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Short answer: Most people with back pain do best on a medium-firm to firm mattress that keeps the spine in a neutral position and stops the hips from sinking too deeply.
Why it works: Back pain often worsens when the lower back falls out of alignment during sleep. A supportive mattress lifts the hips, maintains a level spine, and still cushions the shoulders so the body stays properly aligned throughout the night.
Avoid: Very soft mattresses that let the midsection dip and twist the lower back, and very firm mattresses that create pressure points and limit natural spinal settling.
Best material: A hybrid or orthopaedic mattress with pocket springs and a quality comfort layer. The springs provide structure and lift, while the comfort layers reduce pressure across the shoulders and lower back.
Best sleeping position: Back sleeping with a small pillow under the knees or side sleeping with a pillow between the legs to keep the hips level and reduce strain on the lumbar region.
For those of us in Ireland who suffer with chronic discomfort, finding the best mattress for back pain is essential for a restful night's sleep.
While a new bed will not solve every medical issue, the right choice can significantly relieve pressure, improve spinal alignment, and offer the comfort needed for deep rest.
Generally, the best mattress for back pain is one that maintains neutral spinal alignment. For most sufferers, this means a medium-firm to firm orthopaedic mattress that prevents your hips from sinking too low while still cushioning your shoulders.
Since every back is different, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Building on our best mattress buying guide, we have selected the top mattress types below that are specifically designed to target lower and upper back pain.
There are many different types of back pain, with different causes. Identifying the type of back ache you suffer from will help you to work out what mattress type is best for you.
Lower back pain is what people most associate with having a bad back. It is often caused by injury, sprains or straining of the muscle through overstretching, lifting heavy objects incorrectly, suffering a fall or accident, or a lack of lumbar support.
Upper back pain can be attributed to a number of things including poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle or a lack of support when sitting for long periods of time or sleeping, as well as incorrect lifting of objects, accidents or trauma.
With general back pain, the cause of the problem needs to be identified in order to be treated. It is recommended that you consult a doctor or health professional in order to help identify the cause and determine the best ways to relieve your pain.
If your mattress is old, its ability to support your body comfortably will deteriorate over time, with pocket springs losing their strength and memory foam or latex layers losing their ability to spring back into shape when you have gotten out of bed.
Without these supports in place, your body may not be evenly supported, leading to a change in your spinal alignment, which can result in a bad back. In order to ensure sufficient support and pressure relief, it is recommended that you replace your mattress every 7 to 8 years.
Trying to find the perfect mattress can be challenging at the best of times, but if you also suffer from a bad back, it can become more difficult, with an overwhelming amount of information and conflicting recommendations on orthopaedic mattresses regarding which is best to relieve your aches and pains.
We have taken the pain out of the process by compiling a list of mattress types that are considered to be best for those with a bad back.
It has long been thought that orthopaedic mattresses are the best solution for a bad back as they are specifically designed to support the joints, back and overall body.
Orthopaedic mattresses are very much on the firmer side of the scale. These mattresses aim to ease the discomfort experienced by those who suffer from a bad back or aching joints by providing a firm but comfortable mattress which provides targeted support. Based on this, we believe the best mattress for those with a bad back is the Sanctuary 1200 Orthopaedic Mattress.
We believe an orthopaedic mattress is the best mattress type for the majority of those who suffer from back pain.
The pocket sprung mattress contains hundreds, often thousands, of individual springs, each sewn into its own pocket of fabric. The Hotel Platinum 1400 is, in our view, the best pocket sprung mattress for back pain.
The advantage of this is that the springs within a pocket sprung mattress operate independently of one another, respond to your weight, shape, movement and sleeping position, and provide effective weight distribution, which is especially good for those who are taller or heavier. The ability of the individual springs to adjust to the contours of your body can help to provide relief and support for those with a bad back. As a rule of thumb, the higher the spring count the better.
In a memory foam mattress, the material reacts to pressure and heat, changing shape to fit the sleeper's body and holding it, creating the hug effect which many customers appreciate.
Memory foam mattresses are believed to offer relief from back pain thanks to the contouring properties which allow the material to fit around your body, providing firm support to the natural curvature of your spine and easing pressure points and aching joints. We believe that the DFI Cloud Memory Foam Pocket Sprung Mattress is the best memory foam mattress for a bad back.
A hybrid mattress provides the support system of a pocket sprung mattress with the comfort and pressure relief of a memory foam topping layer, keeping the user's spine aligned while evenly supporting the weight of the body. This makes it a great option for those who suffer from back pain.
A medium-firm to firm mattress is generally best for back pain because it keeps the spine in a neutral position and prevents the hips from sinking too deeply. This helps maintain alignment and reduces strain on the lower back.
Yes. Orthopaedic mattresses are designed to support the joints, back, and entire body by providing firm, targeted support. They distribute body weight evenly and help relieve pressure on the spine, which can ease back pain.
It is recommended to replace your mattress every 7 to 8 years. Over time, pocket springs lose strength and comfort layers compress, reducing support and allowing your spine to fall out of alignment, which can contribute to back pain.
Yes. A hybrid mattress that combines pocket springs with a memory foam or gel comfort layer provides both structure and cushioning. It supports the spine evenly while relieving pressure points on the back, hips, and joints.
Back sleeping with a small pillow under the knees or side sleeping with a pillow between the legs helps keep the hips level and the spine aligned. Stomach sleeping is best avoided as it often twists the spine and strains the lower back.
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Our Managing Director Brian's expertise in crafting comfortable sleep experiences makes him a reliable voice for all things bedding-related. Brian publishes advice and tips on mattresses, beds and the overall sleep experience based on extensive industry experience.
Author Profile: Brian McCann Bio
