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After a long day at work, all you want to do is get into bed and forget all your worries by drifting off to sleep.
But getting a good night’s sleep is another challenge for people suffering from back pain. The discomfort makes it incredibly difficult to go to sleep, and you can spend countless hours just trying to get comfortable.
While there can be several reasons for back pain, one of the most common ones is the use of an improper mattress. If your mattress does not offer proper support and causes muscle strain, it can lead to back pain.
That is why changing your mattress should be the first step to resolving such problems, and there are lots of options available on the market specially designed for the purpose. In this guide, we’ve reviewed some of the best ones to help you out.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Offering impressive support thanks to its copper foam construction and cooling gel interiors, the Layla memory foam mattress is an outstanding option for those suffering from back pain. The copper particles in the gel also help draw heat away from the body so that you can sleep more comfortably, even during the hottest nights. Additionally, copper prevents bacterial growth and odor problems common in memory foam mattresses.
The Layla memory foam mattress is also highly efficient in reducing motion transfer, allowing you to sleep undisturbed even when sharing the mattress with a partner. But perhaps the best feature of this mattress is that it offers both soft and firm surfaces and can easily be flipped over as required. This makes it perfect for people with varying sleeping requirements.
The Layla memory foam mattress may not be the best option for stomach sleepers.
With its copper-gel memory foam construction delivering exceptional support, the Layla memory foam mattress is a fantastic choice for back pain relief. And its heat dispersal and antibacterial properties further help improve the overall sleeping experience, making it our top pick!
Being one of the highest-rated mattresses on the market, the Puffy mattress is a compelling option due to its five-layer construction. Each layer performs a distinct function to ensure maximum comfort and adequate support while sleeping. Also, this is a versatile option that is suitable for all types of sleepers, back, stomach, or side, as it can easily adjust to the shape of your body.
The feature that sets the Puffy mattress apart from the competition is that it comes fully endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association. This means that it has been clinically tested to provide relief from pain and discomfort and is an ideal choice for people with such problems. Additionally, it comes with a stain-resistant cloud cover that keeps the mattress protected.
Heavier sleepers who need thicker padding may not find the Puffy mattress the best option.
The Puffy mattress is an excellent choice for sensitive sleepers who face back pain issues frequently due to its multi-layer construction and adaptability. Also, it is easy to maintain as the cloud cover can be easily removed and machine-washed.
If you’re looking for a premium quality mattress to help you deal with back pain issues, the Dreamcloud hybrid mattress may be the perfect choice. It is an award-winning product that uses seven different foam layers to provide adequate sleep support. The mattress also comes with a quilted cover and gel-infused memory foam, which help regulate the temperature effectively to keep you cool during the night.
Apart from that, it has an innerspring coil layer, which helps reduce motion while promoting better airflow, preventing you or your partner from getting disturbed by movement or heat. Then, there is the bottom support layer made of standard foam, providing excellent support to the upper layers and helping keep the mattress in one place.
This mattress may not be suitable if you prefer an option with a traditional memory foam feel.
With its selection of innovative technologies designed to provide relief and help you sleep better, the Dreamcloud mattress is a worthy choice. And features like motion isolation make this an ideal choice if you share the mattress with a partner.
Ghostbed is a leading name in the mattress industry, and this classic option from the brand is among its best offerings. It features a combination of aerated hypoallergenic latex and gel memory foam that can provide support to your aching back while also helping regulate your body temperature. Apart from that, it helps improve spinal alignment and provides additional support, which is possible due to the high-density foam layer.
Being a medium-firm mattress, the Ghostbed mattress can provide pressure relief to areas such as the shoulders, back, and hips so that you can sleep peacefully. Its top cover is made using polyester, which ensures breathability and enhances temperature regulation, while the base helps ensure stability without making the mattress feel uncomfortably hard.
The Ghostbed classic mattress has high motion transfer making it unsuitable for couples.
Made from hypoallergenic materials that can provide superior back support, the Ghostbed Classic mattress is an excellent choice to help get rid of back pain. It also promotes better airflow, allowing effective temperature regulation so you can sleep without feeling too hot.
The Helix Midnight mattress has several impressive features that make it a great pick for those with back pain problems. These include multiple comfort layers designed to maximize pressure relief and four-sided edge support, which ensures stability and minimizes the chances of falls. Also, the lower support layer contains individually wrapped steel coils which can help reduce motion and prevent disturbances.
Temperature control is also efficient, thanks to the Tencel cover, which promotes breathability and allows better airflow while drawing heat away from your body. Moreover, the Helix Midnight mattress is constructed from completely safe materials and comes with Certi-PUR-US certification, making it perfect for those with allergies.
Some people may find the Helix Midnight mattress too soft for their liking.
Made from high-quality materials and delivering exceptional back support, the Helix Midnight mattress is a highly recommended option you can check out. Also, being completely hypoallergenic, it is a fine choice for those with allergies or similar conditions.
There are basically five types of mattresses available on the market, depending on their materials and construction. While each type of mattress may have certain features to provide relief from back pain, these can vary from brand to brand. Some manufacturers have a wider selection of products, which can lead to greater variation in how the mattresses affect back pain.
Here are some of the most commonly available mattresses to check out if you are suffering from back pain:
Hybrid mattresses can be constructed using several different types of materials, the most common ones being foam, micro coils, latex, wool, and cotton. Materials such as foam and cotton generally make up the comfort layers on the upper side, while steel coils are used for the support layers.
The comfort layers of hybrid mattresses are generally firmer than those of innerspring ones, which allows them to offer better support without causing discomfort. Hybrid mattresses also offer a certain level of contouring, which refers to how adjustable they are to the shape of your body.
This helps provide pressure relief, while the inner coils help regulate temperature by allowing the free flow of air.
These are traditional mattresses made of several metal springs or coils, on top of which there may be one or more layers of foam, polyester, or other material. The popularity of innerspring mattresses has declined considerably in recent years with the advent of foam, hybrid, latex, and other options.
Innersprings are generally more affordable than other options but do not perform as well as hybrid ones when it comes to back pain relief. This is because the upper layers are not very contouring which is essential for pressure relief, which is why many people use mattress toppers with such mattresses.
As the name indicates, latex mattresses are constructed using latex, which may be natural or synthetic. Natural latex is obtained from rubber plants, while synthetic latex is produced from petroleum compounds and is a more common option. Latex can be used for both the comfort and support layers to provide relief from back pain.
Such mattresses are good for back pain because latex can contour to your body moderately well. This prevents the body from sinking deeply into the mattress while providing adequate cushioning and relief to the pressure points.
Airbeds are one of the newer options on the market and have inflatable chambers into which air can be filled to adjust the firmness. The amount of air required can easily be controlled via a smartphone app or remote. As for the upper comfort layers, they may use materials such as cotton, foam, latex, wool, or polyester.
The biggest advantage of air beds over other types of mattresses is that they can be adjusted easily according to individual preferences. For people suffering from back pain, easily adjustable firmness levels can be helpful in providing quick relief.
Foam is among the most commonly used materials for mattress construction and can be used for both the comfort and support layers. All-foam mattresses rely on different types of foam and do not use any other material, and memory foam is the most popular among these. Hybrid mattresses can use different types of foam along with latex for a more balanced feel.
But foam mattresses generally do not contain coils which makes them highly contouring. This means that they can adjust to your body movements and shape more effectively than other mattresses, offering the highest level of cushioning to various pressure points.
When looking for a mattress that can help provide relief from back pain, you must look out for certain features that will ensure you end up with a suitable option. Some of those features are mentioned here.
As explained above, several types of mattresses are available for those dealing with back pain. These use different construction materials and designs that affect factors like firmness, bounce, motion isolation, temperature regulation, etc. It is important to know which type of mattress you find most comfortable before making a decision.
Selecting the right mattress will not only provide relief from back pain but can also help improve sleep quality effectively.
One factor differentiating the same type of mattress produced by one manufacturer from another is the quality of materials used in the construction process. Mattresses constructed from higher quality materials offer better comfort, support, and experience. They are also more reliable and tend to last longer.
So, make sure to find out about the quality of the materials used in the mattress you’ve selected before finalizing the purchase.
When you lie down, the weight of your body is not distributed uniformly, and some areas require more cushioning than others. That is where a mattress that offers zoned support can come in handy. It offers additional support in certain areas that require greater pressure relief, helping minimize discomfort and pain so you can sleep more comfortably.
How comfortable a mattress is directly determined by its firmness, but this factor depends to a great extent on personal preferences. This is because heavier people generally prefer firmer mattresses, while lighter people prefer softer ones. The firmness levels of mattresses range from one to ten, with one being the softest and ten being the firmest.
While many people believe that a firm mattress is better for back pain, a mattress should neither be too soft nor too firm to provide pain relief. Ideally, people weighing under 130 pounds should go with a medium-soft mattress, while those above 130 pounds should choose a medium-firm option.
That said, this is not absolute and can even be affected by your sleeping position, which is why it is best to test the firmness before making up your mind.
Mattresses that use different types of foam, such as open cell foam, latex, and high-density foam, tend to provide effective pain relief. These materials deliver the right combination of soft cushioning and firm support required for relieving pressure from various body parts, such as the back, hips, and shoulders.
Going with a mattress that uses a single type of foam may not offer the same experience.
The contouring capability of a mattress determines how well it can adapt to the shape and movements of your body while sleeping. Mattresses that can contour well can provide support to the lower back, which is the area where back pain is usually experienced.
Such mattresses also help keep your spine aligned properly, which is vital for pain relief and ensuring even distribution of weight. Better weight distribution prevents pressure points from developing, helping reduce discomfort.
The position of your body while sleeping determines which areas experience the most pressure and can help you select the most appropriate mattress for back pain. For instance, back sleepers should select a mattress that can provide relief to pressure points in the lower back or lumbar region. Such mattresses should ideally be medium-firm for supporting the spine more effectively.
Extremely firm mattresses are not a good choice for back sleepers since they cannot adapt to the curve of the lumbar region. On the other hand, such mattresses may be ideal for stomach sleepers since they can reduce pressure on the neck and prevent you from sinking.
For side sleepers, medium-firm mattresses are an ideal choice since they can cushion the hips and shoulders on which maximum pressure is exerted. Additionally, such mattresses can offer a certain level of flexibility, allowing them to adapt easily to the curve of the body.
Back pain can be caused due to various reasons, and identifying the cause is not very easy. However, there are several signs that can help you know whether your mattress is responsible for the problem. These include:
If you’re regularly waking up with a stiff back in the morning, your mattress is probably responsible for that. This generally happens when the mattress is too firm and pushes against the pressure points of the body, which can lead to misalignment of the spine.
On the other hand, if the mattress is too soft, your body will sink into it, resulting in bad posture. This can also cause back and neck pain.
If you spend all night tossing and turning and wake up multiple times, it is another sign that your mattress is causing problems. This may be due to various reasons, such as improper spine support, trapping of heat, or others.
For instance, foam mattresses can often trap body heat leading to higher temperatures which can make you uncomfortable. Alternatively, spring mattresses lack flexibility and may not contour enough to provide relief to various pressure points.
If you regularly feel as if you’re sinking into the mattress, it may indicate that the mattress is not providing enough support. This generally happens if the mattress is too soft. While some people prefer such mattresses, regular use can lead to problems like neck and back pain.
It is a good idea to avoid extremely soft or firm mattresses to prevent such problems.
Back pain is often caused by using mattresses that have grown old or are not of good quality, especially in the case of spring mattresses. This is because, in such mattresses, the foam or other material used over the spring layer may have become too thin and worn out. Or, it might not be thick enough in the first place, and you may be able to feel the coils through the foam.
A custom mattress can be a fantastic option for those suffering from back pain, as it can help overcome the aforementioned problems. It can give you greater control over the materials used in its construction, helping determine how soft or firm it is. Custom mattresses are ideal for those who cannot find the right kind of mattress for dealing with back pain among the available options.
Apart from the materials and firmness, a custom mattress allows you to get a bed in a non-standard size or shape. However, greater control over the construction of the mattress can make the purchasing process more complicated. It requires a proper understanding of your specific requirements and the manufacturing process before a manufacturer can be selected.
This is followed by the customization process, which can be quite overwhelming. However, putting in all the hard work and time can result in the perfect mattress that can help you get rid of back pain problems permanently.
With back pain being such a common problem, many mattress brands are offering products that can help resolve it effectively. And hopefully, with our reviews of some of the best options on the market, you can select the most suitable one.
That said, if you’re finding it hard to choose between these options, we recommend the Layla memory foam mattress, which offers both firm and soft sides, and has antibacterial properties. It also offers excellent cooling, which can add to the overall experience.
With that said, it is time to conclude this guide. Goodbye!