Choosing the right mattress for back support, good posture, and sleep comfort has a significant effect on back pain relief. Although many doctors have traditionally recommended a hard mattress (a firm mattress) to patients with back pain, a recent study conducted in Spain found that a medium-firm mattress may provide better back support and help alleviate more back pain than a firm mattress.

Mattress study findings

The trial involved 313 adults who experienced chronic lower back pain and backache while lying on and moving from their bed. Participants were randomly assigned a medium-firm mattress or a firm mattress in place of their normal mattress. The patients who slept on the medium-firm mattresses were more likely to report reduced back pain in bed, reduced back pain upon rising from the bed, and less back pain related to disability than the patients who slept on a firm mattress.

Based on the study’s findings, a medium-firm mattress provided patients a better balance between back support and comfort for their lower back pain than a firm mattress. Sleeping on a mattress that is too hard exerts additional pressure on the back, resulting in more back pain for some patients. That being said, however, many patients did experience low back pain relief while in bed and upon rising after sleeping on a firm mattress, so a medium-firm does not appear to be most comfortable for all patients with back pain.

The number and placement of coils in the mattress determines the level of support, while the amount of padding on the mattress determines the level of comfort. Adding some padding to a hard mattress may be a good choice for some individuals with back pain. With the variety of mattress options on the market, personal preference in terms of sleep comfort and back support should ultimately be the guide for those with back pain and back problems.

Tips on buying a mattress

Before buying a mattress, it is best to try sleeping on it. People may try different beds in hotels, at other people’s houses, etc. and when they find the best mattress for them, and then they buy the same make/model. If it’s not possible to sleep on a mattress first, it’s advisable to at least lie on the mattress in the store until feeling sure that it is a comfortable fit.

There are two main factors that comprise a mattress:

• Support: The coils or inner springs in the mattress provide support for the spine. A mattress should have enough coils to provide adequate support and allow for the natural curves of the spine.
• Comfort: The padding on top of the mattress primarily provides the comfort (thick padding may be called “pillow top”). This is really a matter of personal preference – some people prefer thick padding and some thin.

 

In general, the higher number of coils and the thicker the padding, the higher quality (and more expensive) the mattress. However, this does not mean that it’s necessary to buy the mattress with the highest number of coils and/or thickest padding. As noted on the previous page,

mattress preference is dictated by a number of factors, including a person’s specific back condition.

While it is important that a mattress provide an adequate level support for the spine, personal preference and comfort level is the bottom line when selecting a mattress.