The type of mattress you need for adequate back support depends on your sleep style and body type. Here are some tips to help you choose the best mattress for your sleep style.
When you sleep at night, your body rests, relaxes, and repairs, all the way down to the cellular level. But if you have chronic back pain, sleep may not be restful. Part of the issue may be your mattress. Many people still believe that if you have back pain, you need a firm mattress. This can help some people, but the type of mattress you need actually depends on your sleep style and body type. Once you have the right mattress for you, a good night’s sleep should help ease some of your pain.
Spinal Alignment
When you suffer from back pain, you need a mattress that supports the natural alignment of your spine. The sleep position you naturally adopt reflects your natural alignment. In essence, if you usually sleep on your side, your mattress needs will be different than someone who usually sleeps on their stomach. Having the wrong mattress could be adding to or even causing your back pain.
Back Sleepers
People with back pain who sleep on their backs often assume they need a very hard mattress. Studies have shown, however, that hard mattresses result in the poorest sleep quality in back-sleepers with lower back pain. Medium-firm or firm mattresses are actually better choices for these people.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleeping often results in both lower back and neck pain because of the stress it places on those areas. The National Sleep Foundation recommends changing your sleep position if you’re a stomach sleeper. For many people, however, changing your sleep position is difficult if not impossible. If you can’t convert from stomach sleeping (or don’t want to), opt for a firm mattress.
Side Sleepers
Side sleeping allows for your most natural spinal alignment and results in the healthier spine in the long term. If you’re a side sleeper, a softer mattress might make your sleep more comfortable as it allows your body to “sink in” at what would otherwise be pressure points at the hips and shoulders. If you’re a side sleeper and you ever wake up with pressure or numbness in your shoulder or hip, your mattress is likely too firm.
Combination Sleepers
If you rotate through various sleeping positions during the night, a medium-firm mattress is likely the safest bet. They provide enough firmness for most back and stomach sleepers, while not being too firm for side sleepers. Medium-firm mattresses are also a safe pick for couples that have differing sleep positions.
Sleepwell Is the Key to A Good Night’s Rest
With over 85 years in business, Sleepwell has been supplying consumers and retailers with the highest quality mattresses and bedding products in the industry. Sleepwell is a family-owned company that knows the true value of a good night’s rest and what it takes to achieve it. Our experts know how to match every customer with the right products. We service Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. You can reach us at 301‐322‐1000. Also, be sure to follow Sleepwell on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter!