at whether your mattress plays a part in your aches and pains.
Pocket Spring
Our pocket spring mattresses are designed with a support core supplemented by an effective comfort system that includes layers of the finest natural fibres. As a result, they have the best of multiple bed types without suffering from their flaws. For example, our data shows our pocket spring mattresses offer significant contouring that aids in pressure point relief. At the same time, our luxury calico springs allow excellent support and ventilation, guaranteeing temperature regulation and support.
Memory Foam
Our deep contouring memory foam offers the highest degree of hugging and cradling. This allows it to deliver balanced cushioning to the regions of the body that need it most. Our data shows side sleepers swear that our memory foam is beneficial for easing sharp impact points like shoulders and hips.
When shopping for a mattress to help ease back pain, some features are more significant than others. With so many products and a flock of marketing hype, it can be difficult to single out what matters. However, based on our extensive data collection, we feel that you’re most likely to get the most fulfilment out of your purchase by concentrating on specific considerations:
Mattress Type
The fibres and construction will play a massive role in the performance of a mattress. The bounce, contouring, mattress feel, temperature regulation, motion isolation and spring tension of a mattress will differ for each mattress type, so shoppers must think about their priorities and choose a mattress with features that will best meet their needs.
Pocket Spring Support
Weight from the body is not evenly distributed; certain areas require more cushioning. A pocket spring mattress considers that and offers individual support in those areas.
Quality Natural Fibres
We’ve found that a mattress made with excellent natural fibres is considerably more likely to provide the performance, support, comfort and durability that people with back pain need.
Spring Tension
Spring tension is a crucial driver of mattress support. The correct spring tension will play a large part in whether a mattress offers good support, which will depend significantly on your sleeping position and body weight.
Mattress Feel
The feel of the mattress is determined by what type of fibres are used and the total gsm. People with back pain want to avoid too soft or firm mattresses. Our data shows that mattresses with a medium soft or medium feel are the best for back pain. To make it easier for you to find what feel our mattresses have, we have listed them on each product page’s ‘how will it feel’ section.
We consider that the best mattress for people with back pain is the one that is suited to their body weight and preferred sleeping position. Back pain-friendly mattresses are listed above, with most of our customers who suffer from back pain agreeing that they offer the best combination of support and pressure relief.
Pocket springs and memory foam allow for better spinal alignment as they provide the pressure relief and contouring needed to release tension and bypass pressure points.
Many individuals think that a firm mattress is the best for back pain, but our data shows that people with back pain should choose a mattress feel and spring tension that suits their body weight and sleeping position that is neither too soft nor too firm. For example, we found that people who weigh under 10 stones require soft-feel mattresses, while medium-firm feel mattresses typically alleviate back pain for those who weigh above 16 stones.
Individuals with lower back pain usually find the most relief and comfort when sleeping on their side with their knees somewhat bent. Positioning a pillow between your knees can also make the side position more comfortable if the pillow is the correct size to promote proper spinal and hip alignment. Stomach sleepers find relief and comfort by using a thin pillow for their head and a supportive pillow under their stomach and hips.
If you suffer from upper back pain, sleeping on your back or side is best since sleeping on your stomach induces significant shoulder and neck tension. Side sleepers may also experience shoulder and upper back pain if their mattress has inferior pressure relief properties. The position can cramp these zones and form tension and pressure points where your shoulder presses into the mattress.
Our mattress experts have vast experience in everything to do with sleep products and mattresses. Send an email to sales@winstonsbeds.com or call us at 01612509200 with your questions and we’ll assist you in finding what you’re looking for.
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