FindItMore | More than 540 million people globally are suffering from back pain and it increases chances of disability by 12 percent. Sleep position and choice of a mattress are significant factors in influencing back pain. With the back being an intersection of joints, muscles, ligaments, muscles, and bone, back pain requires immediate attention. Back pain affects mood, productivity, enjoyment of life, and sleep quality. Having pain makes it difficult for you to relax and have a comfortable night. This article focuses on how mattress choice impacts sleep quality.
Who is at high risk of back pain?
Anyone can get back pain at any time. However, people over 30 years and women are at a higher risk. Other people more likely to suffer from back pain include those with poor fitness levels, a sedentary lifestyle, and overweight. Sleeping on a poor choice mattress increases back pain by not providing appropriate back support.
Why good mattress choice matters
You spend in bed about one-third of your day. This means mattress choice and sleep posture is of significant importance. Quality sleep promotes healing and renewal. However, there’re no hard and fast rules to work for everyone when picking a mattress. The general rule of thumb is to choose a mattress that offers you good refreshing sleep with minimal stiffness and pain. Everyone has their preference and needs regarding mattress qualities and interacting with back pain.
How to tell a good mattress
When choosing a mattress, look for one offering support and support. A memory foam mattress offers enough support with appropriate firmness to align the spine and your heavier parts including hips and shoulders don’t sink very far into the mattress. Additionally, the mattress should have enough firmness without forcing the hips and shoulders to be up at an awkward angle. Comfort is the mattress’s ability to reduce back pain and pressure point.
Firmness and padding thickness varies but a good mattress adequately cushions the shoulders, hips, heels, and elbows from pain regardless of sleep position. You enjoy sleep without compromised mattress support. During the sleep trial period, you easily identify the comfort of the mattress. The mattress must keep your spine at a natural posture regardless of sleep position.
Mattress comfort according to sleep position
Side sleeping
Your spine has to be straight from the neck to the tailbone but parallel to the floor. Are your hips and shoulders tilting upwards? Well, the mattress is too firm or doesn’t have adequate comfort layer. The appropriate posture should be with your hips and shoulders sinking downward. This means the mattress has enough support or appropriate comfort layer.
Back sleeping
Your back should keep a neutral curve just like when standing. This should be with your neck resting at a neutral angle to the shoulders. The shoulders, heels, and hips should feel aligned straightly. You should feel enough support in the lumbar region. Is there a huge gap below your back and the bed while feeling pressure on the upper back and hips? The mattress is likely to be too firm. Additionally, feeling hips and chest sinking below your legs and arms means the mattress lacks enough support.
Stomach sleeping
Using a pillow below the hips, you also need a neutral curve just like in an upright posture. The mattress shouldn’t make your torso sink too far. This exaggerates the lower back curve and puts stress on the hips. You need a mattress with good firm support and adequate comfort to lessen pain in the shoulders and sensitive areas.
Why choose a memory foam mattress
The market is full of various mattress types but scientific studies rank memory foam mattress above others regarding management of back pain. Sleeping on a memory foam mattress offers better sleep with less pain. Foam mattresses are “visco-elastic” and contour responsively to pressure and temperature.
These mattresses return to their original shape when the pressure is removed. Viscosity allows foam to contour to your body shape without forcing it to adjust. This full body contouring supports the lower back making the muscles to relax fully and release tension. It explains why you’ll get relief from back pain sleeping on a memory foam mattress.
Bottom line
Long-term support and comfort are essential when choosing a mattress. When selecting a foam mattress, mind about foam density and coil gauge. These specifications determine mattress durability just as it’s equally important to mind about mattress price and warranties. A quality foam mattress from a reputable brand guarantees long-term comfort for better sleep quality.