How To Choose A Bed Mattress For Your Bad Back

Introduction

If you have ever woken up with back pain after doing nothing during the previous day to warrant it - your mattress might be to blame. A bad mattress does not provide the support your spine desperately needs.

Instead, it can throw both your muscles and joints out of alignment. Most commonly, this is because your mattress is too soft or too hard.

If you notice that your mattress is sagging or is several years old, then these issues can contribute to back pain, as well.

In contrast, a good mattress is one that releases the pressure between your vertebrae, supports your spine, and promotes natural alignment. It should also allow for complete muscle relaxation.

As a general rule, the more you spend on a mattress, the better it is for your back.

Tip 1: Talk to your doctor

Before you make any hasty decisions relating to mattresses to improve your lower back pain, see your general practitioner. They can rule out any serious problems while also offering helpful advice on how to improve the pain.

What’s more, a doctor who identifies your mattress as the cause of your pain, or at least one of the causes, may be able to offer advice on the best type of mattress. 

Tip 2: Choose Firmness

Walking into a mattress store can be incredibly daunting. Unlike bedroom suites that you select based on their aesthetics, you can’t really do that with a mattress.

They are designed to look high-quality, but there’s nothing particularly attractive about them to draw your eye. Instead, you have to choose your mattress based on its firmness and how that can prevent or decrease your back pain.

The general rule is that your mattress should be not too firm but also not too soft. It can seem like an impossible task, but it’s an important one. It should conform to your body if you’re a side sleeper to ensure that your hips and shoulders sink into it.

However, your waist and feet should rest on the surface of the mattress. This layout makes sure that your spine is kept straight and in its natural alignment. However, your body type also plays a part in how to choose a bed mattress for your bad back.

If you are already experiencing back pain, a medium to firm mattress may be the best choice.

Tip 3: Consider Your Mattress Materials

When we were kids, many of us had simple foam mattresses. We never woke up with back pain and we were always fighting fit once we leaped out of bed. As we age, though, quality mattress materials matter a lot.

Pocket spring mattresses are some of the most popular options because they have independent coils to contour to your body. These provide a premium level of support.

What’s more, as they move independently, your tossing and turning throughout the night is unlikely to impact your sleeping partner too much. In recent years, memory foam and natural latex foam mattress materials have also found their place in the market.

They conform to your body and have been shown to assist those suffering from back pain. You may have also see posture gel technology, which can distribute weight evenly and relieve pressure points.

If you are unsure which mattress material is suitable for you, consider talking to your doctor, a chiropractor, or even your local mattress store owner. 

Tip 4: Give it a test run

Most people don’t spend several thousand dollars on a car they haven’t taken for a test ride. Therefore, why would you spend a lot of your hard-earned money on a mattress you haven’t tried?

Visit a mattress store and identify the beds with the correct firmness you believe will help.

Lie down on them and move into the positions that you would typically sleep. If you sleep with a partner, bring them along so you can see how you both gel with the bed. If you are purchasing a mattress online, call the mattress shop and probe for comforting answers.

Many mattress companies offer a money-back guarantee within a certain period of time. You can then arrange for it to be sent back to them for a refund if it’s not right for you.

Tip 5: Talk to the experts

Even after seeing your doctor, talking to mattress store workers, and lying on a few different beds, you may still not know which mattress type is going to alleviate back pain and make your nights far more comfortable.

Without 100 percent certainty of the right mattress for you, don’t jump into a decision. See a chiropractor or another back specialist who can identify your specific problem.

They can then determine the best mattress for you to help narrow down the pool of options. They may even be happy to recommend beds they themselves have used in the past.

Go Goldilocks

Goldilocks was fussy with which of the three bears’ mattresses she decided to sleep on – and you should be too.

Take any of these steps above to make sure that when the time comes to choose a new mattress, you do so with all the information you need to prevent or alleviate back pain in the future.

If you have any questions about buying a bed mattress for your back aches and pains, feel free to call us at 647-424-4239 or email us at info@ezysleep.ca.