Firm Or Soft Mattress For Bad Back

The study a randomized controlled trial was published in the april 2008 issue of spine.

Firm or soft mattress for bad back.

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. No more tossing and turning no more thrashing no more. But experts tell webmd no bed type is best for all backs. An overly soft mattress will not support the body properly at all allowing it to sink into the mattress too much.

But one survey of 268 people with low back pain found that those who slept on very hard mattresses had the poorest sleep quality. The mattress is flippable with both a soft and firm side but back pain sufferers will likely feel the most comfortable on the firm side. Slimmer lighter people can sleep on a medium firm mattress and enjoy the plushness without sacrificing spinal support 3. Soft mattresses can reduce back pain and help aging individuals deal with joint pain and problems 2.

Pros of a soft mattress. Soft mattresses on the other hand can also be problematic. 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. Soft mattresses can be a better option for people who sleep on their side especially in a fetal position.

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. Side sleepers need a slightly softer mattress and can look for something in the 5 5 to 6 5 range for firmness. What s firm enough but not too firm is different for everyone. While it is important not to have an overly firm mattress for a bad back it is equally important that it is not too soft to support your body weight.

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. In the past doctors often recommended very firm mattresses. A danish study finds more people with back pain prefer soft beds to hard ones.