The Best Type of Mattress for Back Pain

Often the back pain we experience, particularly when getting up in the morning, is caused by sleeping in a bed that doesn't have good back support. It is difficult to choose the best type of mattress for everyone who has back pain, because what works for one person may not work for another. Here are guidelines for choosing a mattress that will suit you.

Price and Size

Price is determined by the size of the mattress and how it is constructed. Decide whether you need a twin, double, queen or king-size bed. When you decide how much you can afford to spend, you can start looking at the mattresses available in your price range.

Types of Mattresses

Mattresses are made in variations of firm and soft. Some mattresses are made extra firm or plush. People with back pain generally like a firmer mattress because it gives more support. Never purchase a new mattress without lying down on it first. Most stores have exhibits so customers can test the mattresses.

Innerspring mattresses can provide good back support, but try to find out how thick the metal is for each coil and how many coils are in the mattress, which will affect firmness and support. There are also mattresses that have a combination of innersprings and foam. Memory foam is used to lesson pressure points on your body that make you toss and turn at night.

The spring-free mattressses with foam cores may be a good choice for people with back pain. Foam rises up to meet the body where it needs support. There are also latex mattresses. These recover from the body's imprint faster than foam, but they are not as comfortable to the touch. They are very good, though, for people with allergies because of their resistance to mold and mites.

If you must keep your cost low, consider an air mattress. One advantage of an air mattress is that you can control its firmness.

Bed Toppers

If you find that you can't afford the type of mattress you want, all is not lost, get a less expensive one and buy a topper for it. You can buy a latex, memory foam or heated pad topper in the size that will fit your mattress.

Costs

Mattresses can cost anywhere from $150 to $5,000. A good, firm innerspring double mattress will cost at least $400. Innerspring with memory foam can cost as much as $650. Memory foam mattresses can cost as much as $700. The more bells and whistles you add to a mattress, such as a vibration system, the more it costs. Pads and toppers vary in price, but generally, you can buy one for less than $200. Watch for sales and promotions.

Brands

The brand of mattress is not as important as how comfortable it is to you and whether it helps your back pain. Sealy has several different types of Posture-pedic mattresses. Simmons has a full line of Beautyrest mattresses. For back support, Tempur-Pedic also has several types. Select Comfort carries the Sleep Number Bed with the adjustable air mattress.

What Feels Right for You

The more time you spend in a store picking out a bed, checking its construction and lying down on it, the better off you will be. Firmness and support are essential to alleviate back pain. Salespeople are used to having customers try out the merchandise, so don't be shy. Lie on each mattress for several minutes to see if it feels right to your body. Test it in the positions you usually sleep in. Be sure it feels good at pressure points, such as your shoulders, hips and knees, and that it is not so firm that it has no "give" at these parts of your body. A mattress that is too hard will be as bad for back pain as one that is too soft.

References

• SolutionBed by Tempur Pedic (n.d.)

Resources

• RemodelViews (n.d.)