It’s not easy to pick a mattress that will help you solve not getting enough sleep due to back pain. What’s worse? Being in more pain when you wake up because your current mattress is uncomfortable and doesn’t offer any support. Needless to say, it’s important to improve your bed in a way that will help you sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed.
Regardless of what caused your back pain, it boils down to the ache that can keep you up all night. Upgrading this mattress is a good start to deal with it. To pick the best one for you, you have to bear in mind its firmness, materials used, or even the recommended sleeping position you prefer.
Below, you will find a list of tips that will help you choose the ideal mattress for your needs. So, if you want to get rid of that excruciating back pain, it’s time to read on!
How To Know if the Mattress Helps Lessen Back Pain?
A high-quality mattress will help keep your spine aligned whenever you lay on it, without letting your shoulders or hips sink and fall out of line into the bed. It is a common misconception that firm mattresses are always best, but that is not particularly true. In fact, it depends on a variety of factors, such as your sleeping position, temperature preference, or even the number of sleepers.
Firmness
Mattress firmness is typically measured on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 represents very firm. For example, the Hush Mattress is rated 6/10 on the firmness scale. If you like to sleep on your back, a medium-firm mattress would be best for you, as a firm mattress doesn’t suit the stomach sleeper well. It will put extra pressure on your hips and shoulders and cause you to feel uncomfortable. The same goes for the side sleeper, as a medium-firm mattress is best for them.
On the other hand, you should also be aware of sinkage; the deeper you sink into the mattress doesn’t necessarily mean more support. In fact, your body weight should be evenly distributed across the mattress. This is why firmer mattresses are recommended to those weighing more than 230 pounds.
Support
Mattress support is often mistaken for firmness. The two are not the same, but there is a connection between them. The mattress will offer proper support if it is firm enough to keep your spine aligned and to prevent the shoulders and hips from sinking.
You can check the quality of the mattress by lying on your back and side. If there is a discernible difference in height between the shoulders and hips, then it means that the mattress isn’t offering proper support. Another way to test the mattress is by pressing your hand on the bed. If it sinks in, then it is not offering proper support. If the mattress does not feel supportive enough, it is likely to cause back pain.
Sleeping position
How you sleep puts the most pressure on some areas, and it’s useful to know when you’re buying a mattress. Those who sleep on their back should consider getting a firm or medium-firm mattress with a fair amount of back support. If you’re a back sleeper, try to avoid getting a soft mattress as it will put too much pressure on your hips.
As mentioned earlier, a medium-firm mattress will be most suitable for those who sleep on their side. A soft mattress will allow the hips to sink in, and this will cause the back to twist too much. However, soft and medium-soft mattresses are recommended for stomach sleepers, as they allow the hips to sink in and not put too much pressure on the shoulders.
Materials
There are three main types of mattresses depending on the materials used. Memory foams are popular, but they can only be considered ideal if supported by a medium-firm or firm core. Those made of 100% memory foam may eventually deform and add unnecessary pressure in sensitive areas.
Traditional mattresses are often made with springs. Although they don’t offer the same amount of precise support as memory foam mattresses, they are still a valid option as they are pretty durable and can provide extra firmness. Hybrid mattresses are a mix of both types – commonly, they come with a spring core and foam top layers. They allow you to balance weight and firmness for a comfortable sleep.
To Sum Up
Decide on what mattress to buy by determining your sleeping position. If you’re a side sleeper or a stomach sleeper, then you should look for a soft or medium-soft mattress. Harder mattresses are better for back and stomach sleepers. If you’re a back sleeper, then you should opt for a medium-firm bed.
There is no one-size-fits-all mattress, so you should consider your weight, sleeping position, and firmness preferences when purchasing a new bed. If you’re not happy with the current mattress you have, then it is time to change it with a better one!
The Best Mattress for Eliminating Back Pain is a feature post