Things to keep in mind while selecting mattress for lower back pain

You must have been asked to buy the firmest mattress you can find if you have back ache –right? Wait, let’s not just jump into conclusion. Even though it was one of the most commonly suggested solution, there is no research backing it. The latest thought is that there isn’t one single type of mattress that’s best suited for everyone, which includes people with lower back pain. You should go by your personal preference, and go with the option that offers you maximum comfort.

But making the right choice can be a daunting task. With a plethora of options in the market, and just because the mattress feels good when you sleep on it in the store doesn’t mean you are going to enjoy sleeping on it for the coming several years.

Below mentioned are few tip that will help you narrow down your search:

It should keep your spine aligned:

You may not understand it, but you need good posture even when you sleep. All your muscles and ligaments in your back need to relax and recuperate while you sleep. If the texture of a mattress is too firm or too soft, it would fail in supporting your spine at your neck or lower back the way you are supposed to. Firmness of the mattress differs from person to person. For instance, if you have wide hips, a slightly softer surface would be advised. You need some more give to keep your spine in alignment. Someone with a narrower hip would be better off with a firmer surface.

If in doubt, go with medium-firm

Research is incomplete, but in a certain study, researchers allotted new mattresses to more than 300 people suffering from lower back pain. They went with either “medium-firm” or “firm” mattresses for 90 days. Those belonging to medium group reported the least amount of inconvenience.

You might want to give foam mattress a chance more than traditional innerspring one. The foam molds to your body. The downside: certain memory foam mattresses store in heat; and the material might end up having a lot chemicals.

Spend more time on it

If you end up getting a great night’s sleep and wake up without any pain at a hotel or in a friend’s house, instantly note down the model number of the mattress. Always go for a mattress that comes with a money-back guarantee: a large number of companies will allow you to buy mattress and use it for anywhere close to 30 to 100 days and give it back and ask for a refund if you’re not satisfied with it.

Buy something irrespective

When researchers assigned a set of people new beds for certain number of days, they found that almost everyone ended up sleeping better. This was true regardless of which model they slept on, however, people sleeping on cheap beds did report lower back pain than those sleeping on the medium- and higher-priced beds.

So, it is safe to conclude that if you are sleeping on the same mattress for more than 10 years, it is time for you to get a new one.

Give extra attention to pillows and positions

It is not only the right mattress that plays an important role when it comes to solving your back pain. Even sleep position is important, and are the type of pillows you use and where you keep them.