Firm Or Soft Mattress For Bad Back

Pros of a soft mattress.

Firm or soft mattress for bad back.

Soft mattresses can reduce back pain and help aging individuals deal with joint pain and problems 2. Back sleepers need a solid medium firm mattress and should aim for around a 6 to 7 on. There was no difference in sleep quality between those who used medium firm and firm mattresses. But experts tell webmd no bed type is best for all backs.

In the past doctors often recommended very firm mattresses. Firm vs soft in an effort to confirm that hard mattresses exert a positive effect on the sleep of people with chronic low back pain as is commonly believed participants in a study tested bedding with varying degrees of firmness. If a mattress is too firm or too squishy it won t support your spine at your neck or lower back the way it needs to. The best mattress for a bad back is of medium firm density.

Side sleepers need a slightly softer mattress and can look for something in the 5 5 to 6 5 range for firmness. When seeking the best bed for lower back pain a commonality among the millions of people plagued by chronic back pain is their preference for a mattress with a medium to firm feel. An overly soft mattress will not support the body properly at all allowing it to sink into the mattress too much. Soft mattresses can be a better option for people who sleep on their side especially in a fetal position.

Soft mattresses on the other hand can also be problematic. No more tossing and turning no more thrashing no more. The study a randomized controlled trial was published in the april 2008 issue of spine. With a too soft mattress your lumbar region may not get necessary support leaving you with morning time achiness after sleeping with your spine unaligned.

Slimmer lighter people can sleep on a medium firm mattress and enjoy the plushness without sacrificing spinal support 3. But one survey of 268 people with low back pain found that those who slept on very hard mattresses had the poorest sleep quality. What s firm enough but not too firm is different for everyone.