If you’re one of those people who constantly have back pain issues, then we believe it’s high time you start paying attention to your choice of mattress. We often get asked are memory foam mattresses good for your back? Although the answer is mostly yes, it can vary from person to person.
Your body is an essential model that works tirelessly throughout the day. One of the best things you can do for yourself is give it the rest it needs to function for another day. Therefore, finding the right mattress should be your top priority.
Hence, today’s blog discusses the benefits of memory foam mattresses and thoroughly explains whether memory foam mattresses are the right choice for your bad back.
So, gear up and let’s get on with the blog.
What Is The Main Reason Of A Backpain?
Since every person has a different lifestyle, pinpointing the cause of back pain can be challenging. Furthermore, the NHS refers to this problem as “non-specific” back pain because it frequently has no apparent cause or underlying medical disease.
Non-specific back pain may feel terrible and manifest as a dull ache in the lower back or as stiffness in the spine that worsens by prolonged sitting or standing in particular positions.
Non-specific back pain (sometimes called lumbago) usually affects the lower back, although it can also affect the middle and upper back.
In addition to being linked to environmental variables like lousy posture or unidentified injuries, non-specific back pain can also be brought on by sleeping on a mattress that doesn’t give enough support.
General back pain may be due to:
- A wound such as a strained muscle or sprain.
- Strain is typically brought on by incorrect lifting technique or hard lifting.
- Unpleasant postures, such as standing, sitting, or using a chair without proper back support.
- Poor alignment when sitting or standing.
- Resting on a mattress that is either too soft or too firm to allow the spine to adjust itself naturally.
Fortunately, non-specific back pain is frequently transient and treatable with appropriate care due to its lack of underlying etiology. Having said that, it’s critical to determine the underlying reason of your back pain (as best you can) before you can take action to stop it from returning in the future.
How Does A Mattress Help Your Backpain?
The appropriate mattress can be a great ally if you’re ready to eliminate back pain problems.
How? With the correct mattress, your weight will be distributed correctly, supporting your spine and enabling your muscles to unwind. What was the outcome? a healthy, rejuvenating night’s sleep.
Finding the right mattress for chronic back pain is crucial because an improper mattress can worsen the condition and cause more suffering.
An overly soft mattress, for instance, may push your spine out of alignment and leave you with achy, stiff joints. Additionally, the discomfort could make you agitated at night, negatively impacting your sleep quality.
Are Memory Foam Mattresses Good For Your Back?
Viscoelastic material was used to make memory foam mattresses in the 1960s for NASA astronauts to provide cushioning during takeoff. Pressure can be decreased since the material can shape itself according to the user’s body heat. Back discomfort can be relieved by memory foam mattresses, but there are three factors to think about before making the purchase:
- Everyone’s experience with a mattress is different. When seeking solutions for your sleep issues, remember that what works for you might not work for someone else and vice versa.
- Don’t jump to buy a mattress when you wake up with back pain, as there are plenty of other reasons back discomfort can occur. Poor posture from prolonged sitting, arthritis, sprains and strains, sports injuries, unhealthy spine curvatures (like kyphosis and lordosis), ruptured discs, etc., are some of the causes of back pain. To be safe, you can first get advice from your doctor to rule out these possible problems.
- The issue could be with your pillow. Although your pillow can contribute to back pain, your mattress may not be the problem. An excessively firm cushion can raise your cervical and thoracic regions, leading to back pain. An excessively soft cushion may cause you to slouch and put a strain on your cervical spine.
Reasons Why You Should Choose Memory Foam Mattress For Your Backpain
Some prominent reasons why you should be considering memory foam mattresses as your bedding type are:
1. It Relieves Pressure from Your Body:
A bed that bolsters your spine and releases pressure is essential since getting up with back discomfort can put you on your back or foot for the remainder of the day.
By spreading your weight evenly throughout the mattress, memory foam lessens pressure points on your body. Memory foam mattresses excel at pressure relief, which is the capacity to re-distribute weight.
A comfy mattress that contours to your shoulders, back, and hips to avoid pain points is what you get when pressure relief, spinal support, and contouring are combined, as they are with memory foam.
Your shape and preferred sleeping position will determine how much pressure relief suits you. The greatest mattress for side sleeping if you weigh less than 130 pounds is soft foam. Select a medium-firm feel when resting on your back to ease stress in the lower back. Try a mattress made of memory foam bed if you sleep on your back and weigh more than 230 pounds.
2. Memory foam keeps your partner’s motion separate.
The worst thing about having back pain and waking up early is waking up to an unruly companion. When you wake up, you might notice the pain right away again, in which case you’ll have to repeat the process of becoming comfortable and calm again.
Memory foam excels in absorbing and separating motion from your companion. While some foams perform better than others, memory foam mattresses typically outperform hybrid, latex, and innerspring mattresses regarding motion transfer reduction.
3. They utilize mattresses with zero gravity.
When you lie down, you experience a sense of weightlessness since your body is in a zero-gravity position. To a certain extent, you can achieve this by positioning many cushions under your knees, lower limbs, head, and upper back.
Nonetheless, using an adjustable bed is the ideal way to enjoy it. With the preset zero gravity on many of these, you only have to press a button to set the bed to this position.
Many memory foam mattresses are suitable with adjustable beds, allowing you to benefit from weightlessness and pressure alleviation when you sleep and lie down, which helps to relieve back discomfort.
4. It Has Different Firmness Levels
Like latex, a well-liked organic mattress, memory foam customizes a mattress’s firmness. According to the type of foam selected, the number of layers crammed into the mattress, the depth of those layers, and whether or not additional materials (such as springs) are incorporated, this can range from soft to hard.
A medium-firm mattress is the best option for most kinds of bodies and sleeping positions when it comes to back pain alleviation and support, according to the majority of medical specialists. If you weigh more than 230 pounds, the medium-firm option may be too soft for you; if you weigh less than 130 pounds, the medium-firm option may be too stiff.
5. It’s comfortable for side sleeping with back problems.
The Mayo Clinic states that sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees is the best posture for relieving back discomfort. This reduces some of the pressure on your back. Avoid curling your legs into the fetal position, which can exacerbate your back pain, and instead, pull them upward toward your chest.
Memory foam cushions your hips, shoulders, and knees as you rest on your side, and it’s one of the most comfortable materials for side sleepers. This is required if you spend hours sleeping on one side without turning over.
Which Is Better: Spring Or Memory Foam?
The answer will vary depending on your needs because, honestly, this depends greatly on how you sleep and where you most need assistance.
For those who are bigger or taller, a classic coiled mattress offers even weight distribution, making it more comfortable. On the other hand, a memory foam mattress conforms to your body’s curves to offer precise support where it’s needed.
For this reason, memory foam mattresses are frequently regarded as the ideal alternative for people with persistent back pain.
However, because the individual springs in pocket-sprung mattresses better follow the body’s curves than in classic open coil types, they offer comfort and support advantages for heavier and taller people.
If you are looking for the life span of a memory foam mattress, check our article on How Long Do Memory Foam Mattresses Last.
How Do You Know If Your Memory Foam Mattress Is Worth It?
When buying a memory foam mattress, it’s critical to research to guarantee optimal comfort from your selection. Some things to think about are;
The size of your bed frame
Make sure the mattress you select fits the frame of your bed. Any irregularities may cause discomfort when you sleep. To receive the finest option for comfort, you can choose between a custom-made mattress and a bed that can be adjusted.
Foam Type:
There are various materials used to make memory foam mattresses. Gel foam, plant-based foam, and conventional foams are examples of this.
The most popular and long-standing types of foams are traditional ones. They constantly do a superb job of reducing discomfort and removing sleeping issues, such as back pain.
Memory foam made from plants feels natural to the user. They are ideal for those who care about the environment and are content to include natural components in their beds.
Gel foams provide a more excellent sleeping surface, making them ideal for concerns with heat retention. They are typically paired with conventional varieties, and many consumers enjoy having this extra feature when they sleep.
How you sleep.
Certain memory foam mattresses suit those who sleep on their sides better than others who sleep on their backs. To determine which type best suits you, it would be best to check out a few different ones depending on how you like to sleep.
Wrapping It Up!
Are memory foam mattresses good for your back? Yes, they are, but you must ensure you have the right firmness level. You may break the cycle and get back to a pleasant sleeping routine by investing in a high-quality mattress that supports your spine correctly and promotes excellent posture while you sleep.
As your trusted source of mattress guides, it’s our moral responsibility to ensure you get a sleep that’s too good to wake up from. Therefore, our research is totally reliable for everyone.
FAQs
Do doctors recommend memory foam mattresses?
Indeed. As long as the mattresses give sufficient support, the experts we spoke with suggest memory foam, hybrid (spring and foam), and latex mattresses. According to medical professionals, ensure the mattress’s construction conforms to your body, aids in adequately distributing your weight, and provides adequate comfort and support for your joints.
Are Memory Foam Mattresses Good For Your Back? Is there anything better than memory foam?
Latex. Although not strictly speaking a foam, latex is a luxurious, natural, and environmentally friendly product that possesses many of the same properties as memory foam, albeit with a more buoyant sensation. Together, the sleeper can enjoy assistance, ease, and breathability with our latex mattresses.
Can a padded or memory foam topper help to improve back pain?
In addition to their comfort advantages, mattress toppers can provide support if you frequently experience back pain. They can give you an extra layer of comfort and support whenever you require it most.
