Your Back Called Us – It’s Time for a New Mattress

What type of mattress is best for back pain – and other burning questions answered

Chronic back pain is one of the most common body ache complaints but it’s also one of the most challenging medical conditions to treat and/or cure. In theory, a supportive night’s sleep should help heal the abuse we throw at our backs during the day but if your mattress has lost that loving feeling, your mornings will likely be painful. Sleeping with back pain can be a vicious cycle as some sleep positions can aggravate the pain further.

At Restonic, we believe your back deserves tender loving care. Every. Single. Night.

Let’s talk about the ways a mattress can hurt your back – and the types of mattresses that can help with back pain management and support.

What does mattress support mean to your back?

Mattress support refers to how well a mattress can maintain an equally level surface for the lighter (head, hands and feet) and heavier (hips and torso) parts of your body. A very soft mattress may be supportive initially but may fail to maintain equilibrium across the mattress as time goes on. In extreme cases, a soft mattress that begins to sag (which often occurs in the center third of the mattress) can contribute to poor back health.

What does conformability have to do with your back – and mattress?

While a supportive mattress is important, pay attention to how it conforms to your shape as well. Conformability describes how a mattress molds to the unique curves of your body. A mattress with good conformability attends to heavier and lighter areas equally, which relieves pressure point pain and protects your back from pain.

A mattress that lacks conformability can result in lower back pain by forcing it into an unnaturally flat position. Your body is in alignment when your spine is (mostly) straight when lying on your side. When you lie on your back, your spine naturally forms an “S” shape.  A supportive, conforming mattress allows your back muscles to relax, which improves healthy blood circulation and reduces tossing and turning.

How do you shop for a new mattress for your back?

Most experts recommend evaluating your mattress around the 5- to 7-year mark. That doesn’t necessarily mean getting a new mattress, but simply thinking about whether your current sleep environment is meeting your needs Is your mattress still comfortable and in good condition? Are there any tears or stains or lumps that make it difficult to relax into a deep sleep?

Studies show that most Americans are more than a bit lax when it comes to updating their mattresses, which can impair their ability to enjoy the benefits of a great night of sleep. While your mom might feel nostalgic about keeping the bed you had since you were a kid, you’re old enough to know when it’s time to let it go.

If you’ve decided your back deserves some tender loving care, how do you find the best mattress for it? Grab your partner (if you don’t sleep alone) and start mattress shopping. By shopping, we mean lying on a lot of mattresses.

Talk to lots of mattress sales people – this is their business after all – and be prepared to test mattresses for yourself. You know how your body feels on a bad mattress, so it makes sense that you’ll also know what feels good.

Try these 3 simple rules when you go mattress shopping:

• You don’t sleep sitting up so lie down on the mattress in the store
• Lie on the bed like you do at home – side, stomach or back
• Compare mattresses at similar price points so you’re evaluating each one fairly

Rest well & wake up ready to go!

Better sleep gives rise to better mornings, bringing your goals into focus and dreams within reach. Hungry for more sleep info? Dig into these posts:

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