Sleep is the only form of relief one wants at the end of a long and tiring day. But what if you crash on your bed only to experience a constant dull ache in your back? Chronic back pain can be a huge hindrance to your sleep and can affect the quality of your sleep, and negatively affect your daily life activities. While practicing stretching exercises and using the prescribed medication can help treat chronic back pain, choosing an appropriate mattress for back pain is also essential. This is because a mattress supports your back for around 7-8 hours of the night, and the type of mattress you use can impact your back pain for better or worse.
This article guides readers in choosing the best bed for back support by compiling top tips shared by experts. Always study and observe a mattress for the following characteristics before making a purchase:
Maximum Support
Look out for a mattress that provides maximum support to your spinal cord. Lower back pain, which is the most common type of back pain, originates from the lower back and radiates from the neck downwards until the end of the spinal cord. Therefore, if you suffer from lower back pain, choose a mattress that hugs your lower back completely and equally disperses your body weight all over. This would help in the proper alignment of your spine at all times during your sleep.
Type Of Sleeper
Are you a side sleeper, back sleeper, or stomach sleeper? This is an important question to consider while choosing the best bed for back pain. This is because the type of your sleeping position determines the firmness of the mattress which is suitable for you. For side sleepers, mattresses should be slightly softer, while for back sleepers, mattresses are best when slightly firm. You may need a medium-firm back support mattress if you’re a back sleeper.
Strike the Right Balance between Comfort and Support
You might think that sleeping on a super-soft mattress can help alleviate your back pain, but you couldn’t be more wrong. To ensure a painless sleep at night, you need a good mattress for back pain that supports your spine, prevents complete sinking of your back, and is comfortable to sleep in. Sleeping on a too-firm mattress can exert pressure on your joints throughout the night and result in lower back pain. On the other hand, sleeping on a too-soft mattress will mess up your spine’s alignment throughout the night and consequently result in back pain.
Type of Mattress
The type of mattress you use can also play a pivotal role in preventing chronic back pain. Mattresses are mainly of three varieties: latex, spring, and memory foam. Each mattress is built of different materials and, therefore, possesses distinct features. Each type is associated with its own set of pros and cons. You need to consider all factors that outweigh the benefits of each before making a final choice.
- Latex Mattress
For example, a latex mattress is made of spongy material which is firm and pushes the body upwards. It lifts the body and corrects the spinal alignment, thereby relieving any pressure. The only disadvantage with a latex mattress is that it tends to absorb moisture from our bodies and the environment, leading to the deterioration of the quality of the mattress.
- Spring Mattress
The spring mattress is a common type of mattress made by layers of individual springs coiled around a frame and supporting the body gently and softly. It is a good mattress for back pain for light-weighted sleepers. Spring mattresses are usually extra soft and allow the body to sink in; therefore, it is not an excellent choice for heavyweight sleepers who need spinal support to correct their alignment.
- Memory Foam
The memory foam mattress is the most expensive and easily the best variety of mattresses. It is an orthopedic mattress for back pain that gives complete lumbar support and keeps the spine completely aligned with the mattress, leaving no gaps or space in between. It has a hard base which is combined with a soft and plump memory foam layer, giving it a medium-firm feel. Its material is such that it automatically molds itself to the shape of the body, ensuring maximum alignment and support near the spinal area.
A memory foam mattress is made of A-grade material which is flexible and offers sleepers the right amount of firmness required in a bed for back pain. These mattresses are airy and provide better air circulation than other mattresses. However, the only drawback of a memory foam mattress is that it is temperature sensitive, which means its flexibility increases when the temperature increases. At lower temperatures, the memory foam mattress becomes slightly harder and firmer.
Conclusion
Do you now know the various factors which are taken into consideration when choosing the best mattress for back pain? Remember, the solution varies individually, and what might work well for others might not necessarily work well for you. So, always keep this checklist handy and tick off all the important points before choosing the best mattress for back pain.
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