What type of bed is best for your back

Polyester blends are a decent option and usually the cheapest, but they don't provide a ton of support and degrade quickly over time. Feather toppers, often called featherbeds, feel extremely soft and luxurious but they don't offer much support for your spine and a lot of people are allergic to them. For more spine support , latex and memory foam are typically best. They add either softness or firmness, good support for your joints, and motion control for others on the bed.

Natural latex comes from the sap of a rubber tree, so it's a great option for those concerned with chemicals and environmental footprint.

In a mattress, it performs similarly but to a slightly lesser extent to memory foam with its ability to contour to your body and bounce back.

But it offers a little more bounce than full memory foam, so it's nice if you don't want that full sinking feeling. It also retains less heat than memory foam which can be good for sleep hygiene. Mattresses come in every level of firmness from squishy soft to hard as concrete. Though a lot of people think harder is better, surprisingly there is no one ideal firmness to help ease back pain, says Harrison Linder, M. In fact, one study found when people were given seven different firmness to try, there was no collective favorite.

In fact, a study analysis in Sleep Health found medium-firm mattresses were most ideal for sleep comfort, quality, and spinal alignment. However, that level of firmness was subjective, so really it's still about what feels most comfortable to your body.

Your best bet is to test beds out in person. While ideal firmness is subjective, support is not. But we don't all sleep in the same position, so support may look different for everyone.

But people who sleep directly on their backs or stomach tend to like it more. Meanwhile, if you sleep on your front or back, soft mattresses can cause areas of your body that are heavier like the pelvis to sag, pulling your upper body out of alignment, Knauf explains. Softer mattresses help relieve pressure from the hips and shoulders for those that sleep on their sides, Dr.

Linder adds. Additionally, look for the company's warranty on the mattress. Mattresses can be a big investment, and you want to make sure you can get a repair or replacement if your product is defective.

Mattresses can be incredibly expensive, but there are also some good, affordable options. You do sleep on one every night, and the right or wrong one can significantly affect the quality of your sleep, so you want to make sure you invest in one that's going to help with your back pain for years to come. Not necessarily. So what kind of support should you look for, based on your spinal curves?

Funk explains. Ultimately, this depends on the type of mattress you have, but according to Duncan, a good general rule is to replace your mattress every eight to 10 years. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.

In order to help you determine whether your mattress is the cause of your back pain woes, Dr. Funk recommends getting into the habit of analyzing your sleep and evaluating your mattress every six months or so, using the following questions:. Mattresses are an investment, so you want to be sure to take care of them. A mattress should last you seven to 10 years, says Knauf.

You can maximize that lifespan by:. She also regularly writes product reviews for Reviewed, putting today's hottest gadgets and home essentials to the test. She received her B. Additional reporting to this story by Rachael Schultz and Elizabeth Yuko. As a seasoned health writer and editor—and someone with insomnia and occasional back pain— Elizabeth Yuko understands how much of a difference having the right mattress can make.

Rachael Schultz is a freelance writer with a focus in health and nutrition. Her articles have appeared on a handful of other Health sites, and she has a degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She specializes in breaking down science and medical jargon into digestible information. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Recent advancement in plant oil derived polyol-based polyurethane foam for future perspective: a review.

European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology. Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment in adults with or without back pain; systematic review of controlled trials. Sleep Health. Cleveland Clinic. Is your sleep position causing you back pain? Updated August 29, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

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Learn about our Medical Review Board. Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. Best Memory Foam:. While it may be too firm for some, it's especially popular among stomach and back sleepers and features breathable memory foam. Best Budget:. The affordable option includes an extra top layer of memory foam to provide extra comfort and boasts compatibility with any base.

Check what the instructions are for physically returning the mattress. What would you be responsible for doing, and what will the mattress company or store take care of? Mattresses are typically constructed with a support core and an upholstery layer around them. There are many varieties, each with its advantages. Here are nine:. Innerspring mattresses use a steel coil system for support. The number of coils and how they are arranged vary, but generally speaking, more coils means more support.

Additionally, some mattresses have a higher concentration of coils in the lower back area for added relief. It also affects how the mattress supports your body contours. Memory foam mattresses use high density polyurethane foam as the support system in the upholstery layer. This foam contours closely to the shape of the sleeper. Latex mattresses have latex foam as the support system. The latex may come from plant- or petroleum-based materials. Pillow top mattresses have an extra layer of padding on top of other support layers.

Gel mattresses combine gel and foam. This allows the mattress to dissipate heat better. It also gives the mattress a different feel. Air bed mattresses have an adjustable firmness. They fit into standard bed frames and are covered with various padding materials, such as foam. Air beds can also be controlled separately on each side. Waterbeds use water as the support system. They can be hard sided with a wooden frame or soft sided with a foam frame inside a zippered fabric cover.

They are made to fit conventional bed frames or platforms. These are made to look like conventional beds, but both the mattress and the base can move. You can raise your head or feet, and some have dual controls so that you and your sleeping partner can individually adjust your position. The first thing to know is that a super soft, plush mattress is bad news for people with back pain.

Some research from suggests that medium-firm, self-adjustable mattresses are the ideal sleeping surfaces for people with back pain. A zoned support mattress, one that allows you to target firmer support at the lower back level, is the ideal option. Both hybrid and innerspring mattresses are good choices for people with back pain. And they typically provide more support than foam models. That said, a supportive mattress may help reduce pain.

According to research from , the ideal mattress is probably a medium-firm, self-adjusting mattress. Ultimately, the ideal mattress for back pain is one that you find comfortable and allows you to sleep like a baby. Again, that sort of depends on your personal preference. But because foam mattresses tend to be softer and less supportive than hybrid and innerspring models, you might prefer to avoid an all-foam mattress. However, some people with back pain may prefer the feel of foam, so we included several options on our list.

One study shows that simply changing your mattress can improve the comfort of your sleep. The high cost of some mattresses can be a shock. Most brands have a range of mattresses, including more affordable models. Sleep experts point out that a good mattress is one of the most important investments you can make for your health.

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This article lists 17 evidence-based tips to sleep better at night. Getting good sleep is very important for optimal health. Pressure points are sensitive areas of your body that correspond to different parts of your physical and mental health. You can do a lot of prep work to make the perfect sleep environment. You may wonder how often you should change your mattress…. Experts say you can prepare for the end of daylight saving time for days in advance.

Sleep Aids for People with Chronic Pain. Mattress Guidelines for Sleep Comfort. You are here Wellness Sleep. Talbot Sellers, DO. Peer Reviewed.