|  | Conditions Treatments | Back Pain

Firm Mattresses & Back Pain

We all have our preferences: Some like firm mattresses; others like soft. If you are struggling with back pain, the wrong mattress will exacerbate your back problems and make it difficult to sleep comfortably. Furthermore, when you wake up, you're likely to hurt more than when you went to sleep.

  1. Medium Firm May be Better Than Firm

    • If you're experiencing restless sleep or back pain, consider purchasing a mattress that is medium-firm rather than firm. Maximum support can be achieved, and relief from pain back attained, with a softer wrapping around the mattress. A medium-firm mattress offers a more optimal balance between comfort for the lower back and back support than does an extremely firm mattress. When a mattress is too firm it may be putting too much pressure on your skeleton, which can exacerbate back pain.

    Considerations

    • According to Bigbackpain.com, a mattress must be firm enough that it supports the spine; however, a mattress that is too firm can result in gaps between the inward curves of your body. This leaves portions of your back unsupported and can result in back pain. When this occurs, more weight is supported by less points on the body, creating "pressure points" to be cut off in the bloodstream and numbness and pain to ensue.

    Too Soft

    • A soft mattress can lead to lower back pain because your back sinks too far down into the mattress, which causes misalignment of your spine. Too much stress is placed on your spinal joints, ligaments and muscles when you sleep on a soft mattress.

    Sleep Position

    • If you are a stomach sleeper, you are going to require a firmer mattress than someone who sleeps on his side. A side-sleeper needs a mattress that is soft enough to let the hips and shoulders sink in while avoiding too much pressure on the hips shoulders and knees.

    Sleep Problems

    • When your mattress is too firm this could prevent you from sleeping well. Other problems with attaining restful sleep can arise when you are sharing a bed and don't have enough room to move about. The Better Sleep Council notes that most people change positions between 40 and 60 times a night.

    Age

    • Older individuals need to replace their mattresses more frequently than younger people because the aging body becomes more vulnerable to aches and pains and sensitive to pressure. The older body needs more cushioning and support.

Back Pain - Related Articles