A big number of people suffer from chronic back pain. In fact, a recent study in the UK showed that 1 in 7 Britons suffer from this condition. It’s a common problem that it’s hard to treat. However, there are a few things you can do about it and the first one is to get a good mattress. We receive many emails from our readers asking us for advice so we decided to create this buying guide to help you find the best mattress for back pain.
- What type of mattress is good for a bad back?
- Is a memory foam mattress good for back pain?
- What’s the best mattress for lower back pain?
- Editor’s Pick – Emma Original
- Best Orthopaedic – REM-Fit 500 Ortho
- Best Memory Foam – Ergoflex
- Best Cooling – OTTY Hybrid
- Best Premium – Brook + Wilde Elite
- Best Value – Origin Hybrid
What type of mattress is good for a bad back?
This is not an easy question to answer. However, when you have a bad back, you need a mattress that can provide your body with support and contouring. Memory foam mattresses are good with the latter but you need to find one that can support your weight. Hybrids are also good, especially those that feature a contouring foam layer like memory foam or latex.
Is a memory foam mattress good for back pain?
Yes, memory foam is an excellent material which is the main reason it’s vastly used. It has the ability to conform to your body and provide it with the needed pressure-point relief. This can help with the reduction of body aches and discomfort. A high-quality viscoelastic foam can adapt to the natural curvature of your spine which can help with lumbar support. All these, make this material ideal for orthopaedic mattresses.
What’s the best mattress for lower back pain?
There is no simple answer to this question. Every sleeper is different so it’s really hard to have a suggestion for all cases. Having said that, we believe that some mattresses are better than others so we created this buying guide to help you choose the right one for you. Below, you will find 5 options that we think are suitable for people with a bad back.
Editor’s Pick – Emma Original
Our first pick is the Emma Original mattress which also won the ‘Best mattress for back pain’ award for 2022. It’s a foam-only mattress that can provide your back and spine with pressure relief. The Supportive HRX foam ensures that demanding areas like your hips and shoulders will get the needed support which is great. They have also added an Airgocell foam layer which ensures that the mattress sleeps cool. The Emma Original comes with a medium-firm feel and it’s available in 5 sizes. Overall, it’s a complete package and a great all-rounder.
When you buy an Emma mattress, you will get a 200-night trial period which is more than what the average maker offers. On top, you will also get a 10-year guarantee and free delivery for all sizes. It’s a complete package that comes at an affordable price. If you suffer from back pain, this is definitely a mattress you should consider.
Best Orthopaedic – REM-Fit 500 Ortho
The second pick is the REM-Fit 500 Ortho mattress. This is a hybrid option so it combines memory foam with springs. To help with support, they decided to use tall firm springs (14cm) which do an excellent job and will support your back. The upper memory foam layer which features zoned areas creates a floating feeling but also reduces pressure from the bonier parts of your body. This mattress is well-designed and it’s built with high-quality materials. We think it would be an excellent choice for all sleepers and especially those with a heavier weight. It comes with a firm feel and it’s available in 10 sizes.
The REM-Fit 500 wouldn’t be on this list if it wasn’t coming with great service. All mattresses come with a 15-year guarantee which is more than what most makers offer. In addition, you will get free next-day delivery and a 100-night trial period. As you see this is a great package and REM-Fit does a great job here. If you are looking for an affordable orthopaedic mattress, this should be high on your list.
Best Memory Foam – Ergoflex
The third pick on this list is the Ergoflex mattress. This very popular option was initially built as an affordable Tempur alternative. They use high-density 5G foam which is very supportive but will also last for a long time. The mattress features a 3-layer construction and it comes with a medium-firm feel. This pressure-reducing mattress can contour to your exact body shape and support and alleviate pressure points like your hips and shoulders. It’s can suit all types of sleepers and it’s available in 6 sizes including two EU ones. Finally, they use a Tencel cover which is one of the best materials out there. It’s eco-friendly and naturally hypoallergenic which makes it ideal for allergy sufferers.
All Ergoflex mattresses come with a 10-year guarantee and a 30-night trial period. If you are not happy with your mattress, you can return it for free and get a full refund. In addition, you will get a free delivery service for the mainland UK. Overall, the mattress comes with a complete package and they run frequent promotions so you won’t have to pay the full price.
Best cooling mattress for back pain
If you suffer from back pain but also sleep hot you better find a mattress that can tackle both problems. It’s true that memory foam tends to sleep hot but most companies have solved this issue by infusing the foam with some sort of cooling material (ex. cooling gel). It’s also true that springs help with airflow so hybrid mattresses tend to sleep cooler. Therefore, if you suffer from both problems, you should probably get a high-quality hybrid mattress.
Best Cooling – OTTY Hybrid
OTTY is a brand that has grown a lot in the past few years and there is a good reason for that. They make value-for-money mattresses that perform well and come with great service. The OTTY Hybrid mattress is built with tall springs (16cm) which maximise support but at the same time add comfort. The temperature-regulating memory foam ensures that this mattress will stay cool during the night but it will also provide your back and spine with the needed pressure relief. The mattress comes with a medium-firm feel and it will suit all types of sleepers. It’s available in 9 sizes including EU ones. If you look for an affordable mattress that is good for back pain, this should be high on your list.
All OTTY mattresses come with free delivery for the UK mainland. For some extra quid, you have the option to upgrade to a Premium delivery service which includes mattress set-up. On top, you will get a 10-year guarantee and a 100-night trial period which gives you plenty of time to decide whether you want to keep this or not. If you are not happy with it, you can return it and get a full refund. Overall, this is a great package and OTTY is a brand you can trust.
Best premium mattress for back pain
Boxed mattresses have dominated the market because they offer excellent value for money. But that doesn’t mean that these mattresses lack quality. On the contrary, when you buy rolled mattresses, you can find great deals even for more premium mattresses like the Brook and Wilde ones.
Best Premium – Brook + Wilde Elite
This brand was created with a mission to deliver premium mattresses at an affordable price. The Brook and Wilde Elite is a perfect example of this philosophy and it scooped the ‘Best Premium Mattress’ award for 2020. It features 6 layers and it’s available in 3 different feels (soft, medium & firm). If you suffer from a bad back, we advise you to get the medium or the firm option for better support. The Elite features 2 spring layers for enhanced support. The first layer features 2,500 mini springs and the second layer has 1,000 tall springs (13.5cm). The combination works well and this mattress is very supportive. In addition, the upper memory foam layer does a great job to reduce pressure points. The Brook and Wilde Elite mattress is available in 4 sizes and they run frequent promotions so you don’t have to pay the full price.
When you buy a Brook and Wilde mattress, you will get a 10-year guarantee and a 200-night trial period. This gives you plenty of time to decide whether you want to keep this or not. If not, you can return it and get a full refund. They also offer Premium delivery but you have to pay a few quid more. However, I think it’s a good deal and you should get it. Overall, it’s a great mattress and if you have the extra budget, you should go for it.
Best Value – Origin Hybrid
If you have a tight budget and you look for a mattress that can help you alleviate your back pain, you should definitely consider the Origin Hybrid. Designed by orthopaedics, this is a mattress that is engineered for pain-free sleep. It features an HexaGrid layer which is combined with tall pocket springs. This combination creates a supportive mattress that promotes a healthy spinal alignment. Additionally, the HexaGrid foam has excellent pressure-relieving properties which will help your joints and spine to rest better. The Origin Hybrid is available in 5 sizes and is one of the most affordable options for those who suffer from a bad back.
All Origin mattresses come with a 200-night trial period so you have plenty of time to try it. Moreover, you will get a 15-year guarantee and free delivery. This is a superb package, especially if we consider the price here. Overall, this is a high-quality mattress that won’t disappoint you.
What firmness is best for back pain?
This is a very common question among people who suffer from a bad back. Traditionally, experts would advise people to get a really firm mattress that would reduce back pain. However, the main thing that matters is good posture so you should make sure that you get a mattress that promotes a neutral spinal alignment. Having said that, it is found that firm or medium-firm mattresses do a better job at this task so you should probably opt for one of these two options. After all, it’s not a coincidence that most orthopaedic mattresses come with a firm or medium-firm feel.
Can a bad mattress cause back pain?
The short answer is yes. Old mattresses that aren’t structurally good can fail to support your body. This will lead to back pain or a stiff back. Another case is when your mattress just doesn’t match well with your body type or your preferred sleeping position. This can also cause a sore back and you need to make changes. If you wonder whether your mattress is to blame for your back pain, here are 6 signs to look for.
Struggling to get comfortable in bed
If you toss and turn trying to get comfortable, it might be a sign that your mattress is not appropriate for you. This is the most common indicator that it’s time for a new mattress.
Your mattress is too saggy
Old mattresses usually get saggy which means that they droop in certain places. If this happens under your lower back, it can affect your spinal alignment and that in turn can cause back pain.
Your sore back disappears after you waking
If your pain alleviates by simply doing some stretches or walking, this can be a clear sign that your mattress is the route of your problem.
Sinking into your mattress (human taco)
When a mattress gets really old, it can start sinking and you can feel that it folds around you. This is obviously not great and as you expect this is a mattress that lacks support. Additionally, your night mobility will also be affected which can be a second reason for back pain.
Ready to roll off your bed
Do you feel that during sleep you are ready to roll off your bed? This is a clear sign that your mattress lacks good edge support. But what that means? There are two possible scenarios. Either your mattress is losing its structural balance or your mattress was not built correctly from the start. No matter what the case is, you need a new mattress!
Feeling too tired even after sleep
If despite getting the right hours of sleep, you still feel tired, it’s maybe time to consider whether your mattress has anything to do with it. After all, a good mattress would allow you to feel rested and fresh.
We hope that this guide will help you find the best mattress for back pain. However, if you feel that still need help and you have more queries, don’t hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to help you out.
