Those who want to know how to choose the right mattress for your back can consider three factors. In this article, we’ll teach you about support, firmness, and how to test a bed. We also recommend reading which mattress is better for back pain.
Besides teaching you how to select the right mattress for your back, we’ll also go through various bed types that will be good for your back health. So without further ado, let’s get started.
How To Choose The Right Mattress For Your Back To Avoid Back Pain
Good support
The most significant reason why your mattress doesn’t help with back pain is that it’s not supporting you enough. What this means is you fail to maintain a neutral spine when lying on the bed. Furthermore, you might not be familiar with the ideal mattress structure to support your sleeping position.
Identity if you sleep on your back, side, stomach, or a combination of the following. When you sleep on the mattress, you want your back to feel relaxed and your upper and lower body are aligned. Different sleeping positions and body types will benefit from specific mattress types to get the ideal support for their body.
Here is everything you need to know on how to select the best mattress for sleeping. There, you’ll know the specific mattress type for your sleeping position and body type.
Ideal firmness
In general, the right mattress for your back won’t be too soft nor too firm. Instead, most people will benefit from a medium mattress because it is cushioning enough to relieve pressure on the lower back but still stiff enough to keep you from sinking. Remember that your spine will no longer be in a neutral position if you sink deeply into the bed.
Take the time to read a guide on ILD mattress ratings to understand what mattress brands mean when they label their product as soft, medium, or firm. It would be best if you had the bed to push back against your weight but don’t feel too firm that you’re losing pressure relief on the heavy parts of the body. If you’re unsure what the right firmness to get, your safest bet is medium or medium-firm.
Test and try
You will only successfully select the right mattress for your back if you test it firsthand. This can mean trying the bed in the showroom, but a much better indicator is if you test the mattress for a significant period. Take advantage of the sleep trial of the mattress company because you’ll only know that it will be supportive for the back if you use it several nights.
Begin by lying on the mattress in your sleeping position and checking if your body, mainly your back, is relaxed. You can also be on the lookout for lower back pain and other types of discomfort when you wake up in the morning. For more information, here is how to test a mattress before buying.
What Type Of Mattress Is Best For Your Back?
Memory foam
One of the best mattress types to keep your back painless or alleviate back pain itself is memory foam. Memory foam has the proper firmness to prevent the misalignment of the spine. Furthermore, the moldability of memory foam follows the natural contours of the body, so your lumbar region is continuously supported.
Latex
If you want the characteristics of memory foam but would rather have a natural mattress, a latex bed will also be best for your back. Latex is buoyant to lie on, so you relieve pressure, especially on the lower back. It is also responsive for every movement, which will keep your spine neutral as you switch positions throughout the night.
Here is everything to know about latex mattresses if you’re new to this material type.
Hybrid
A hybrid mattress combines the characteristics of foam and innerspring mattresses. Therefore, you’ll get the ideal support and comfort to alleviate back pain and keep the body relaxed during sleep. Consider a medium-firm hybrid mattress with a foam top layer for your back.
What is the worst mattress for the back?
The worst bed to get if you suffer from back pain is an innerspring mattress. For example, a continuous coil spring bed will fail to keep your back supported and avoid back pain. But if the spring mattress uses pocketed coils and the top layer has the right balance of cushioning and support, you might also benefit from it.
If you find relief with chiropractic treatment, try these mattresses that chiropractors recommend.
Is A Firm Or Medium Mattress Better For Back Pain?
The best mattress for back pain is neither firm nor medium. Instead, choose a medium-firm bed to soothe the discomfort on your back. Here are also some tips on how to select mattress firmness accordingly.
Conclusion
And that’s it! In this article, we learned how to choose the right mattress for your back using three factors. First, check for the support, firmness, and then try the bed itself to see if it will keep your back supported and alleviate pressure. You can also deduce your options in the market by only selecting from memory foam, latex, and hybrid beds since they’re ideal for your back.
Do you happen to suffer from fibromyalgia as well? We have talked about the best mattresses for fibromyalgia, so feel free to check them out.