Mattress for Back Pain - Your Guide to Buying a Mattress for Back Pain

MATTRESS SUPPORT AND COMFORT

A good mattress should provide support for the natural curves and alignment of the spine. The right amount of support will help avoid muscle stiffness and soreness in the morning. Support is a function of the internal components of the mattress. For traditional mattresses, the support is determined by the number and arrangement of inner coils, with more coils placed closely together leading to more support/firmness.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, a clinical study found that a medium-firm mattress was generally better for people with chronic lower back pain than a firm mattress.

The trial involved 313 adults who experienced chronic lower back pain. Participants were randomly assigned a medium-firm mattress or a firm mattress to sleep on. During the study, the people who slept on the medium-firm mattresses were more likely to report reduced back pain in bed, reduced back pain upon rising from the bed, and less back pain related to disability than those who were assigned to sleep on a firm mattress. This study found that a medium-firm mattress provided a better balance between back support and comfort for lower back pain than a firm mattress. Sleeping on a mattress that is too hard exerts additional pressure on the back, resulting in more back pain. However, it should be noted that many people in the study group sleeping on firm mattresses did experience low back pain relief while in bed and upon rising after sleeping, so a medium-firm does not appear to be most comfortable for all patients with back pain.

Your personal feeling of comfort is as important as having good support, so it is important to find a balance of these two factors. Padding and thickness are also important characteristics and will mostly be matters of personal preference. If you prefer a firm mattress, one with thicker padding may provide greater comfort. To understand the specific construction of each mattress, ask the mattress salesperson or do your research online.

SLEEP POSITION

The sleep position you prefer, possibly along with the specific back condition you have, is also important to keep in mind when selecting your best mattress for back pain.

• Lower back pain. As a general rule, for most people with lower back pain the most comfortable sleeping position is lying on your back with a pillow propped under your knees. This sleep position takes pressure off the lower back, which relieves pain and discomfort and allows injured or inflamed structures a good healing environment.
• Herniated lumbar disc. The most comfortable sleep position depends on the specific diagnosis. For the most common type of herniated disc, lying on your stomach will be most comfortable. For a different type of herniated condition, sleeping on your side in a fetal position is usually more tolerable. For both of these positions, a firm or medium firm mattress will work. When lying on your stomach, usually less padding on top of the mattress is better for your back, and placing a pillow beneath your hips/stomach helps keep the spine in alignment. 
• Lumbar degenerative disc disease. If you have this common diagnosis, then a firm or medium firm mattress may be preferred. Any type of relatively firm mattress supports a sleep position of lying on one's stomach and placing a flat pillow under your stomach and hips, which further reduces stress on the degenerated disc your lower back. 
• Lumbar spinal stenosis. For people with this condition, which tends to occur in people over the age of 60, sleeping curled up in the fetal position often is most comfortable because this position helps take pressure off the lumbar nerve root. This can be done on a medium firm or firm mattress, depending on the individual's preference. When sleeping on your side, most people will prefer thicker mattress padding, as this reduces pressure on the hips and shoulders. Another option for people with lumbar spinal stenosis is to sleep in a reclining chair (e.g. La-Z-boy chair) or in an adjustable bed that will keep your head and knees elevated and relieve pain produced from pressure on the nerve.

SUMMARY
When choosing a mattress, keep in mind the above guidelines and test out several mattresses to narrow your search. Remember that ultimately, the best mattress for back pain is not the one with the best marketability claims, nor is it necessarily the most expensive one available - it is, quite simply, the one that you find the most comfortable given your sleep preferences.

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