What Are The Best Mattresses For Back Pain?

If you are a sensitive sleeper or if you have lower back problems, chances are that you are aware of how the mattress you are sleeping on might be affecting the quality of your sleep and the condition of your spine. Although in many situations lower back problems appear because of other causes or injury, in some situations the mattress itself could aggravate an existing condition or even set the stage for a back problem to develop. To avoid any of this from occurring or to prevent an existing back problem from getting worse, knowing what is the best mattress for back pain can be especially useful.

Support: the most important factor

Support is probably the most important factor that should be considered when searching for the best mattress. A mattress with good support is one that provides enough stability and firmness to keep your spine in a natural position while sleeping. At the same time, good support means that a certain degree of comfort should be involved as well. Sleeping on a mattress that is too firm can cause back aches in the morning, as many people will attest. However, sleeping on a mattress that sinks in too much and gives in under the slightest weight can be even worse for your back's health than a firm mattress. Finding a mattress with good support will be absolutely essential if you are interested in solving lower back pain problems.

Mattresses with good support

Good support is not as easy to find as you might think. It cannot be measured easily just by trying out a mattress, because even though a mattress might feel like it has good support, a lot of time spent sleeping on that mattress could suggest a different outcome. Here are some ways to figure out the support you can expect from different mattresses and how to improve or adjust it.

• Innerspring support - When it comes to innerspring mattresses, you are looking at the mattress paragon of firmness. In fact, many doctors will recommend innerspring mattresses for arthritis patients simply because of the fact that they are so firm and prevent the spine from contouring in an unnatural shape throughout the night. The support of an innerspring mattress is determined by the thickness, size, and amount of springs contained within the interior of the mattress. However, most innerspring mattresses are remarkably similar in the support they provide. One way to improve the support of an innerspring mattress is to purchase a mattress pad made from memory foam and have it placed on top of the mattress. The mattress pad should ideally feature memory foam with a low density, and it should also be relatively thick (most mattress pads are between 1 and 4 inches). Memory foam is often praised for its excellent comfort, but not everyone is comfortable with the way it sinks in. Buying a mattress pad made from low density memory foam and using it with your innerspring mattress will help to ensure that good support is achieved without there being too much firmness.
• Memory foam mattresses - Memory foam is a special type of material that gives in with weight according to the shape of the body. If you press your hand into a memory foam mattress, it will sink in around the edges, but the rest of the mattress will not. This is why it is called memory foam. Memory foam has become one of the most popular materials for use in mattresses on the modern mattress market, and it is made in different densities measured in pounds per square inch. Lower density memory foam is softer and gives in more, while high density memory foam is somewhat more firm. The best kind of memory foam mattress for people experiencing lower back pain is usually the type made from higher density memory foam. There are several well known memory foam mattress manufacturers out there to choose from, and these include popular ones like Tempurpedic, Bodipedic, and Night Therapy.
• Latex mattresses - Latex is a type of rubber made from the sap of specific tree species, but there is another kind of latex known as synthetic latex which is made with petrochemicals and artificial ingredients. 100% natural latex has a more bouncy and elastic feel. In any case, most latex mattresses are good for people with back pain as they are bouncy and supportive while not too firm or hard on the back.

Buying the best mattresses for lower back pain

To accurately judge the support of a mattress, which is the primary factor involved in mattress back pain relief, a careful approach should be made. Take some time to try out different mattresses or use a mattress in combination with a mattress pad to determine which material would be the best mattress for bad backs. Realize that to keep your back in a stable condition and avoid back problems from occurring, the mattress must meet the exact balance between firmness and comfort. There is not one type of mattress that is better than others for lower back pain, but the way each mattress is designed can help you to figure out if it would aggravate a back problem or prevent one from showing up in the first place.