Getting great sleep is key when it comes to preventing back injuries and treating existing pain. The aches and pains that come with a sore upper or lower back can make it difficult to fall asleep and get a good night’s rest.
So what is the relationship between your mattress and back pain? Would a firm or soft mattress be better for back pain relief? Which is better for back pain, a traditional bed frame or adjustable bed? And most importantly, what is the best mattress for back pain overall?
We answer these questions and provide expert recommendations to help you alleviate back pain and get a better night’s sleep once and for all.
The Relationship Between Your Mattress & Back Pain
Sleeping on the right mattress can help alleviate back pain, fix your alignment, and provide strong spine support. However, sleeping on the wrong mattress can quickly lead to poor posture, an unhealthy spine, and additional long-term back problems.
Why is this the case?
Because you sleep on the same mattress night after night, even the smallest issues can build up and become larger problems over time. If your mattress doesn’t properly support your sleeping posture, it can lead to muscle strain and long-term damage. It can also cause your spine to fall out of alignment, which will lead to additional problems like chronic pain and reduced range of motion, among many others.
On the other hand, finding the right mattress to support your back can actually help prevent back pain and alleviate the tension that has been building up for months or even years from sleeping on unsupportive mattresses in the past.
A key factor to finding the right level of support from your mattress lies in determining the optimal firmness for your needs.
What Is The Best Mattress Firmness For Back Pain?
Finding the right mattress firmness is essential to alleviating back pain and promoting long-term spine health.
Waking up with a stiff lower back is an early warning sign that your mattress is too soft and isn’t providing your body with the support it needs. The softness can cause your hips and/or lower back to sag, which will slowly force your body out of alignment.
If your mattress is too firm, you will likely feel it in the hips, shoulders, neck, and upper back. This is because the firmness is creating joint pressure that leads to muscle tightness. The root of this pain comes from the stiffness of the mattress forcing your spine out of alignment.
In addition to the problems listed above, owning a mattress that is too soft or too firm can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. The best mattress firmness for back pain will depend on several personal factors, including your body weight, sleeping style, and whether you share a bed with a partner. However, there are best practices you can follow to optimize your sleep experience to alleviate and prevent back pain.
Find a mattress with a medium firmness level to give your back the support it needs without creating additional tension. At MattressKing, we use a firmness guide to help customers identify the right firmness level for their personal needs. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend choosing a firmness level between 4 and 6 to get that optimal support you’re looking for.
Which Is Better For Back Pain: Adjustable Beds (or) Traditional Bed Frames?
This question comes up often in the mattress world — for good reason. Choosing the right mattress is essential for preventing back pain, but the base you place your mattress on has a direct impact on your back and spine health as well.
Do Traditional Bed Frames Cause Back Pain?
A durable, well-designed bed frame will provide ample support and, when paired with the right mattress, won’t contribute to any additional back pain. In fact, it can provide a cost-effective solution that will allow the quality of your mattress to determine your level of support and pain relief.
The Adjustable Bed Advantage
While there may not be any downsides to sleeping on a traditional bed frame, there are certainly upsides to putting your mattress on an adjustable base. A recent spine health study indicates that sleeping in an inclined or semi-upright position may provide less aggravation to back pain than sleeping on a flat surface.
Adjustable beds can also help reduce swelling, improve blood circulation, and enhance overall sleep health by allowing individuals to find the exact sleeping position that suits their needs.
The Best Mattress For Back Pain in 2023 — Key Takeaways
1. It’s important to understand the far-reaching impact your mattress has on back pain — and how choosing the wrong type of mattress can lead to joint pressure, muscle strain, and poor spine alignment.
2. Choosing a mattress with a medium firmness level will help alleviate back pain by providing the optimal balance of comfort and support.
3. Traditional bed frames are a perfectly acceptable solution if accompanied by a quality mattress, but back pain can be further alleviated through a more personalized, targeted approach with an adjustable bed.
Our Expert Recommendations
Best Mattress For Back Pain
Majestic Chill | Luxury Medium
The Majestic Chill | Luxury Medium provides the ideal hybrid sleep experience to alleviate back pain in the present and provide potent support that will help prevent further problems in the future. This popular mattress is known for its premium full-body comfort and offers an orthopedic support system that is perfect for all sleeping positions.
Best Adjustable Bed For Back Pain
This best-selling adjustable base offers custom programming and sleep-enhancing massage to provide the ideal solution for anyone who is looking to improve their sleep health and alleviate back pain in the process.
To try the Majestic Chill | Luxury Medium or Adjustable Base | 3.0 Plus for yourself, visit your nearest MattressKing or order online risk-free today*.
*The Majestic Chill | Luxury Medium is eligible for the MattressKing 100 night comfort guarantee. See additional details here.
