How To Tell If Your Mattress Is Causing Back Pain
Are you one of the millions of people who suffer from back pain? Do you think it may be coming from your mattress but you’re not sure? You are confused on how To Tell If Your Mattress Is Causing Back Pain.
I have some knowledge and tips to help you identify if your mattress is the problem, as well as some solutions to help you find a quality mattress. I also give you tips on how to tell if your mattress needs replacing.
Your Pain May Be Coming From Your Mattress If:
1. Your pain is worse in the morning
If your pain is worse when you wake up and improves throughout the day it’s a good sign your body is not getting the proper rest it needs throughout the night. If your muscles have to work throughout the night to support your spine, then they do not have time to rest, your joints are under constant stress, and your discs are not able to decompress and rehydrate, leaving you with pain when you wake up. If you’re suffering from any of this, you need to fix mattress back pain by getting a better product.
2. You can’t get comfortable throughout the night
If you are tossing or turning throughout the night and can’t get comfortable then your mattress may not be giving you the proper pressure relief to allow your body to relax and receive proper blood flow. An alternating pressure relief mattress may help in this situation.
3. Your mattress is out of date
If your mattress is starting to sag, indented, swallows you up, or is no longer responsive then it is time for you to switch it out. It is generally recommended that you change out your mattress after 7-8 years. If you’re looking at buying a new mattress, tips are always helpful. Keep reading to see what to look for in a mattress.
What To Look For When Searching For The Right Mattress
There are 5 criteria you should look for when searching for a quality mattress: Materials used, support, pressure relief, resilience, and breath-ability.
1. Materials
When choosing a bed be sure to research the brand and find out what materials are used. Are they quality materials? Are they safe, organic, and eco-friendly? Using cheap materials means the mattress will not hold up over time and it will start to sink in. Do not buy a mattress that does not disclose what materials are used, and where the materials are sourced from. A high-quality material that is also eco-friendly is latex.
2. Support
If you suffer from mid or lower back pain, or are a back sleeper then pay extra attention. You need a responsive and supportive material that pushes up into the lumbar spine and allows the low back to de-stress. This allows the muscles to relax and gives your discs and other joints time to decompress throughout the night. In my opinion, latex mattresses offer the best support.
3. Pressure Relief
If you suffer from shoulder or hip pain, or are a side sleeper then pressure relief is very important for you. Pressure relief is necessary for the parts of your body that stick out (shoulders and hips). Taking pressure off these areas will allow those ball and socket joints the relief from the constant stress they are under all day. Memory foam mattresses offer great pressure relief.
4. Resilience
As humans, everything starts with our core, and this is the same with mattresses. If you want a resilient mattress that has longevity then your mattress needs a strong core. This is why hybrid mattresses have gained so much popularity over the last few years. Hybrid mattresses have a strong multi-coil core that is typically layered with several types of memory foam, latex, or other material. These new types of pocket coils allow the bed to be resilient and helps preserve the life of the mattress.
5. Breath-ability
You can have a quality mattress but if it’s too dense it wont be breathable. The bed will trap heat leaving you sweaty and uncomfortable throughout the night. I sleep hot so it is important that I have a breathable mattress. Having a quality, light weight, open celled mattress will keep you cool and dry at night.
What I Recommend
I recommend a medium-firm hybrid latex or memory foam mattress. A company I like that meets all the criteria listed is Saatva, particularly their Saatva Classic Mattress. This mattress is a hybrid memory foam. It offers the best combination of support and pressure relief because of the way it is designed. It has active wire zone that is built into the center of the mattress, which keeps the mattress middle from indenting or sinking in overtime. This offers additional support for the lumbar spine, and for those who sleep on their back. Saatva also offers several firmness levels but I recommend luxury firm.
Perhaps you would like to explore a mattress more specific to your needs? Saatva has seven different mattress types to choose from to fit every type of sleeper:
Saatva Classic – A hybrid memory foam and best seller
Loom & Leaf – A complete memory foam
Saatva Latex Hybrid – An eco-friendly hybrid Talalay Latex
Zen Haven – A complete Talalay Latex
Solaire Adjustable – Saatva’s adjustable air compressed mattress with 50 different settings
Saatva HD – A mattress designed for bigger bodies
Saatva Youth – A mattress designed for growing bodies
With Saatva you are guaranteed to find a mattress specific to your needs. If you aren’t sure what you are looking for, take Saatva’s Mattress Quiz. Just answer a few quick questions and see which mattress is best for you.
To see all the mattresses I recommend check out the 5 Mattresses Recommended by Chiropractors.
