For those of us living hectic, stressful lives in the capital, the last thing we need is for our sleeping patterns to be interrupted by chronic back pain. Waking up full of aches and pains – or worse yet, not being able to get to sleep at all because of these niggles – can have a detrimental effect on energy levels, productivity and morale.
That’s why it’s so important to not only sleep in the correct position to minimise back pain, but also to choose a mattress that’s right for you. With so many options on offer and so many (apparently conflicting) opinions about which one is best suited to easing lower back pain, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Mattresses for Back Pain
This article aims to dispense with the jargon and condense all of that information into one handy, easy-to-read guide on how to choose your ideal mattresses for back pain, as well as some concrete pointers in the right direction.
Support is key
Old-school thinking dictated that back pain is most successfully treated via a firm mattress, but that viewpoint has shifted over the years. Nowadays, experts such as the British Chiropractic Association and The Sleep Council both agree that support should be prioritised over firmness. Indeed, a mattress that’s too firm can actually have a damaging effect on your lower back, especially if you weigh more.
Weigh up your options
It’s not a hard-and-fast dictum, but a general rule of thumb indicates that the heavier you are, the firmer a mattress you’ll need. The difficulty with this logic is that the mattress industry seems to disagree on exactly what constitutes a “soft”, “medium” or “firm” mattress, but again, a rough guide indicates that those under 11 stone should choose soft, those over 16 stone should pick firm and those in between should plump for medium.
Try before you buy
The logistics of trying out a mattress before you commit to the purchase might sound tricky, but it’s easier than you may think. Many companies, including Eve, Hyde and Sleep and Nytex offer free trials, whereby you can send back a mattress at little or no cost if you’re not satisfied with it. Failing that, you can always visit a showroom and prostrate yourself on as many mattresses as you like before buying. It’ll be worth it in the long run.
Our recommendations
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but for a starting point of where to begin, here are a handful of suggestions:
Soft mattresses for back pain: –
Silentnight 3 Zone Memory Foam
Sealy Nostromo 1400
Medium mattresses for back pain: –
Happy Beds Majestic 1000
Hyde and Sleep’s Next Gen Memory Foam
Firm mattresses for back pain: –
Hypnos Milford
Tempur Original Deluxe 27
Every individual’s needs are different
It’s important to remember that everyone’s unique circumstances will dictate what mattress is right for them – there’s no panacea that will cure everyone. Latex mattresses work for some people, memory foam for others. Therefore, the time you invest in carefully choosing the right mattress for you will be time well spent; find one that balances support with comfort and gives you the best night’s sleep possible.
Seek professional advice
It should also be remembered that the information in this guide should not be substituted for advice from a GP or back pain specialist, such as a licensed chiropractor. For friendly, impartial advice in the Canary Wharf area, get in touch with us today.
