Written by Logan Block, Mattress Reviewer
Finding the best mattress for back pain can be a challenge. Sleepers come in all shapes and sizes, and if you struggle with upper or lower back pain, mattresses promising deep pressure relief often don’t deliver. When putting together our list of the best mattresses for back pain, we made sure to choose a wide variety. They run the gamut from affordable to luxurious, from firm to soft, and are sure to give you plenty of options to mull over.
As you’ll see in our reviews of each mattress below, we paid close attention to something called the pressure map when selecting these mattresses. A pressure map is a device that we roll across every bed we test. We lie down on the map, and it reads how much pressure the mattress puts on our body in different sleeping positions via thermal imaging. Blue indicates almost no pressure, green indicates low pressure, yellow indicates moderate pressure, and red means high pressure. If the pressure map shows blue (or maybe a little green) at the upper or lower back in various sleeping positions, it’s likely an effective mattress for back pain.
Our Top Pick for Sleepers With Back Pain
Saatva Rx shines on our list as the best overall pick due to its unique construction of innerspring coils and foam modules. This should help give you a neutral spinal alignment, as well as deep pressure relief — both key factors for reducing back pain.
Best Mattresses for Upper and Lower Back Pain
- Saatva Rx – Best Overall Mattress for Back Pain
- Nectar – Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain
- Helix Midnight Luxe – Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers with Back Pain
- DreamCloud – Best Mattress for Back Sleepers with Back Pain
- WinkBed – Best Cooling Mattress for Back Pain
- Saatva – Best Innerspring Mattress for Back Pain
- Bear Elite Hybrid – Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Pain
- Nolah Evolution – Best Luxury Mattress for Back Pain
- Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Best Cheap Mattress for Back Pain
- Emma Hybrid Comfort – Best Mattress for Couples with Back Pain
- Titan Plus – Best Mattress for Heavy Sleepers with Back Pain
- Birch Natural – Best Organic Mattress for Back Pain
Best Mattress for Back Pain Video
Disclaimer: The content on Sleepopolis is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t take the place of advice or treatment from your physician or medical professional. This review is meant to be an informative guide for those looking to maintain healthy posture while they sleep. User experiences and needs will vary. If you experience lasting pain, soreness, or discomfort while sleeping, it’s always a good idea to seek out a healthcare professional in person.
What We Look for in the Best Mattresses for Back Pain
Spinal Alignment
Mattresses that we’ve proven to healthily support spinal alignment were our first considerations on this roundup. We’ve tested each of these mattresses and determined which sleeping positions and which body types they best serve, with our primary concern being support. When a mattress has strong support, it doesn’t mean it’s firm. A supportive bed is able to lift the body into a neutral spinal alignment and to keep the body well-supported throughout the night, preventing aches and pains.
Pressure Relief
While mattresses with spinal support are crucial for alleviating back pain, we also pay attention to pressure relief. If a mattress is overly firm, it can cause excess pressure buildup in sensitive areas, resulting in exacerbated back pain or even added joint pain. That’s why we consider it paramount for back sleepers to receive cushioning at the lumbar region, side sleepers at the shoulder and hip, and stomach sleepers just a bit at the hips.
Firmness
When testing mattresses, we use our firmness scale which places mattresses on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the softest possible mattress, and 10 is the firmest. Our testers consider a 6.5 out of 10 as a true medium-firm mattress, offering a balanced feel of comfort and support. It also happens to be our general firmness advice for folks looking to relieve back pain, as it offers a blend of comfort and support.
Compare The Best Mattresses For Back Pain
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| Saatva Rx Mattress | Nectar Mattress | Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress | DreamCloud Original Mattress | WinkBed Mattress | Saatva Mattress | Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress | Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress | Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress | Emma Hybrid Comfort | Titan Plus | Birch Natural Mattress | |
| Rating | ||||||||||||
| Firmness | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-soft: 6/10 | Medium-soft: 6/10 | Firm: 7/10 | Firm: 7/10 | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Firm: 7.5/10 | Firm: 7.5/10 | Firm: 7/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Innerspring | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Cooling | -- | -- | -- | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | -- | -- | ✓ | -- | ✓ |
| Sleep Position | Combination | Back & Side | Combination | Back | Combination | Back & Stomach | Back & Stomach | Back & Side | Back | Back & Stomach | Back & Stomach | Back & Stomach |
Saatva Rx – Best Overall Mattress for Back Pain
Designed specifically for sleepers with back pain and joint pain, the Saatva Rx features several layers that combine both foam and coils. This creates a blend of comfort and support throughout the entire mattress that’s cushioning enough for any aches and pains while still being sturdy enough for a neutral spinal alignment. Learn more in our Saatva Rx video review.
What our tester says:
“I found that this bed has a supportive feel that easily works for people of all weights, but still feels plush and comfortable.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
Expert Opinion
With the Rx, Saatva designed a bed specifically for sleepers who struggle with back pain and chronic joint pain. As such, its construction is rather unique, with its comfort layer consisting of microcoils wrapped in foam. This gives the bed a supportive yet pressure-relieving feel as soon as you lie down — a balance that’s extremely important for folks who have to contend with aches and pain. While they’ll definitely need some contouring, their mattress shouldn’t be too soft, as that can make it difficult to move around and give them the support they need. At the bottom of the Saatva Rx, they’ll get that combination of sturdiness and pressure relief once again with a layer of taller pocketed coils overlaid with a 2-inch foam module meant to help with motion isolation and provide additional contouring.
Of course, savvy design means little if a mattress isn’t actually comfortable to sleep on. That’s why, in addition to testing out the feel of the Saatva Rx, we rolled out our pressure map across its surface. The upper and lower black lit up bright blue, showing little to no signs of pressure. So back sleepers and side sleepers alike should stay comfortable throughout the night without any pressure buildup.
What our tester says: “This bed a supportive feel that easily works for people of all weights, but still feels plush and comfortable.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
What Customers Say
The Saatva Rx has an impressive customer score of 4.9 out of 5 stars on the brand’s website. However, it’s worth noting that this is still a fairly new bed and only has 44 reviews so far. The ones that are there praise the mattress’s ability to relieve joint pain, especially when it’s associated with sciatica.
Highlights of the Saatva Rx Mattress
- We found that the Saatca Rx had a 6.5 out of 10 on our mattress scale. This is the industry standard for medium firm, and is usually an excellent fit for people struggling with back pain and joint pain, especially if they have arthritis. Once again, it’s all about that balance of comfort and support.
- The responsiveness toward the top of this mattress helps with ease of movement so combination sleepers can change sleeping positions.
- The Saatva Rx’s should sleep cool, due to the airflow-promoting coils, as well as infusions of graphite gel and phase change material in the foam module. We tested the bed’s temperature with our thermal gun, and it only increased eight degrees when we laid down on it, which indicates good cooling.
What to Keep in Mind about the Saatva Rx Mattress
- This is one of the more expensive mattresses on our list, so it likely isn’t going to be the best fit for anyone on a strict budget. These folks might be interested in perusing our best mattresses under $1,000.
Will this mattress lead you to restful nights? Find out in our full Saatva Rx mattress review, or check out our best mattress roundup.
Nectar – Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain
The Nectar delivers on classic memory foam: it’s soft, contouring, and provides a slow-sinking feel. Still, it provides solid support for most light to average weight sleepers. The cushioning memory foam allows for plenty of pressure relief on pain points, like shoulders and hips. Side sleepers especially should enjoy the pressure relief. Plus, a lengthy trial period, lifetime warranty, and affordable price make the Nectar a reassuring choice for many. Watch our video review to learn more.
What our tester says:
“I think memory foam lovers should be happy on the Nectar. This bed has a classic memory foam feel, so there’s lots of sinkage, contouring, and pressure relief. This can be great for anyone with shoulder pain or hip pain since it gives them cushioning at sensitive pressure points.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Expert Opinion
Made entirely of foam, the Nectar is a pressure-relieving mattress with a medium-soft feel. When reviewing it, we found that the mattress was very effective in relieving back pain, especially for lightweight and average weight side sleepers. They should feel the top foams cushioning the pressure points at the hip and shoulder, which can help promote a healthy spinal alignment.
These feelings were confirmed by our pressure map test. While lying on our back and side on the Nectar, the map was entirely blue and green at the upper and lower back, indicating little no pressure in these areas.
What our tester says: “ I think the Nectar does a great job relieving back pain, especially for back sleepers. The pressure map results above also make me think this bed is a great fit for any sleepers with shoulder pain.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
What Customers Say
Nectar is one of the biggest players in the mattress industry, so it’s no surprise that the bed has almost 48,000 reviews on the company’s website. Many customers have positive things to say about the optimal blend of comfort and support; how the mattress is soft without letting you sink too far into the layers. We recommend purchasing a Nectar online to take advantage of the Nectar’s lower price, especially because it also comes with a generous forever warranty. But you can also find it at independent mattress retailers such as Mattress Firm if you want to test it out in person.
Highlights of the Nectar Mattress
- We think the Nectar could be extra-comfy for back sleepers who struggle with back pain.
- While it’s not the coolest mattress out there, the Nectar sleeps cooler than the average memory foam mattress. So if you’re a hot sleeper who still loves memory foam, it could be a sensible option for you.
- Memory foam is known for its ability to isolate motion, and the Nectar exceeds in this area. If you’re someone who sleeps with a partner, you’re unlikely to disturb one another with your movements.
What to Keep in Mind about the Nectar Mattress
- Combination sleepers may want a more responsive, bouncy mattress that allows them to more easily switch positions.
- The Nectar isn’t supportive enough for stomach sleepers, although lightweight stomach sleepers under 150 pounds might find it comfortable.
Interested in learning more about the Nectar? Read our full Nectar mattress review, or check out our roundup for the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Helix Midnight Luxe – Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers with Back Pain
Helix has a line of six hybrid mattresses, each with a different level of firmness. The Midnight is one of their medium models. It has enough contouring for side sleepers, but should still be supportive enough for back sleepers, as long as they don’t mind a softer bed. Learn more in our video review.
What our tester says:
“I like the Helix Midnight Luxe for back sleepers and side sleepers. The medium-soft to medium-firm feel should give these folks the right balance of comfort and support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and mattress tester
Expert Opinion
While Helix is known for their customizable mattresses, they also have a line of pre-existing hybrid beds made with layers of foam and a bottom layer of coils, each with a different level of firmness. When we tested out the Helix Midnight — the brand’s medium-firm option — we saw little to no pressure at the lumbar region in all three sleeping positions, making it an excellent choice for soothing back pain. And if you want even more contouring for your lower back, you can pay extra for the Helix Midnight Luxe, a luxury upgrade with a cushy pillow top.
Even though both Helix Midnight models are advertised as medium firm, we experienced the Midnight Luxe as a 6 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale, which is medium soft. However, firmness varies from person to person, so we feel confident in calling the Luxe version a medium-soft to medium-firm bed. At the same time, it has a lot of support and responsiveness due to its coils. This should make it easy for combination sleepers with back pain to change positions. They should have no problem switching back and forth between their back, side, and stomach.
What our tester says: “I like that the coils have zoned support, which means that they’re softer at the shoulders for added pressure relief and firmer at the hips to help promote a neutral spinal alignment. Zoned support is ideal for sleepers with back pain, as it helps keep the spine nice and straight.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
What Customers Say
The Midnight Luxe has a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Helix’s website. Customers regularly praise its firmness and support, with several pointing out that they also found it to be a cooling hybrid mattress. While we recommend ordering a bed in a box online for both price and convenience, you can also try out the Helix Midnight Luxe yourself in several showrooms and independent retails across the country, including CB2.
Highlights of the Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress
- Back sleepers should feel pressure relief on their lumbar region as it gets filled in with the bed’s soft foams.
- The pressure map showed little to no yellow or red at the shoulders and hips, where side sleepers put the most pressure. So they should be very comfortable on the Helix Midnight Luxe as well.
- Like most of Helix’s hybrid mattresses, the Midnight Luxe sleeps cool due to the airiness of its cover and coils that leave lots of room for air to flow through the bed. This makes it an excellent choice for hot sleepers.
What to Keep in Mind about the Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress
- Stomach sleepers are going to need a firmer option to get the support they need to keep their hips lifted and in line with their shoulders.
Hungry to learn more about the Midnight Luxe? Read our full Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review, or check out our roundup for the best mattresses for combo sleepers.
DreamCloud – Best Mattress for Back Sleepers with Back Pain
With soft foam and a sturdy layer of innerspring coils, the DreamCloud strikes a balance between comfort and support — a little bit of contouring up top and on-top-of-the-bed feel that comes from the bottom. It’s a fairly firm mattress that we think is most comfortable for back sleepers. It also has some luxury touches such as a cashmere-blend cover that are reminiscent of a high-end hotel. Learn more in our DreamCloud video review.
What our tester says:
“I really like how luxurious this mattress feels and how it could work for a variety of sleepers. Along with that, I found that the breathable cashmere cover helps the DreamCloud sleep cool throughout the night. Thanks to its medium-firm to firm support, I think the DreamCloud is a durable mattress. It balances support with plenty of pressure relief for back sleepers.” – Bridget Chapman, former Sleepopolis senior product editor
Expert Opinion
For back sleepers already experiencing back pain, it’s imperative to match yourself with a mattress that helps you maintain a neutral spinal alignment. If you select an option that’s not compatible with your body type, you could end up worsening your pain. Luckily, the DreamCloud has many back sleepers with back pain out there completely covered. Folks resting on their backs require plenty of support and lift to keep the hips up throughout the night. To help keep weight evenly distributed, the mattress must also have contouring layers that relieve pressure at the arc of the lower back. While putting the DreamCloud through our pressure map test, we were impressed with the results for back sleeping.
What our tester says: “The DreamCloud does a stellar job relieving tension around the lower back. As I sank into this bed, I could feel its top layers of foam filling in the space at my lumbar region for some pleasant pressure relief.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor
What Customers Say
Customers with back pain note how comfortable the balanced feel of this mattress is. Many others commented on the quick shipping and satisfactory customer service. However, some did feel that it was much too firm for side sleeping.
Highlights of the DreamCloud Mattress
- With a balanced feel and lots of support, we determined the DreamCloud should be a favorable option for back sleepers of all body types. Heavy sleepers wanting some extra support should also consider the DreamCloud Premier Rest.
- On our pressure map test, we found that the DreamCloud also works incredibly well for back sleepers suffering from shoulder pain.
- This is one of our favorite online mattresses, with a 4.5 out of 5 score in value and the highest marks for a generous lifetime warranty and year-long sleep trial period.
What to Keep in Mind about the DreamCloud Mattress
- One area where the DreamCloud didn’t excel in was motion isolation. If you’re a light sleeper and share the bed with a partner, we recommend you select something that’s better at trapping movement.
Curious to learn more? Read our full DreamCloud mattress review, or check out our roundup for the best mattresses for back sleepers.
WinkBeds – Best Cooling Mattress for Back Pain
The WinkBed is a luxury hybrid mattress. It has a similarly supportive and sturdy feel to a traditional innerspring mattress, but upgrades like a Euro top and cooling Tencel cover give it a touch of modern luxury. Available in three firmness levels, there is a WinkBed for just about every sleeper. And a responsive and bouncy feel makes it a great pick for combination sleepers. Learn more in our video review.
What our tester says:
“If you like the feel of a traditional innerspring mattress, the WinkBed could work for you. Since this bed offered great pressure relief around my lumbar region, I’d also recommend it to folks who suffer from lower back pain.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Expert Opinion
As a luxury hybrid mattress with a traditional innerspring feel, the WinkBed should appeal to sleepers who value lots of support, firmness, and responsiveness. And because there are so many coils throughout the construction, there’s lots of room for the mattress to breathe. We felt incredibly cool when testing it out.
Regarding back pain, we felt almost no pressure when sleeping on our backs and stomachs, in addition to getting some cushioning from the WinkBed’s quilted foam cover. We did feel pressure buildup in the hips and shoulders when side sleeping, and noticed some hot spots in these areas on our pressure map. However, this was on the Luxury Firm model of the WinkBed. The Softer model is likely going to be more comfortable for side sleepers. Additionally, there’s a Firm model and even a Plus model designed for heavier folks.
What our tester says: “I think the WinkBed is an especially good fit for sleepers with back pain, with the pressure map almost entirely blue. This indicates low pressure and even weight distribution, which is essential for avoiding soreness in the upper or lower back. ” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
What Customers Say
On the WinkBeds website, you can actually filter the customer reviews based on topic (value, sleep trial, quality, etc.). When we looked at the reviews on pain relief, many of them talked about how comfortable the mattress is for sleepers with back pain. If you want to try it out for yourself in-person before purchasing, WinkBeds does have a handful of its own showrooms (including one in Miami), and it’s often available at independent mattress stores.
Highlights of the WinkBed Mattress
- The mattress’s coils are zoned, so they’re firmer in the places where back sleepers need it most. There should be plenty of support here to keep their spine in a neutral alignment.
- Stomach sleepers should feel supported on either the Luxury Firm or Firmer model of the WinkBed.
- Due to its springiness, the WinkBed is responsive enough for combination sleepers to move around and change positions.
What to Keep in Mind about the WinkBed Mattress
- The WinkBed is definitely a bouncier, responsive mattress. So if you’re after the slow-sinking feel of memory foam, it probably isn’t for you. You’d be better off checking out our best memory foam mattresses instead.
Could the WinkBed ease your back pain? Learn more in our full WinkBeds mattress review, or check out our roundup for the best cooling mattresses.
Saatva – Best Innerspring Mattress for Back Pain
The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It’s a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs. The white glove delivery Saatva provides is an added perk and will save you the headache of getting rid of your old mattress (they take it away for free!). For more information, watch our video review.
What our tester says:
“I think the Saatva is a great option for back sleepers, as the Luxury Firm model provides enough cushioning for their lumbar region, but also lots of support to keep their spine in a neutral alignment.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Expert Opinion
The Saatva stands out for its traditional innerspring feel, which comes from its unique coil-on-coil construction. When testing it out, we saw and felt very little pressure buildup around the back (i.e. lots of blue on our pressure map). This means the mattress isn’t likely to cause any back pain. That being said, the Saatva comes in three different firmness levels, and different ones are going to to accommodate different sleeping positions, especially if you’re someone who experiences pain in the lumbar region or upper back. See our Pros section below for specific recommendations.
We should also take a moment to dive further into the coil-on-coil construction. At the bottom of the bed is a thick layer of durable support coils, with another layer of coils right above it. This results in a considerable amount of support, so sleepers should be able to keep a neutral spinal alignment. The coils also give the Saatva lots of responsiveness and bounce, which makes it easier for combination sleepers to switch positions.
What our tester says: “Back sleepers should enjoy the Saatva. The support of the coils should keep their back in a healthy neutral position, which can help combat back pain.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
What Customers Say
The Saatva has almost 3,000 reviews on its website, and a running theme seems to be superb customer service. Shoppers with any issues have gotten them resolved swiftly and satisfactorily, and many people are a huge fan of the brand’s free white glove delivery. Once you order, Saatva will send someone to your house to deliver and set up your new mattress. That means it arrives uncompressed without any off-gassing period, so you can start sleeping on it right away. Saatva is also one of the few mattress brands to have its own showrooms, currently in major cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, and New York.
Highlights of the Saatva Mattress
- Back sleepers will likely find the right blend of comfort and support on the Luxury Firm version of the bed.
- The Soft version of the bed should give side sleepers plenty of pressure relief at the shoulders and hips.
- The mattress’s cover is soft and breathable, and because there are so many coils in the construction, there’s a ton of room for airflow. This is a plus for hot sleepers everywhere.
What to Keep in Mind about the Saatva Mattress
- Although we think all types of sleepers could be comfortable on the Saatva, it isn’t the cheapest mattress around. So budget shoppers should look elsewhere, perhaps on our best cheap mattress page.
Will this mattress lead you to restful nights? Find out in our full Saatva mattress review, or check out our best innerspring mattress roundup.
Bear Elite Hybrid – Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Pain
The Bear Elite Hybrid uses foam and coils for a mix of support, cushioning, and cooling. While designed for athletes prioritizing wellness and recovery, sleepers of all activity levels can enjoy the many luxurious features. Enjoy zoned support for targeted relief, an “on top of” feel allowing for ease of movement, and cooling features throughout. For more information, watch our video review.
What our tester says:
“I’d recommend the Bear Elite Hybrid for most back and stomach sleepers.I think these sleepers will get the needed pressure relief and contouring around the lower back and hips. This mattress does a wonderful job at offering body contouring while still helping the sleeper stay elevated and lifted as well. The layers of foam should provide comfort while the coil system should offer lots of support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and mattress tester
Expert Opinion
Many folks like a balanced hybrid mattress, which combines pressure-relieving foams and sturdy coils for support. It’s why hybrids often make some of the best mattresses for back pain, and the Bear Elite Hybrid is no exception. While testing the Medium model, we determined that the Bear Elite Hybrid is a phenomenal choice for back sleepers with back pain.
As for side sleeping, our pressure map displayed a little bit of pressure buildup in the lumbar region. However, side sleepers should fare well with the Soft model because it will relieve more pressure at the shoulder and hip. And stomach sleepers should get the support they need on the Firm model. There’s something here for everyone.
What our tester says: “On my back, there is very little pressure buildup and only slight pressure around my hips and lower lumbar region, indicating that the Bear Elite Hybrid may work well to relieve pressure for most back sleepers.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
What Customers Say
The reviews on Bear’s website consistently praise the medium support of the Elite Hybrid. Also, the company often responds to reviews in case you have a question or want to provide any additional feedback. These factors (as well as the discounted price) tell us that it’s best to purchase this mattress online. However, you might be able to find it in person at several other mattress retailers, including Brooklyn Bedding’s stores.
Highlights of the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
- Bear has managed to carve out a niche in the mattress industry by catering specifically to athletes and active folks. That’s because the brand has offered all of their mattresses with Celliant-infused cover. This tech purportedly assists with blood flow and muscle recovery. While we haven’t verified the recovery properties of Celliant ourselves, there are several institutions that have. Read more about these clinical trials here.
- In addition to potentially aiding recovery, Celliant sleeps very cool. The foam has also been infused with graphite to help stave off heat. This makes the Bear Elite Hybrid a wonderful choice for hot sleepers.
- For couples, the top layer of memory foam helps dampen movement across the mattress. So even if you sleep with a restless partner or pet, you shouldn’t be too bothered throughout the night.
What to Keep in Mind about the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
- Before sales and discounts, a queen Bear Elite Hybrid is priced over $2,000. So it’s a rather expensive mattress that probably won’t appeal to budget shoppers, who would likely prefer one of the best affordable mattresses.
- The Celliant cover, which helps with cooling and may aid in blood flow and muscle recovery, must be purchased at an additional cost, running you about $130.
Intrigued? Read more about the Bear Elite Hybrid in our full review, or check out our roundup of the best hybrid mattresses.
Nolah Evolution – Best Luxury Mattress
The Nolah Evolution’s hybrid construction offers the cushioning of memory foam with the responsiveness of coils. The Luxury Firm model is a good option for side and back sleepers due to its medium-firm feel, though there are Plush and Firm versions as well. Those who share a bed may also appreciate its low motion transfer, so you won’t be disturbed by a partner’s movements and its solid edge support to allow you to maximize surface area. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“I laid down to rest on this mattress on my back — my primary sleep position. I felt comfortable, but also appreciated the cozy, plush top of the bed. After some time lying on my back, I switched over to my side. I didn’t find this position quite as comfortable, as I did feel some slight pressure buildup in my shoulder.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
Expert Opinion
The Nolah Evolution is essentially an upgraded version of the original all-foam Nolah, with luxury touches such as a cover made of organic cotton and graphite infusions in the foam for added cooling. But the most notable new feature is a layer of coils toward the bottom of the mattress. We found that these springs helped create a strong foundation of support. We felt lifted when lying down, which should help prevent back pain.
We also saw almost no tension around the upper or lower back while looking at the mattress’s pressure-map results, and that was while both side sleeping and back sleeping. Also, the Nolah Evolution comes in three different firmness options (Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm), so sleepers can choose the support level that’s best for them. For what it’s worth, we tested out the Luxury Firm.
What our tester says: “I found that the coils on the Nolah Evolution provide enough support to keep the spine aligned and help alleviate back pain. At the same time, the bed provides the pressure relief that most people with hip pain need.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor
What Customers Say
The Evolution has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Nolah’s website. A common theme is reviewers calling it “luxurious”. Several folks even say that it’s more comfortable than a high-end hotel mattress. Nolah doesn’t have any of its own stores, but you can test out the mattress at several stores of its brand partners, including the Online Mattress Showroom in Minneapolis.
Highlights of the Nolah Evolution Mattress
- The medium firmness of the Luxury Firm option should provide the right balance of comfort and support for back sleepers and side sleepers alike.
- Because there’s some responsiveness from the transition layer, combination sleepers should be able to easily switch positions on the Nolah Evolution (choose the Luxury Firm or Firm model).
- When testing out motion transfer on the Nolah Evolution, we found that it was adept at isolating movement. That means it could be comfortable for couples or anyone who sleeps with a pet. The reinforced edge support should also be a plus for couples.
What to Keep in Mind about the Nolah Evolution Mattress
- Although stomach sleepers weighing less than 250 pounds may be comfortable on the Firm model, heavier stomach sleepers will probably want a firmer bed that provides additional support. Our roundup of the best mattresses for heavy people provides numerous other options.
Interested in more information about the Nolah Evolution? Learn more in our full Nolah Evolution mattress review, or check out our roundup for the best luxury mattresses.
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Most Affordable Mattress for Back Pain
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress combines a foam comfort layer and sturdy coils. This combination of materials makes it bouncy and easy to move around on. It comes in three firmness levels, and we recommend the Medium model for most back sleepers. It’s a great choice for shoppers who are looking for a new mattress on a budget. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“Given that the Signature Hybrid has some excellent bounce, I’d highly recommend this mattress for combination sleepers who often change positions multiple times throughout the night. I also think the Signature Hybrid could be a great fit for couples. You shouldn’t be overly disturbed by a restless partner on this bed, and it has nice, firm edge support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Expert Opinion
Brooklyn Bedding has a wide variety of models, with the Signature Hybrid being one of their most comfortable and economical mattresses (you can often find a queen-size under $1,000 after discounts). We found that the simple yet effective hybrid construction of foams and springs helped maintain a healthy sleeping posture, which is essential for avoiding back pain. Note: the mattress’s firmness and performance will depend on which model you buy — Soft, Medium, or Firm. We tested the Medium, which clocked in at an appropriate medium-firm 6.5 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale.
During our pressure map test, the Signature Hybrid showed little to no pressure around the lumbar region, especially while we were back sleeping. This shows that it’s an excellent choice for folks who suffer from aches in this area.
What our tester says: “Based on the amount of blue on this pressure map, I think the Signature Hybrid could be a nice choice for back sleepers with back pain. This mattress should promote a healthy sleep posture, which is key to avoiding pain and soreness.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor
What Customers Say
With over 10,000 customer reviews on the Brooklyn Bedding website, the Signature Hybrid has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. You can also see the age, weight, body type, and sleeping position of many of the reviewers, which makes it easy to pick a bed that closely aligns with your individual needs. And you can test out the mattress in person at one of the brand’s many brick and mortar stores.
Highlights of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress
- The Medium model offers a nice mix of support and pressure relief that back sleepers need to sleep comfortably and avoid back pain.
- The foams here aren’t too dense, so the mattress should sleep cool. And hot sleepers should get plenty of airflow because of all the room between the coils.
- The mattress has an “on-top-of-the-bed” feeling that makes it a great choice for combination sleepers who change between sleeping positions.
- This mattress isolates motion well and has sturdy edge support. You and your partner should be able to easily spread out across the sleeping surface without disturbing each other with your movement.
What to Keep in Mind about the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress
- Side sleepers with shoulder pain or hip pain will likely need a softer bed, although they might be comfortable on the Soft model.
- On the flip side, stomach sleepers may want something firmer, especially those who weigh more than 200 pounds. We recommend the Plank Firm, also created by Brooklyn Bedding.
Sold on the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid? Fall in love with it even more in our full Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid review, or check out our roundup for the best budget mattresses.
Emma Hybrid Comfort – Best Mattress for Couples with Back Pain
The Emma Hybrid Comfort is a firm mattress with a durable hybrid construction. It works well for heavyweight stomach and back sleepers, as it provides enough support to keep these sleepers’ spines in neutral alignment. In addition to making it a good choice for heavier people, the Emma Hybrid Comfort’s design also gives it nice breathability and responsiveness, meaning it stays cool as you sleep and is easy to move around on.
What our tester says:
“After five minutes of lying on the Emma Hybrid Comfort, it increased 7.7 degrees. This indicates good temperature regulation. I really did feel cool when resting on it. Considering this, the airy hybrid construction, and the additional cooling features, I feel that the Emma Hybrid Comfort is one of the best cooling mattresses.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
Expert Opinion
The Emma Hybrid Comfort was built with ultra-sturdy materials — namely dense foams and strong coils. This makes it a wonderful fit for heavy couples and average weight couples alike. This mattress should have no problem keeping two bodies adequately supported, plus the coils make it highly responsive. When we tested out the Hybrid Comfort, we could move around easily on it, which tells us that it’s a stellar option for sex. And when we laid down on the pressure map, it was mostly blue in the upper and lower back region, meaning you’re unlikely to feel any back pain while sleeping on the Emma Hybrid Comfort.
What our tester says: “I think the supportive coils in the Emma Hybrid Comfort work well to help you maintain a neutral spine.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
What Customers Say
The Emma Hybrid Comfort is still a fairly new mattress, so it doesn’t have a ton of reviews on the brand’s website. But across the board, reviewers talk about how much they love its bounciness and support. If you want to try out an Emma mattress yourself, the brand doesn’t have any of their own stores in the United States, but you may be able to find it at an independent retailer.
Highlights of the Emma Hybrid Comfort Mattress
- Lightweight and average weight back sleepers should be comfortable on the Emma Hybrid Comfort, as long as they like a firmer mattress.
- Since stomach sleepers need more support than others, they will likely find a suitable match in the Emma Hybrid Comfort.
- The coils in the support layer leave plenty of room for airflow, and the foam is open-celled. This keeps the mattress breathable and helps hot sleepers keep a low temperature.
What to Keep in Mind about the Emma Hybrid Comfort Mattress
- Side sleepers will probably want a softer mattress with more pressure relief. We recommend that they check out our roundup of the best mattresses for side sleepers instead.
Curious to learn more? Read our full Emma Hybrid Comfort mattress review, or check out our roundup for the best mattresses for couples.
Titan Plus – Best Mattress for Heavy Sleepers with Back Pain
The Titan Plus mattress is a durable mattress made with heavy sleepers in mind. It’s firm and features heavy-duty coils and Titanflex foam that makes it bouncy and easy to move around on. We think that heavy back sleepers and stomach sleepers should be especially comfortable. For more information on the Titan Plus, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“I think the Titan Plus lives up to its name as a good mattress for heavier sleepers. It will offer them the deep compression support and durability they need.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
A Note On Weight and Body Type
We recognize that people come in all shapes and sizes, and people of every size deserve a mattress that works for their body type. We use the weight categories light, average, and heavy to more easily categorize sleepers based on how mattresses will perform for their body type, as most mattresses are designed for the group we call “average” (130 to 250 pounds). We consider heavy sleepers to be anyone over 250 pounds, and they tend to need more support to prevent them from sinking too far into the layers.
Expert Opinion
A firm and supportive mattress is absolutely crucial for heavy sleepers, who compress through mattress layers more than others. Fortunately for these folks, Brooklyn Bedding has designed the Titan Plus for people over 250 pounds. When we asked our colleague Paulie (a professional powerlifter!) to test out this hybrid mattress, he felt immense pressure relief on his back. And when trying out the mattress in different positions, he found that his shoulders stayed aligned with his hips, thanks to the support from the coils at the bottom of the construction. Simultaneously, the foam gave him some cushioning. We should point out that sleepers under 250 pounds may not experience as much contouring, as the Titan Plus is likely to feel firmer to them than it would to a heavy person.
What our tester says: “The Titan Plus is made with heavy sleepers in mind, so it’s going to offer the support they need. I found it to maintain a cozy feel and appreciate how its foam layers double for pressure relief and motion isolation.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor
What Customers Say
Across the more than 2,500 reviews on the Titan Plus website, customers comment on how comfortable the bed is for larger folks. The reviews also indicate the sleeper’s body type, sleeping position, age, and weight, so it’s likely you can find a testimonial from someone who’s similar to you. And if you’re not sure if it’s the right mattress for you, you can head to one of Brooklyn Bedding’s many brick and mortar stores to test it out for yourself.
Highlights of the Titan Plus Mattress
- Average weight and heavyweight back sleepers alike should feel comfortable and supported on the Titan Plus.
- The same goes for stomach sleepers. The Titan Plus is firm and supportive enough to keep their hips lifted and in line with their shoulders — a key to avoiding back pain.
- The Titan Plus has great motion isolation, so you and your partner shouldn’t feel each other moving around at night. Additionally, the responsiveness of this mattress is great for sex, and the solid edge support lets you use the mattress’s full surface area. All of this makes the Titan Plus an excellent choice for couples.
Who Should Avoid the Titan Plus
- Lightweight sleepers under 150 pounds — especially side sleepers — should opt for a softer mattress with more pressure relief.
Think you and the Titan make a good pair? Learn more about it in our Titan Plus Mattress review, or check out our roundup for the best mattresses for heavy people.
Birch Natural – Best Organic Mattress for Back Pain
The Birch Natural is a latex mattress utilizing individually wrapped coils for added support. This mattress specializes in cooling and responsiveness, and the firmer nature suits back and stomach sleepers well. Perhaps the most special part about this mattress is the material quality. Not only is the Birch organic, but it has also earned multiple certifications for safe production and materials. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“One of my favorite things about the Birch is how cooling it is. I think any hot sleeper will be satisfied by this breathable bed. It’s definitely one of the most cooling mattresses available thanks to its wool and latex layers. These cooling materials also make it one of my favorite organic mattresses.” – Madison Schaper, Sleepopolis staff writer
Expert Opinion
If you’re looking for not only a quality construction to relieve back pain, but also quality organic materials, then the Birch Natural (created by Helix) is the bed for you. During testing, we found the responsive all-natural latex layers and bouncy springs kept our hips lifted and in alignment. The organic cotton cover and the organic wool beneath work to fill in the lumbar region, relieving pressure at the lower back.
As with all of our mattresses, we sought out to confirm the Birch Nautral’s pain-relieving abilities with our pressure map. We saw little to no pressure on our backs (i.e. lots of blue) while lying on both our side and our back. So we can confidently say this is one of the best mattresses for back pain.
What our tester says: “I think the Birch should help sleepers maintain a healthy spinal alignment throughout the night, and could also be a good choice for relieving back pain.“ – Madison Schaper, former staff writer
What Customers Say
Across the 3,000+ Birch reviews on Helix’s website, customers rave about the Birch’s responsiveness and support, as well as the easy delivery and setup. You also might be able to try out the mattress for yourself at a variety of independent retailers, including CB2.
Highlights of the Birch Natural Mattress
- The 7 out of 10 firmness the Birch scored in our mattress lab shows that although it’s a bit firmer than average, it still has the necessary comfort and support for back sleeping.
- As a material, latex is naturally cooling, and the coils at the support layer provide maximum airflow. Both of these factors should appeal to hot sleepers.
- The latex layer and bouncy springs create a responsive surface, so combination sleepers should find it easy to switch sleeping positions.
- Lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers should find their hips lifted and in proper alignment.
What to Keep in Mind about the Birch Natural Mattress
- Side sleepers likely aren’t going to be comfortable on the Birch Natural. It doesn’t have enough pressure relief to cushion their hips and shoulders.
- If you like the slow-sinking feel of the best memory foam mattresses, you won’t find it with the Birch. This mattress has a notoriously responsive, “on top of” feel.
Sold on the Birch Natural? Fall in love with it even more in our full Birch Natural review, or check out our roundup for the best organic mattresses.
How Can Sleep Help Chronic Pain?
Now that we’ve gone over our picks, we want to take a second to talk about the purpose of this guide. While it may seem like the focus is on finding a mattress that’ll make falling asleep with pain easier, it’s actually about finding the bed that’s going to help you use sleep to actively deal with said pain.
Of course, for a topic like back pain, we don’t want to rely solely on our own opinions and tests. We also chatted with physical therapist and Sleepopolis Expert Network member Dr. Keith Poorbaugh to get his tips for catching quality Zzz’s while dealing with chronic back pain and to learn what kinds of mattresses can aid in this process the most.
“Sleep is very important for restoring balance to the nervous system and improving coping strategies for pain,” Dr. Poorbaugh told us during our conversation. “Normally, our central nervous system is downplaying or ignoring stimuli from multiple sources simply because the information is not important. A person with chronic pain, however, loses this important dampening ability, so many activities that were once well-tolerated now become pain-provoking.”
Why You Should Take Your Sleep Seriously
Dr. Poorbaugh highlighted a 2017 study, which suggests that poor sleep patterns were directly related to:
- Higher rates of pain
- Poor mood
- Increased pain-catastrophizing
- Overall reduced physical function (1)
So what can be done? In order to get the kind of sleep you need to help deal with your chronic pain, consider the following when choosing the right mattress to deal with pain.
What to Look for in Mattresses for Back Pain
When looking for a mattress to combat back pain, it’s important to consider support, firmness level, and pressure relief. Different types of mattresses will offer varying degrees of these factors. Take a look at how they stack up below.
Types of Mattresses For Back Pain
There are several different types of mattresses, and we recommend some over others for combatting back pain. Take a look below to learn more about the main mattress types.
Memory Foam Mattresses
All-foam mattresses rely on high-density poly foams to support the sleeper. If you struggle with back problems, we often recommend avoiding all-foam mattresses in favor of slightly more supportive innerspring or hybrid mattresses.
Innerspring Mattresses
Innerspring mattresses combine steel coil support with top layers made of thin comfort foam. They’re often firm and bouncy, which can work well for back pain (as long as they also provide enough pressure relief).
Hybrid Mattresses
Hybrid mattresses use coil and foam layers to create a supportive, yet comfortable sleeping environment. These beds can vary widely in feel and materials, but are often the type of bed we recommend for sleepers looking for back pain relief.
Latex Mattresses
Latex mattresses are taut, bouncy, and naturally cooling. These beds are very durable and supportive, but are not our first choice for sleepers with bad backs. These folks often need a material that offers more body-contouring. Latex mattresses don’t usually offer the right sort of cradling to ease tension, especially at the lower back.
What Type of Mattress Should You Choose to Avoid Back Pain?
Although it’s possible for any type of mattress material to be comfortable for someone experiencing back pain (there are exceptions to every rule), we think hybrid mattresses and innerspring mattresses are generally going to be best. The springs present in these beds are most likely to provide the spinal support you need to stay neutrally aligned and prevent further pain.
Support and Alignment
In our opinion, what’s more important than choosing the right mattress material is choosing a mattress that offers the right amount of support. Sound support is super-important for those who suffer with chronic back pain, as it helps keep your spine neutrally aligned, which goes a long way toward preventing back pain.
We should note that support and firmness are not the same. You can have a soft mattress that’s ultra-supportive and a firm one that doesn’t support the body at all. Adequate support is all about how a mattress props up your body, while also remaining comfortable.
Additional Features
Here are some specific material-related features to look for in the best mattress for back pain.
- Zoned support: Mattresses with zoned support are designed to target different parts of the body in different ways, with softer foams at the shoulders and firmer ones at the hips. This helps encourage a proper spinal alignment, which is a key to relieving back pain.
- Balanced foam: Beds built with several different types of foam (latex, memory foam, and high-density poly foam) are going to offer the best support for folks who suffer from back pain. This balanced approach combines lift with pressure relief for a well-rounded feel.
- Contouring: A mattress that offers some body contouring at the lower back can also help keep your spine in a neutral alignment. By filling in the spaces your body creates as it sinks into a bed slightly, contouring foams can ensure that you’re receiving evenly distributed support throughout the night.
Firmness
Since we started the firmness conversation above, let’s go ahead and wrap it up here.
What Does Mattress Firmness Do Anyway?
Firmer mattresses tend to “float” the sleeper more on top of the sleeping surface, whereas softer beds allow the sleepers to sink in for deep pressure relief.
You need to ensure your mattress offers the right firmness level for your sleep position, which is what determines how your spine should be lined up.
While Dr. Poorbaugh says that “there is some evidence to suggest that a firm mattress is more beneficial to reduce pain among people experiencing CLBP (chronic lower back pain),” it’s actually more likely that “any change in back pain is more related to improved sleep patterns than any actual physical changes to the lumbar spine.”
Dr. Poorbaugh’s views line up with a 2010 study, which revealed that replacing mattresses based on sleeping position (i.e. selecting beds for side, back, and stomach sleepers) helped to reduce pain and discomfort in subjects. (2) Long story short, finding the right firmness can do wonders for a sleeper with specific needs. Below, we’ll go over back pain in different sleeping positions to help you find the best mattress firmness for back pain.
| Sleeping Position | Ideal Mattress Firmness | Firmness Scale Level | Why This Firmness? |
| Back sleepers with back pain | Medium-firm to firm | 6.5-7/10 | Balances push-back support, yet still remains soft enough to offer comfort and remove pressure points. |
| Side sleepers with back pain | Soft to medium-soft | 5-6/10 | Allows sinkage around the shoulders and hips to ensure the spine falls into a neutral alignment (rather than twisting at the lower back). |
| Stomach sleepers with back pain | Firm to ultra-firm | 7-8/10 | These sleepers need tons of support (and little pressure relief) to ensure their hips stay lifted up in line with their shoulders. |
| Combination sleepers with back pain | Medium-firm | 6.5/10 | Delivers comfort and support in multiple sleeping positions. |
Pressure Relief
Finally, let’s take a moment to talk pressure relief. More than other sleepers, those who struggle with chronic pain need to find a mattress that’ll actively alleviate tension at sensitive spots along the body, especially at the lumbar region and shoulders.
Typically, pressure points form when there’s more push back focused on a specific area, which tends to cause misalignment at the spine. As your body moves out of alignment, more pressure is placed on the back, which can lead to frustrating pains throughout the torso.
Therefore, it’s important to make sure you’re not sleeping on a mattress that places pressure on any of your major joints. By doing so, your body is able to enter a relaxed state and the chance of pressure points forming along the spine and lower back is diminished.
Here at Sleepopolis, we’re actually able to test a mattress’s pressure-relieving capabilities with our pressure map. We roll the map across the bed’s surface and lie down on it in different sleeping positions (back, stomach, side). The map measures how much pressure is being put on our body, then displays the results on a computer via thermal imaging.
Blue and green are signs of low pressure, yellow is a sign of moderate pressure, and orange and red indicate high pressure. So as you can see on the pressure map results above for the Minocasa hybrid mattress, there’s low pressure while stomach sleeping, but high pressure at the shoulder while side sleeping. That means we’d recommend it to stomach sleepers, but not side sleepers, especially if they struggle with shoulder pain.
Top Mattress Recommendations for Pressure Relief
When looking for a mattress with fantastic pressure relief, keep an eye out for the following things:
- Memory foam – While too much memory foam can lead to dramatic sinkage and spinal misalignment, a touch of the material can do a lot to soothe achy joints as the foam gently conforms to these areas. If you’re worried about memory foam’s reputation for sleeping hot, look for a gel memory foam mattress that encourages airflow.
- Hip support – As we discussed in the support section, finding a mattress that features a bit of lift at the hips can be a boon for back pain sufferers who need cozy relief, but also optimized spinal alignment.
Can Your Mattress Cause Back Pain?
If you’ve started waking up with back pain and you didn’t have pain before, your mattress could be the culprit. If you’ve recently purchased a new bed, it could be a bit too soft (or too firm) for your needs, which can cause back pain, especially if it’s throwing your spine out of alignment. If this is the case, we’d recommend sleeping on your new bed for 30 days to see if your body adjusts. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to return your mattress or purchase a topper to help.
Mattress sagging can also be a significant cause of back pain. If your mattress is seven to 10 years old and sagging in certain places, it could be negatively affecting your sleep health. Plus, you could be unconsciously contorting your body to compensate for the sagging. If you notice your mattress is sagging, it’s time to replace it, or add a topper until you’re ready to find a new bed.
Simple Sleep Tricks to Reduce Back Pain
A new mattress is a big investment, and sometimes it’s too expensive to fit into your budget. If you want to reduce back pain in a cost-effective way, there are a few other options you can test out.
- Pillow: A new pillow that works with your sleeping position and provides neck support can be a great way to quickly improve your sleep posture and reduce some back pain. Our best pillows for back pain roundup includes a few options, and explains how pillows can help fight back pain in more detail.
- Mattress Topper: Adding a firm mattress topper to a sagging or unsupportive mattress can be a nice quick fix for back pain. It also gives some much-needed support and can extend the life of your mattress by a few months. Check out some of our best mattress toppers to see some options.
- Change your sleeping position: Your sleeping position could be creating some back pain. Back sleepers have the easiest time achieving a neutral spinal alignment, which can really reduce pain. Stomach sleepers, on the other hand, are particularly prone to waking up with back pain. Side sleepers can also have some issues with pain if they aren’t careful about not twisting their back into odd positions as they sleep. If you’re struggling with back pain, training yourself to sleep on your back could be a big help. Check out our How to Train to Sleep on Your Back article for some tips.
What Is Back Pain? A Note from Sleepopolis’ Expert, Dr. Poorbaugh
Before we wrap up, we wanted to include some basic information on back pain that we learned from Dr. Poorbaugh.
According to Dr. Poorbaugh, most medical research is focused on “Chronic Lower Back Pain (CLBP).” Traditionally, to be defined as “chronic” someone’s lower back pain needed to continue for “more than three months.” But recently, doctors have started using functional brain imaging (as well as detailed assessments of depression and mood) to illustrate that “chronic” is not necessarily a time dependent label.
Dr Poorbaugh says that “the main determinant” of chronic back pain today is central sensitization. According to Dr. Poorbaugh, central sensitization occurs when “the central nervous system has lost its ability to dampen or control peripheral stimuli i.e. information from muscles, joints, and nerves.”
When your nervous system can’t control those stimuli, your peripheral nerves get irritated. This eventually affects your entire nervous system and makes normal activity feel painful (aka, causes back pain).
How is Back Pain Caused?
As Dr. Poorbaugh mentioned above, CLBP is often caused by central sensitization. But back pain can also be a result of injuries like a fall or pulled muscle. Pinched nerves or degenerating discs can also be a cause of back pain.
Types of Back Pain
There are a few different types of back pain. As Dr. Poorbaugh says, a common type is chronic lower back pain caused by central sensitization. But take a look at a few more common types of back pain below:
- Non-specific muscle pain: Muscle pain can occur in any area of the back, and is often a result of an injury or a strain. This type of pain often dissipates over time.
- Muscle spasms: Muscle spasms most commonly occur in the lower back and are often the result of an injury. This type of pain occurs when your back muscles contract involuntarily.
- Radicular pain: If you feel sharp shooting pain in your back that extends to your legs, you could be experiencing radicular pain. This pain is a result of disc degeneration or a pinched nerve.
- Sciatica: If you feel pain in your lower spine that extends to your legs, you might be suffering from sciatica. This type of pain is caused by the sciatic nerve, and is very common (and uncomfortable). If you’ve been experiencing sciatica, you may find your perfect mattress over on our Best Mattress for Sciatica page. (3)
Lifestyle Tips for Sleeping with Pain
To wrap up this guide, we want to share some tips and tricks for sleeping with chronic pain. Note that these have more to do with lifestyle adjustments than anything you add to your mattress.
“I always recommend that my clients see the big picture. When it comes to pain, we have two options: We can seek a fix or a heal. The path to less pain is quite different depending on your choice, but each option has three pillars of management with very little overlap.”
Dr. Keith Poorbaugh, licensed physical therapist
While the “fix” typically involves medication and surgery, the “heal” focuses on three main tenets: nutrition, sleep, and movement.
Nutrition
A well-balanced diet has been shown to lead to better sleep, which can help to alleviate stress and pain. (4) Reducing caffeine and sugar intake are great first steps to take toward modifying one’s diet for optimized slumber.
Sleep
As we’ve mentioned throughout this guide, it’s tantamount for pain sufferers to get enough sleep. Sleep is one of the biggest and most influential factors affecting stress levels, so it’s vital to allocate enough time to fully rest and recover each night. You can start by choosing a set bedtime and then working toward establishing a consistent nighttime routine. For more tips, check out our 30-Day Sleep Hygiene plan.
Movement
Exercise is another crucial piece of the pain-free puzzle. Low-impact workouts can help with mobility, which can then lead to better spinal alignment. Regular exercise has also been regularly linked to improved sleep, so figuring out a consistent workout could do a lot for the quality of your Zzz’s. (5)
Final Word From Sleepopolis
At the end of the day, a new mattress isn’t going to solve your back pain woes any more than a strict diet will. More than anything, it’s about a lifestyle shift in which you combine these different factors to create a plan specific to your needs.
Maybe your ideal routine will involve a healthy amount of fatty fish, long morning walks, and a bed featuring zoned support at the hips. For another sleeper, it may entail vigorous spin classes, more greens, and a plush memory foam mattress for pressure relief at the upper back.
As always, any major life decisions should be made in consultation with a medical professional. The information provided in this guide is just that: Information. We’re not doctors, nor do we claim to be, so we highly encourage those with chronic pain to seek professional advice for any and all serious health issues.
A Look Into the Sleepopolis Testing Lab
In order to ensure that we’re recommending the best mattresses to sleepers everywhere, we test each one individually in our mattress lab in Raleigh, North Carolina. Here, our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches has reviewed more than 300 beds, putting each one through a rigorous testing process that includes measuring a mattress’s motion transfer with a seismometer, tracking its cooling capabilities with a thermal gun, and visualizing its ability to relieve pain with a pressure map.
From there, we give every bed an overall score based on its materials, comfort, support, cooling, edge support, and more. We also factor in brand performance with categories such as value and warranty.
We know that sleep is an integral part of your health, which is why we’ve developed such a detailed methodology when testing mattresses and writing our reviews. We also know that every sleeper is different when it comes to body type, sleeping position, and mattress preference. With so many factors at play, we want to give you an informed opinion so you can make an informed purchase.
How We Chose These Mattresses
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches has reviewed more than 300 products in our mattress lab, running each one through tests such as pressure-mapping and measuring motion transfer with a seismometer. From there, we give every bed an overall score based on materials, comfort, support, cooling, and edge support. We also factor in brand performance with categories such as value and warranty.
However, some factors are more important than others depending on the mattress’s category. When handpicking the best mattresses for back pain this roundup, we first and foremost considered the support scores in our Sleepopolis mattress lab. Any mattress that’s going to combat back pain will need to have a substantial amount of support, so we aimed to pick beds that scored high in that category. Out of the 10 products included here, all of them scored a 4 out of 5 or higher.
We also made a point to include beds with good cooling properties, as a mattress that overheats easily can cause extra discomfort for those already battling back pain. All but one mattress in this roundup received cooling scores at or above 4 out of 5. Click here to learn more about our methodology.
FAQs
What type of mattress is best for back pain?
If we had to choose, we’d select the hybrid mattress as the best type of mattress for back pain. Hybrid beds come in a wide range of constructions that cater to all sorts of body types and sleeping positions. These mattresses incorporate sturdy coils and pressure-relieving foams for support and comfort.
Truly, there isn’t one mattress that we recommend over all others for back pain. It’s more about finding one that suits your needs and preferences. The most important factors to take into account are your body type, sleeping position, and ideal firmness.
For instance, if you’re a stomach sleeper who struggles with back pain, you’ll probably do best on an innerspring mattress or a hybrid mattress. If you’re a side sleeper, you may prefer something softer that includes memory foam.
Can a firm mattress cause lower back pain?
Yes, but it depends on one’s preferred sleeping position. Side sleepers will find that a firm mattress compounds their lower back pain (these folks tend to go for softer beds), while stomach sleepers will find a firm mattress helps with their back pain as the extra support lifts their spine into a neutral alignment.
Sometimes, folks like a firmer mattress and find the level of support is better for alleviating their back pain. But we recommend ensuring that you’ve got some pressure-relieving foam for cushioning at the lumbar region.
Is it best to have a soft or firm mattress for back pain?
Typically, back pain sufferers will opt for something in the 5 to 7 range on the firmness scale (with 1 being the softest and 10 the firmest). This medium-firm feel is likely to both soothe aches at the lumbar region and provide much needed support at the hips.
However, some side sleepers might need something softer, as they put a lot of pressure at their shoulder and hip. Stomach sleepers and/or heavier sleepers might want a firmer, more supportive mattress to keep the spine lifted and in alignment.
Is a memory foam mattress good for back pain?
Memory foam has a slow response to pressure, so it allows the sleeper to sink in for some satisfying contouring at the shoulders and hips. This helps to alleviate tension at these sensitive spots and can bring some much needed relief to the upper and lower back.
How do I choose the right mattress for back pain?
Identify what body type you have, what your sleeping position is, and your preferred firmness. Then scroll through our list of the best mattresses for back pain and pick one that fits your individual criteria. If you’re still not sure, take our sleep quiz.
What’s nice about online mattresses in particular is that many companies offer what’s called a “sleep trial.” During this sleep trial, which is normally around 100 nights for most brands, you can test out the mattress and spend many nights determining if it’s the best choice for you. If not, you can send it back within the trial period, often for a refund.
How do I know if my mattress is causing my back pain?
If you need a new mattress for your back pain, there are a few ways you can tell. When pain occurs or worsens after sleeping on your mattress, this is a telltale sign. You can also experience restlessness throughout the night, which is an indicator that your mattress isn’t good for your back.
Another important question to ask yourself is whether or not you feel comfortable. If your mattress feels like it’s sagging, or if you don’t feel supported in some way, then your bed is probably worsening your back pain.
Best Mattresses for Back Pain
| Mattress | Best For | Price (Queen) | Coupon | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saatva Rx | Overall | $3,295 | Saatva Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Nectar | Side Sleepers | $1,099 | Nectar Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Helix Midnight Luxe | Combo Sleepers | $2,374 | Helix Coupon | Read Our Review |
| DreamCloud | Back Sleepers | $1,199 | DreamCloud Coupon | Read Our Review |
| WinkBed | Cooling | $1,799 | WinkBed Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Saatva | Innerspring | $1,995 | Saatva Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Bear Elite Hybrid | Athletes | $2,111 | Bear Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Nolah Evolution | Luxury | $2,499 | Nolah Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid | Cheap | $1,332 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Emma Hybrid Comfort | Couples | $1,199 | Emma Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Titan Plus by Brooklyn Bedding | Heavy Sleepers | $1,249 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Birch Natural | Organic | $2,124 | Helix Coupon | Read Our Review |
Logan Block
Mattress Reviewer
About Author
Logan is the former content director of Sleepopolis. As content director, he reviewed new mattresses every week and curated the comparisons, best of pages, and video guides on the site. Logan perfected his method by personally testing over 200 different mattresses, so he’s not only able to discern the overall vibe of a specific bed, but to contextualize its feel within the bed-in-a-box market as a whole.
Combination Sleeper
Sources
- Gerhart, James I., et al. “Relationships Between Sleep Quality and Pain-Related Factors for People with Chronic Low Back Pain: Tests of Reciprocal and Time of Day Effects.” Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 51, no. 3, 2016, pp. 365–375., doi:10.1007/s12160-016-9860-2.
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