What is the Best Mattress For a Bad Back?

Choosing the right mattress is essential for those who suffer from back pain. The wrong mattress can exacerbate back pain, but the right mattress can allow your guests to sleep with ease – and happy guests come back (and leave positive reviews!).

Around 160,000 people in England have been diagnosed with back disorders.

Finding the best mattress for back pain

Mattress Firmness

In general, there are 3 main types of mattress firmness:

• Soft mattresses often provide good comfort and pressure-point relief but may lack inadequate support which can make bad pain worse.
• Medium support tends to be firm enough to provide adequate support, as well as being soft enough to be comfortable and provide pressure-point relief.
• Firm mattresses often provide good spinal support but can be uncomfortable.

In general, most people prefer a firmer mattress when they have back pain, as a firm mattress provides the spine with more support.However, Tim Hutchful, from the British Chiropractic Association (BCA), said: “A mistake that people often make when choosing a new mattress is thinking the firmer the better. This is not always true – one bed does not fit all.”

If the mattress is too hard it can cause aches and pains in the body's pressure points, such as the hips. People who sleep on their sides may also feel more sensitive to firmer mattresses.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Common problem areas such as the lower back, shoulders, neck and hips are supported, allowing the muscles to relax. This makes for a comfortable and undisturbed night’s sleep.

Pocket Sprung Mattresses

Luxury pocket sprung mattresses come with a top layer of foam for extra comfort.