Best Mattress For Back Pain
Chiropractic Recommended Mattresses
As a Chiropractor one question I hear often is, “What is the best mattress for back pain?” My answer is always the same: “You need a medium firm hybrid memory foam or latex mattress”. A quality mattress can do wonders to ease your back pain and get the pressure relief and support you need to get a restful night’s sleep. Buying a mattress is an important and costly decision, and purchasing the wrong bed could be very consequential, and I know from experience.
Not having the proper support from your mattress can lead to the following: Lower back pain, chronic pain, muscle spasms, disc bulge/disc herniation, sciatica, sacroilitis, spinal instability, facet syndrome, a bad back or other back problems.
These conditions can be avoided by sleeping on the right mattress, but finding the right mattress for back pain is not always easy. Searching online through dozens of options can be tiring. Fortunately, I have seen the mistakes patients make and I’m here to guide you in the right direction. Read on to see the best mattresses for back pain.
Best Mattress for Back Pain
Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt
- Overall best mattress for back pain
- Best mattress for multi sleeping positions
- Best hybrid memory foam mattress
- Manufactures their own foam
- Over 6500 reviews & 4.7 rating
- Trial period – 90 nights
- Queen price – $3350
Most Affordable Mattress For Back Pain
Cocoon By Sealy
- Most reputable brand in the world
- Affordable mattress offering up to 30% off
- Perfect fit cooling memory foam
- For sleepers who prefer a less firm mattress
- Nearly 9000 reviews & 4.7 rating
- Trial period – 100 nights
- Queen price – $1099
Best Mattress For Side Sleepers
Saatva Latex Hybrid
- The mattress for side sleepers
- Best latex hybrid mattress
- Best for hip pain and shoulder pain
- Offers the best pressure point relief
- Quality sourced Talalay latex
- Trial period – 180 nights
- Queen price – $1849
Best Firm Memory Foam Mattress
Loom & Leaf
- Best firm memory foam mattress for back pain
- The mattress for stomach sleepers
- Infused cooling gel foam layer
- Premium ultra high density memory foam
- Over 540 reviews & 4.9 rating
- Trial period – 180 nights
- Queen price – $1899
Best Mattress for Arthritis
Layla Hybrid
- Best mattress for arthritis
- Best mattress for chronic joint pain
- Flippable with two firmness settings
- Copper infused
- Over 650 5 star reviews
- Trial period – 120 nights
- Queen price – $1499
Before Buying A Mattress For Your Back Pain
Are you buying a mattress to help you with your Sleep Position or a Sleep Condition?
Sleep Condition
Mid Back Pain and Lower Back Pain
If you suffer from mid back pain, lower back pain, or a more specific condition affecting these regions, then this section pertains to you. Other low back conditions include: sciatica, facet syndrome, spinal instability, disc bulge/herniation, joint dysfunction, muscle spasms, scoliosis, and degenerative disc disease (arthritis). If you identify with one of these conditions, then having a mattress that offers support is most important.
When looking for a supportive mattress for back pain you want a material that is responsive and can hold your mid back and low back curves in place while still being comfortable. A supportive mattress should push into you, not swallow you up. There’s no better material for support than memory foam or latex.
Hip Pain and Shoulder Pain
If you suffer from hip pain, shoulder pain, or other related conditions such as thoracic outlet syndrome, rotator cuff impingement, shoulder and hip arthritis, tears and tendinitis, hip and shoulder replacements, and bursitis issues, then pressure relief is what you need out of a mattress.
These conditions all affect parts of the body that stick out (shoulders and hips). These areas need pressure relief from the constant stress the muscles, ligaments, and joints are under day to day. The best mattresses for pressure relief for your shoulders and hips are typically latex or memory foam mattresses
Hot Sleeper or Cold Sleeper
If you sleep hot and are looking for a cooler mattress then latex is what you want. Latex is less dense and usually an open-celled material. This allows for better airflow and cool sleeping.
If you sleep cold and are looking for a mattress that stays hot then memory foam is what you want. It is typically a denser material and traps heat within the mattress, keeping you warm throughout the night.
Tip: Do you and your spouse have different temperature preferences? Check out the Ooler, it will help keep you cool at night. It’s a single or dual temperature-controlled mattress pad. You can set your exact preferred temperature to your side of the bed…from your phone. This works well for hot sleepers too. No worries if you don’t like it, as they offer a 30 days trial period.
Sleep Position
Back Sleepers with Back Pain
If you are a back sleeper with back pain you are going to want support from your mattress for your low back and mid back. Support will offer you back pain relief by allowing the rest and recovery your muscles, joints, and discs need. Without support your muscles are having to work all night to support a spine that is already under day to day stress. With support you will have that proper spinal alignment, and to get support you need a firm mattress.
Support is necessary for the indented areas of our body (low back and parts of the mid back). You want your mattress to push up into these areas to keep your spine in the correct position. The best material for that is a hybrid memory foam or latex.
Side Sleepers with Back Pain
If you are a side sleeper with back pain then it is important you have a soft enough surface to relieve pressure points. You want a mattress that offers pressure relief on the parts of your body that stick out.
The ball and socket joints that are your hips and shoulders are under constant everyday stress. They need pressure relief, especially when you are laying on your side. The best material for relieving surface pressure is memory foam or latex.
Stomach Sleepers with Back Pain
If you are a stomach sleeper with back pain then the best recommendation is to stop sleeping in that position. Your muscles are having to work throughout the night to support your lumbar spine, and your head is crooked to one side throughout the night. You are creating constant stress and strain on your spine and muscles, and not demonstrating proper spinal alignment.
If you fall asleep on your back or side and end up on my stomach you need to retrain your sleeping pattern. Here are two tips on how to:
Tip 1: While on your back try sleeping with a plush pillow under your knees. This will make it harder for you to turn over in the middle of the night, and it’s actually good for your lumbar spine. It removes the natural curve in your low back and actually decompresses your lumbar spine, and allows for more support.
Tip 2: While on your side try sleeping with a pillow in between your legs. Again, this makes it hard to turn over. It will also keep your legs from rotating in, and will give you pressure point relief off your hips and SI joints.
#1 Mattress For Back Pain - TEMPUR-Pedic ProAdapt Mattress
Best Mattress For Lower Back Pain
The most supportive hybrid memory foam mattress is TEMPUR-Pedic’s ProAdapt Mattress. This mattress is best for those who are suffering from low back pain. TEMPUR-pedic is a longstanding company that produces some of the most advanced foams in the world. In fact, their memory foam was previously designed for NASA astronauts. The TEMPUR-pedic ProAdapt Mattress is my first choice for a mattress for back pain because it meets all 5 of my criteria that make up a good bed: Materials, support, pressure relief, resilience, and breath-ability.
Materials – Their mattress materials aren’t sourced from other places because TEMPUR-Pedic manufactures their own foam. In fact, other companies source from them.
Motion cancelation is another great feature of this mattress, and that comes from the materials that are used in the mattress. All of TEMPUR-Pedic’s mattresses are engineered and designed with materials that absorb motion and prevent it from transferring to your partner, so everyone sleeps undisturbed.
Support – The ProAdapt is a hybrid medium firm memory foam bed. It has several layers of premium high density premium memory followed by proprietary hybrid inner coil technology that gives you the support and proper spinal alignment you need throughout the night. This enhanced support is what may help relieve your back pain.
Pressure Relief – The top memory foam layer is called the comfort layer for a reason. This layer of foam is what gives those areas of your body the pressure point relief it needs… usually it’s the hips and shoulders that need it most.
Resilience – This Mattress has a 1000+ innerspring coils with improved edge support. These coils, along with the proprietary foam technologies are what preserves the life of the bed and makes it very resilient overtime.
Breath-ability – TEMPUR-Pedic uses high performance cooling yarns in the exterior portion of their mattresses to allow heat to escape. Also, all memory foam materials are open celled to allow heat to disperse through the mattress and not get trapped. This is what will keep you feel comfortable and cool throughout the night.
Meeting these 5 criteria makes TEMPUR-Pedic the overall best mattress for back pain.
This mattress offers a 90 night trial period.
TEMPUR-Pedic ProAdapt Reviews
Best Sleep in the last 10 years!
“I haven’t slept this well in years. Every night my wife and I look forward to laying down in our bed and we know we are going to get a great night sleep!”
Heavenly!
“I am in love! I’ve been going to bed earlier than usual ever since I got it just so I can sit and read or watch TV comfortably. I didn’t even have to get used to it—I thought it was SO comfortable from the very first night!”
Great For alleviating Back Pain
“After just a few nights of sleeping on it my morning back pain has been somewhat lessened.”
TEMPUR-ProAdapt Mattress
“My wife and I were shopping to replace our 10 year old mattress and we decided to check out this mattress. My wife likes coil springs and I wanted the full Tempur-Pedic memory foam experience. To compromise, we decided on this hybrid model which has both. We’ve had it for almost two months and our sleep has greatly improved. We’re getting quality sleep, less tossing and turning and the mattress stays comfortably cool all night. We got the adjustable base which helps to fine tune our most comfortable sleeping positions. Lying on the mattress feels like sleeping on a cloud. I definitely recommend this mattress.”
Cocoon Chill Hybrid By Sealy
Most Affordable Mattress For Back Pain
The Chill Hybrid Mattress – Cocoon by Sealy is a mattress I recommend for it’s affordability, reputation, and its proprietary foam materials. If you are someone shopping for a mattress for your back and you are on a budget then this is the bed for you. This mattress is made by Sealy, which is the worlds largest mattress company. They have a reputation for making quality mattresses at an affordable price. Their beds are priced 20-30% lower than their competitors. They also offers steep discounts during holidays, and give away two free memory foam pillows with each purchase. Let’s take a look at why this mattress is great for your back.
Most Reputable Mattress In The Industry
The Cocoon mattress is similar to the Layla Hybrid in many aspects with a few differences. The Cocoon hybrid is an inner spring memory foam that is made with several proprietary layers of cooling foam. Just above the inner coil system built into the core of the mattress you will find two thick breathable layers of proprietary Responsive Comfort Foam and Perfect Fit Memory Foam. The bottom is a thicker more firm layer that gives your body the support it needs and responds to your movement, while the top layer is a softer medium feel that gives your body the pressure relief it needs on the areas you need it, particularly the ball and socket joints (hips and shoulders). Lastly, the mattress is topped with a cooling cover that keeps the mattress from getting warm. The cooling cover is infused with what Sealy calls Phase Change Materials (PCM), which absorbs the body heat, disperses it, and then releases it out of the mattress.
With Sealy being one of the most popular brands in the world it is no surprise that both Cocoon mattresses come with a combined 9000 reviews and rate at a 4.7 out of 5. These two mattresses have more positive reviews than any other mattress company I’ve seen online.
Sealy Cocoon Reviews
No Pain Waking Up!
“Love it no pain waking up”
Very Comfortable
“Whew am I ever loving this mattress. I could hardly wait to give this mattress a try, I put my head down and bam! I was sleeping, I woke up in the morning feeling great.
Big Difference In Sleep Quality
“I was skeptical in purchasing a Cocoon but what a believer you made out of me. This mattress has changed my daughter’s sleep quality on every level. She actually spends more time in bed than out of it. Thank you Cocoon!”
Comfort With Just the Right Firmness
“This is the first time I am using a memory foam mattress. I was initially concerned about too much softness but ordered anyway and I am quite happy that I did. It has the right kind of firmness and is far more comfortable than the earlier spring mattress I had.”
Saatva Hybrid Latex
Best Mattress For Side Sleepers
According to the National Sleep Foundation 70% of sleepers end up on their side. When laying on your side, the midline distance between your shoulders and torso is large, so you need a mattress that can respond quickly to the vast pressure differences in both areas. If you don’t have enough support your low back will sink into the mattress causing improper spine alignment, and eventually low back pain. If you don’t have enough pressure relief you will have increased pressure points on your hips and shoulders, which will leave you tossing and turning from side to side. Latex mattresses are typically more buoyant than memory foam mattresses. This means that they adjust to your sleep position a little quicker, and are more responsive than traditional memory foam, making latex mattresses best for side sleepers with pain.
The Latex Hybrid Mattress gives that perfect combination of relief and support for side sleepers. Here’s why:
Best Latex Mattress For Back Pain
There are several types of latex that are used in mattresses. The “gold standard” is Talalay Latex because of its ability to remain responsive while still being lightweight and open celled for breathability. Saatva’s Hybrid Latex Mattress is made with a 3 inch layer of open celled Talalay Latex. Below this layer you’ll find several hundred individually wrapped zoned pocket coils, which gives the already responsive Talalay Latex extra responsiveness. On top of the latex is a layer of GOTS certified organic antimicrobial wool. The top of the mattress is finished with a layer of hypoallergenic certified organic cotton. I recommend the luxury firm new mattress selection.
From top to bottom the entire mattress is made with the best quality materials on the market that are hypoallergenic, certified organic, and antimicrobial. Pair that with it’s ultra responsive features and you get a mattress that is best for side sleepers, and this is why Saatva’s Hybrid Latex Mattress is considered the best.
This mattress has a 180 night trial period.
Saatva Latex Hybrid Reviews
Probably the best mattress ever purchased
“We have had our Saatva hybrid for about a year. We immediately noticed how better we sleep on this mattress. After a year it is still the best night sleep. We have purchased all of the major brands and have been disappointed with the durability / longevity. This mattress has not disappointed.”
So glad I tried it
“Was a little nervous about buying a mattress without trying it..but the return policy and reviews made me go for it. Now i wonder why i waited so long! So comfy. And less body aches. Only negative..the cat and dog love it too..so maybe i should have bought a bigger size!”
Great Mattress!
“I was in serious pain with my number mattress and did a ton of research to finally select a Saatva mattress. My first night sleeping on it was fantastic and started resolving the pain from my other mattress. It’s still great to fall into after a long workday.”
The Loom and Leaf
Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
First, and most importantly, it is not recommended to sleep on your stomach. If you sleep in this position and you have back pain or neck pain, then the first recommendation is to try other sleeping positions. If you fall asleep in other positions and end up on your stomach, then it may take months to retrain your subconscious to prefer another sleeping position. If for whatever reason you cannot switch positions then its recommended that you purchase a firm or ultra firm memory foam mattress.
When you lay on your stomach the discs and joints in your low back are left with no support from the mattress. Your low back is suspended in a lordotic curve with only the muscles to keep it in proper spinal alignment. This leads to the muscles working 24 hours a day. Overtime, the entire low back becomes tight and irritated, the discs cannot rehydrate throughout the night, and the joints are not allowed to decompress. The stress eventually leads to inflammation and chronic pain.
A hybrid mattress filled with pocketed coils is not recommended for stomach sleepers because it allows for too much pressure relief. The more pressure relief the more your low back will bow into the mattress, leaving you in more pain. A firm or ultra firm memory foam mattress will support your low back as much as the sleeping position allows it to.
So what constitutes a good memory foam mattress for stomach sleepers? Firm layers of memory foam, which is why The Loom and Leaf is the best mattress for back pain for those who sleep on their stomach.
Best Memory Foam Mattress For Back Pain
Loom and Leaf is recommended for those who sleep on their stomach. Back pain sufferers who sleep on their stomach struggle with spinal alignment, and the Loom and Leaf can give them the ultra firm support they need to help stop the progression of their lower back pain.
The Loom and Leaf is the only mattress option that is not a hybrid for the reasons previously listed. This bed has many firm foam layers of support. It starts with a high density foam base. Next is an ultra premium 5lb memory foam layer that gives lasting support, unlike the cheap bed-in-a-box foam beds. On top of this is a layer of cooling gel memory foam. This is a proprietary gel foam that keeps you cool at night while providing another layer of support. This gel memory foam is also open celled, which allows air to pass through to give sleepers a cool night’s rest. Lastly, the mattress is topped with two more layers of foam and then quilted with an organic, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial cotton comfort layer. All foam layers within the mattress are eco friendly as well.
The Loom and Leaf firm option is listed as an 8/10 firmness level, which is ideal for those with back pain who sleep on their stomach. I highly recommend choosing this firmness! The memory foam will make you feel like you’re floating on top of the mattress rather than sinking in.
This mattress has a 180 night trial period.
The Layla Hybrid
Best Mattress For Arthritis
I know what you are thinking, yes The Layla Hybrid Matress feels as good as it looks. This sleek innovative mattress has more built into it than meets the eye, which is why it is my choice for the best mattress for arthritis and chronic pain. Layla offers two mattresses too choose from, but the hybrid is definitely my choice. This is because the hybrid memory foam offers increased core and frame support from the inner coil system which helps prolong the life of your mattress. Hybrids also have less sag than a traditional memory foam, and are typically more responsive to your body as you change positions throughout the night. But the true main reason I like this mattress for arthritis and chronic pain is because of the type of foam used in it’s materials. Here’s why:
Best Mattress For Chronic Pain
When mattress companies source memory foams they usually source from the same foreign manufacturers throughout the world. Layla is different in that they use a copper-gel infused memory foam in their beds that aims to support, relieve pressure, and keep you cool throughout the night. Another amazing feature about their mattresses is that they have two firmness settings. One side is a medium firmness for those who have hip and shoulder pain, and the other side has a more firm feeling for those who need support for their mid and low back. Also, copper has natural anti-microbial properties, so the mattress will resists odor causing bacteria and will keep your mattress fresh over the years.
This Layla Hybrid Mattress has a 120 night sleep trial and over 650 5 star reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Personally, I prefer TEMPUR-Pedic ProAdapt in a hybrid medium selection. This is the exact mattress I sleep on and what I recommend to all my patients. It is also the mattress TEMPUR-Pedic is most known for, because it has the most reviews by far. It is a memory foam hybrid mattress that gives a nice balance between support and pressure relief. It gives you the best of both worlds, so you don’t have to choose. This is the mattress that best meets the 5 criteria previously listed. TEMPUR-Pedic is one of the most reputable brands in the world and have been around longer than most online mattress companies. They have thousands of reviews from verified buyers with a 4.7 overall rating, and a 90 night trial period. Most reviews are from people who are either sharing their experience of pain relief and a better night sleep, or raving about TEMPUR-Pedic’s customer service. I can attest to both, because both personally and professionally I have seen that they make the best mattresses for back pain.
The best mattresses for back pain that doctors typically recommend are hybrid memory foam or latex. But the particular mattress firmness level depends on your sleeping position. It is recommended that you sleep on a firm mattress that offers support for back and stomach sleepers. If you are a side sleeper then a med firm mattress for back pain is recommended, otherwise the pressure points on your shoulders and hips may be too great.
A firm mattress or medium firm mattress are typically recommended to decrease low back pain. Be sure it is a hybrid mattress. A hybrid memory foam mattress or hybrid latex mattress are recommended because they both have a nice balance between firm support and pressure relief, which is good for back pain.
Back sleepers with aches and pains would benefit from a firm mattress for back pain because of it’s added support. A side sleeper would benefit from a medium firm mattress because of it’s pressure relief. Also, firmness level would depend on the particular diagnosis or condition. Generally, a medium firm hybrid mattress made of pocketed coils and several layers of memory foam or latex materials would work great for most conditions, like chronic back pain or a bad back.
If you have chronic back pain or generalized aches in pains in the morning then it may be time to get a new mattress. First, are you able to sleep throughout the night, or is your back pain waking you up? If the pain is affecting your sleep quality then this is a sign the problem is coming from your mattress. Second, check the age of your mattress. A mattress that is 6-8 years old means it is time to switch. Third, does your mattress sag in the middle? If your mattress does not promote proper spine alignment then you are left tossing and turning, unable to get a good night’s sleep. Find a new mattress with the proper comfort and support that will keep your spine in the proper position. Lastly, what is your sleeping position? The two best sleeping positions are on your back or side. If you are a back sleeper put a bolster or pillow under your legs to flatten out the low back and allow for more comfort and support. Side sleepers should put a pillow or bolster in between their legs to ease the pressure points on their hips.
If you decide your back pain is coming from your mattress be sure to look for mattresses for back pain to avoid your condition turning into chronic pain. For more information of whether your back pain is from your mattress check out our other article: How To Tell If Your Mattress Is Causing Back Pain
Neither! It is best to sleep on a medium firm mattress or a firm mattress. A hard mattress does not equal firm. In fact, a hard mattress could increase your back pain by not allowing proper relief from your pressure points. A firm mattress will have a equal amount of both support and pressure relief. In a mattress this is achieved by having a top comfort layer, followed by a firm latex or foam layer of support, and lastly durable pocketed coils that are found in any quality hybrid mattress. This will give you the nice balance you need to help with your back pain.
If you suffer from lower back pain, then you want to sleep on your back, preferably with a bolster under your legs. This allows the muscles, discs, and joints more support throughout the night, which will ultimately ease your lower back pain and give you a restful night’s sleep.
Depends on the type of back pain you are having. If you are having lower back pain then typically you want to be searching for medium firm or firm memory foam mattresses for your pain. Also back and stomach sleepers should look for memory foam as well. If you are suffering from shoulder or hip pain or sleep on your side, then latex hybrid mattresses would benefit you more. A latex hybrid mattress will be responsive enough to give you proper spinal alignment while you sleep on your side.
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