Sleeping on the right mattress, good posture and comfortable sleep can greatly reduce back pain. Earlier, we believed that patients suffering from low back pain should sleep on a hard or firm mattress. However, recent studies report that a medium-firm mattress would provide better support to the lower back and help reduce back pain much faster than a firm mattress. Sleeping on a hard mattress puts excess pressure on the back, resulting in more back pain. On the other hand, there might be some people who feel lesser pain after sleeping on a firm mattress; hence medium-firm mattress may not be the best choice for all back pain patients.
Total Tips
There is a wide variety of mattresses available in the market which makes the right choice all the more confusing. Here are some tips to choose the best mattress to alleviate back pain:
• As pointed out earlier, no single mattress works universally for all back pain patients. Personal preference should be the key in choosing the mattress. The mattress should be comfortable, provide adequate support to the back and allow the patient to get restful sleep at night.
• Understanding the formation of the mattress is the key to making the right decision. The level of support provided by the mattress is determined by the number and position of coils in it. The level of comfort of a mattress is gauged by the amount of padding used. Hence, a back pain patient who is using a firm mattress can make his mattress more comfortable by adding some layers of padding. An ideal mattress should provide total support to the natural curves of the spine.
• Never compromise on quality over price while buying a mattress. A good quality mattress is worth the investment if you consider the advantages that it provides such as back pain relief and comfortable sleep.
• The above mentioned points are the guidelines for choosing the best mattress for low back pain. However, it is advisable to try out a mattress before buying it. You can lie on the mattress in your usual sleep position and assess the mattress for the level of support and comfort that is just right for you. If you have regular occurrence of back pain, it would be a good idea to consult your doctor before buying a mattress.