Your bed should be a place where you relax---not where you experience back pain when lying down or waking up. For back pain sufferers, finding the right mattress that accommodates their aching back is imperative to alleviating a fraction of the pain that can occur while a person is sleeping (or attempting to sleep). Several aspects of a mattress should be considered when purchasing, including mattress type, foundation, firmness, comfort or durability. Consider a mattress your investment in your health, as a good mattress will last for as long as 10 years.
Medium-Firm Mattress for Lower Back Pain
According to a 2003 study published in the health journal, The Lancet, more than 300 adults that reported low back pain experienced greater symptom relief when sleeping on a medium-firm mattress. When compared with those who slept on a more firm mattress, the medium-firm sleepers reported reduced back pain while lying down and reduced back pain when waking up.
Sleeping on a mattress that is neither too firm or too soft helps those with low back pain to support the back, yet provides enough firmness to keep the back in proper alignment while sleeping.
Firm Mattresses
Very firm mattresses (those that move or "give" little when a person lies down) are best to support for those looking to achieve their best spinal position. If a person does not previously have any back pain or back-related conditions, a firm mattress helps to provide support for all spinal points while sleeping. This helps to keep the body in the same position as a person is when standing, which is generally more comfortable than when a person can sink into the mattress.
The chief exception for the firm mattress rule is if a person regularly sleeps on her side. Side sleepers tend to experience discomfort at the hip and shoulder when sleeping on a firmer mattress.
Soft Mattresses
While it's true soft mattresses are not the best choice for adults wishing to boost or maintain back health, soft mattresses can prove a comfortable choice for younger people (ages 21 or younger) who may wish to experience a softer, sink-in-the-bed-type feeling. Soft mattresses are generally best for those who find them most comforting, especially for stomach sleepers who are not advanced enough in age to experience back-related pain.
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