The right mattress will alleviate back pain
Back pain can occur due to an old and bad mattress. Such a mattress can also aggravate pain caused by something else.
Back pain can occur due to an old and bad mattress. Such a mattress can also aggravate pain caused by something else. If your back is keeping you awake at night, there is a high likelihood that the right choice of a mattress can help you. Back pain can have many causes, and here are some of the most prevalent ones:
- spending too much time sitting in a poor posture
- the spine must bear excessive weight without any help from the muscles
- sleeping on the stomach, which puts pressure on the back
- an old or poorly chosen mattress
When does a mattress cause back pain?
Sleeping on a bad mattress, just like sleeping on a couch, can lead to back pain or aggravate already existing pain. How? Throughout a night, you turn and change your sleep position 40-60 times. When the mattress that keeps you in the horizontal position is too soft, too hard or – even worse – full of lumps and with springs coming through, it cannot offer you the support that you need.
Back pain caused by the mattress #1: the mattress is too soft
When your back hurts, your mattress should support you. If you lie down on a mattress that is too soft, your body will “sink in”. Because the pressure on the nerve is too strong, there will be pain and a feeling of numbness.
Back pain caused by the mattress #2: the mattress is too hard
It is true – a hard mattress is a better option for all who experience back pain. However, if the mattress is too hard, it can have an adverse effect: it forces the body to adjust to the hard and straight surface, forcing the spine to straighten out.
Back pain caused by the mattress #3: the mattress is too old
Just as there is a reason, we should change our toothbrush every 2-3 months, there is also a reason to change our mattress every six years. It is necessary to change it for sanitary reasons, but also because it loses its initial comfort and the ability to support the body.
Best mattresses for the spine
When choosing a mattress for a healthy spine or a mattress that will help you alleviate back pain, it is important to know your sleep position.
Sleeping on the back
Sleeping on your back is the best position for the spine. Still, you should choose a medium mattress – such mattresses offer an ideal support for lower back pain. If you have back pain, try this little trick: place a pillow under your knees to maintain the natural curvature of your lower back.
If you believe you need additional support, try rolling a small towel and placing it under your lower back. Instead of a towel, you can also choose a pillow.
Sleeping on the side
A medium mattress is the best support for all side sleepers who suffer from back pain. The group also benefits from an anatomic pillow, which provides support to the shoulders and neck.
Sleeping on the stomach
People who sleep on their stomachs, which can also cause back pain, need a little harder mattress that will provide the necessary support.
Naturally, few people sleep through the night only on their stomachs or backs. As we have already mentioned, the sleeping position changes 40-60 times throughout the night. A well-chosen mattress can truly help with chronic back pain. The mattress must provide sufficient support to the body curvature, muscles and spinal bones.
Everyone knows that the spine is not straight like a pillar, but rather S-shaped, with four slight “curves”:
- the C-shaped cervical curve that supports the head
- the C-shaped thoracic curve that supports the upper body (torso)
- the C-shaped lumbar curve, which is essentially be base of the spine
- the sacrum and coccyx
During sleep, it is very important to maintain the normal status of those curves – otherwise chronic back pain can occur. When choosing a mattress for chronic back pain, choose a mattress that is neither too hard nor too soft. It should also enable you to sleep better. By choosing the right mattress for yourself, you will surely make your life easier. However, if you have serious issues, do not delay seeing a physician.
We wish you comfortable dreams!
