Choosing the Right Mattress to Reduce Lower Back Pain

When lower back pain makes your daily activities difficult, you may try just about anything to make it feel and function better. While daily exercise and workplace ergonomics can help, Dr. Hooman Melamed, a board-certified spine surgeon in Marina Del Rey, California, also recommends choosing the right mattress to reduce your lower back pain.

While there’s no specific mattress that’s right for everyone with back pain, there are certain things you can look for in a mattress that improves your sleep and leads to waking up with less pain.

Think about sleep posture

When you’re looking at mattresses that reduce lower back pain, consider your sleep posture. Just as good posture during the day reduces low back pain, so does good posture at night. Look for a mattress that supports your spine and keeps it aligned, giving your muscles and ligaments a chance to relax.

Dr. Melamed recommends a mattress that’s not too firm or too soft. Research shows most people sleep best on medium-firm mattresses that offer both support and comfort.

Consider memory foam

Many people choose memory foam mattresses, which offer ergonomic support while you sleep. These mattresses use your body’s heat and pressure to form to your shape and distributing your weight more evenly than traditional mattresses. Memory foam may also improve sleep quality, as it minimizes your movements, as well as sleep disruptions from your partner’s movements.

Memory foam mattresses come in a range of densities, and Dr. Melamed recommends finding the one that’s most comfortable for you, but still cradles the curves of your body.

Focus on personal preference

Because each person has their personal preferences when it comes to mattress comfort, you should focus on your preference, not what anyone else suggests. Research has shown that personal preference is the number one indicator of a mattress’s ability to improve sleep and reduce low back pain.

When choosing a mattress, Dr. Melamed suggests trying to sleep on a variety of mattresses before you buy. Some ways to try out mattresses before you buy include: staying at a friend’s house and or spending nights in different hotels. Take note of the mattresses that give you a good night’s sleep and reduce the amount of pain you feel in the morning.

Get a guarantee

In today’s consumer-focused world, be sure to purchase a mattress with a guarantee. Laying on a mattress for a few minutes at the mattress store won’t tell you how you’re going to sleep on it. When you get a guarantee, you can return the mattress if it doesn’t work for you.

More companies offer mattress guarantees or returns than ever before. Dr. Melamed recommends when choosing a mattress for lower back pain, you find one with a 30, 60, or 90-day return policy. Since it can take up to 10 days for your spine to adjust to sleeping on a new mattress, this guarantee makes sure the mattress works for you and your back.

Beware of the gimmicks

It seems that every mattress company states its mattresses are the best for lower back pain but don’t buy into the hype. Sellers use terms like “hypoallergenic,” “eco-friendly,” and “seal of approval” to mislead consumers into purchasing their item.

Instead of focusing on what the company tells you, Dr. Melamed says to take the mattress for a test run and determine for yourself if it improves your sleep and low back pain.

Lower back pain can interfere with your life, and Dr. Melamed understands how devastating that can be, both for you and your loved ones. Instead of continued suffering, call the Marina Del Rey, California, spine surgeon or book your initial consultation online today.