Best Mattress for Back Pain (Sep. 2026) - Rated by CherryPicks' Experts

How to find best mattress for back pain?

Back pain has been a major health problem for a long time, it was ranked 6^th in 1990 and considered the most challenging condition relating to poor health and mortality in the US. It continues to be a challenging condition and, due to the opioid epidemic, some treatment options are no longer available. The 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study found that lower back pain causes more disability than any of 290 other conditions they studied. Back pain is a serious problem that can become debilitating.

In 1998, researchers reached a consensus that initial evaluations of back pain should use a biopsychosocial model that evaluates biological, psychological, social, and physical causes. Most back pain is not related to physical injury or disease. Sleeping in a position that does not allow your body to relax can irritate the muscles in the back and cause pain. The best mattress for back pain can help you rule out your mattress as the cause of your back pain.

Therefore, buying the best mattresses for back pain requires careful attention to ensure the bed you'll sleep on for the next eight years allows you to be comfortable.

How can back pain affect your body?

A healthy spine performs three different functions:

• It supports the range of motion needed to function.
• The spine provides the structural framework necessary to allow an upright posture.
• It is a protector. It encases the spinal cord and shields some of the major organs. Injuries to the spinal cord can damage the body’s primary communication system.

Unless there is a traumatic injury or disease, the most common limitations from back pain affect range of motion. A healthy back is an important aspect of maintaining a nice quality of life. Back pain can be the result of trauma or disease but it is most often due to stress, poor posture, and sleeping without adequate support to maintain the spine's health.  I mentioned the three categories of back pain earlier: acute, subacute, and chronic.

• Acute backache

Acute backache refers to the initial onset of backpain. In many cases, it will resolve itself but it is a good idea to look into the cause because it could worsen if left untreated.

• Sub-acute backache

Sub-acute back pain lasts from 4 weeks to 12 weeks (up to three months).   This pain may happen in conjunction with an accident, injury, although the most common causes are stress and poor sleeping posture. The pain dies if proper treatments are administered.

• Chronic backache

Chronic backaches can last more than 12 weeks or three months. These aches can either be caused by an accident, injury, physical condition such as scoliosis, poor support during sleep, and psychosocial factors such as stress. In many cases, the pain can continue after treatment.

Causes of back pain

Interesting research published in The Lancet in 2017 revealed the following clinical practice guidelines for treatment of low back pain:

Use of a biopsychosocial framework to guide management with initial non-pharmacological treatment, including education that supports self-management and resumption of normal activities and exercise, and psychological programmes for those with persistent symptoms.The Lancelet study.

• “Inappropriately high use of imaging, rest, opioids, spinal injections, and surgery.”
• A lack of focus on prevention
• “Limited use of the recommended first-line treatments” noted above.
• A more “prudent use of medication, imaging, and surgery” is needed.
• Increased use of “public health and prevention strategies.”

As per the information shared by Mayo Clinic and WebMD, common causes of back pain include:

• Ruptured discs and bulging discs
• Maintaining good hydration is a preventative strategy

Intervertebral discs in the spinal column of your vertebrate cushion and provide support to the structure of the spine and act as a shock absorbers. They allow motion while preventing the discs from rubbing against one another.

Rupture discs or bulging discs causes a painful sensation during their connection with the nerves. However, there are some cases where people don’t experience much back pain even with ruptured discs.

• Strains on ligaments and muscles
• Maintain good posture and use safe lifting methods.

Lifting specific objects that are very heavy or lifting those in an awkward position can stress your back ligaments and muscles.

• Arthritis

Stress increases inflammation. Learning healthy stress management techniques can prevent flare-ups and reduce pain.

It is an inflammation of the joints that can occur anywhere in the body that might lead to stiffness or joint pain. Various forms of arthritis are listed as follows:

• Gout:

It refers to the inflammation of a joint in ankles, knees, or feet.

• Osteoarthritis

It is also called degenerative arthritis and is the reason behind the premature deterioration in bone cartilage.

• Psoriatic Arthritis

It refers to the inflammation of the joint that is resulted by a condition of the skin called psoriasis; flare-ups are strongly associated with psychological stress.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

It refers to the adverse effects associated with the synovium material that is present to line the joints.

• Osteoporosis

It is a disease that you can characterize the degeneration of the skeleton. It can cause bones to become brittle and porous. The fractures in this condition mostly occur in the spine, wrists, and hips. If any part of the vertebrate collapses or ruptures, it can cause severe back pain.

Risk factors associated with back pain

Medical experts and doctors have identified different risk elements apart from the above mentioned, in the case of back pain:

Lack of sufficient exercise: People who have unconditioned and weak muscles are considered to be at risk of developing symptoms of back pain.

Age: Back pain influences people of all ages, but this issue is far more common in people who are over 30.

Dehydration: The intervertebral discs that protect your spine are primarily composed of water. During the day, they lose some of the moisture that allows them to work effectively. If you are dehydrated, you may experience back pain and be at an increased risk of developing a bulging disc. It is important to drink water and stay hydrated. Try to drink all the water you need by an hour before your bedtime as drinking too close to the time you go to bed can cause you to wake up to use the bathroom. Your body restores hydration lost during the day to the discs at night so if you aren't hydrated, this important function may not be effective.

Obesity: Being overweight can also cause back pains.  Significant fat on the midsection of the body can put too much pressure and strain on the back muscles and cause aches.

Mental health concerns: Psychosocial stress, anxiety, and depression make you more prone to backaches. All three increase stress which can lead to inflammation and pain. Mental health therapy effectivelly treats back pain for a large percentage of sufferers.

Diseases: Some medical conditions, like cancer, that can cause back pain but they represent a small portion of the individuals with back pain.

Incorrect or excessive lifting: It is arguably the best cause that is linked with back pain issues. It occurs when a person lifts too much weight straining their backs instead of using their legs.

Inadequate Support During Sleep: During sleep, your body needs to be supported so that your muscles can relax. If your sleeping surface doesn't allow your body to relax, you may wake up stiff and sore the next morning.

Sleep Deprivation: When we are not well-rested, we feel pain more acutely. Pain is perceptual; lack of sleep causes us to perceive pain at lower thresholds.

Smoking: Smoking cigarettes can deprive the body of various nutrients that are necessary for the strength of discs and various other joints and bones.

Irregularities in the skeleton

Most of the people with these irregularities prefer to sleep on their backs. Some people also prefer to sleep on their sides by having pillows and towels underneath their ribs and knees. These people face consistent sleep disruption due to irregularities in their skeleton that causes back pain. The abnormalities in the skeleton associated with spine or back can result in pressure and pain as illustrated below:

When you have spinal issues, the best mattress for your back pain may be different from the best one for someone with a normal spine. When deemed medically significant, these conditions are described as follows:

Scoliosis: It is the sideways curving of your spine; usually forms an S or C shape.

Lordosis: It is abnormal curvature of your lower spine.

Kyphosis: It is abnormal curving of the upper portion of your spine.

Best mattress for back pain according to your bodyweight?

The experiences of your sleeping positions are directly associated with your bodyweight as well. People who   weigh less than 130 lbs need to sleep on a soft mattress  to experience improved pressure relief. A firmer mattress will not conform to their slight frames.

On the other hand, people who have  weight more than 220 lbs need a firm mattress  so that their body doesn't sink too deeply into the mattress. The firmness level of a mattress is determined by its firmness rating on the scale of 1 to 10. Here, 1 is the least firm, and 10 is the most firm. Most mattresses fall in the category of 3 to 8 firmness score while the most common being 6 and 6.5 which is medium-firm.

Different types of mattress can be the best mattress for back pain

The types of mattress are another critical consideration for the people who suffer from backaches. There are five most common types of mattress types. The mattress types along with their firmness level and sleeper's body weight are all critical for finding the best mattress to cure back pain. The following table provides you with brief details on different mattress types and their merits and demerits for people with backache issues.

Best mattress for back pain according to your sleeping position?

Concerning your sleeping position, sleepers are divided into three different categories: side, stomach, and back sleepers. Each of these positions is briefly explained below along with their pros and cons, natural spinal alignment, and the best sleeping surface for each type of sleeper:

Side Sleeping

• Pros & Cons

Side sleeping is recommended to decrease snoring and sleep apnea, it enables excellent air and blood circulation. It can also prevent heartburn by preventing gastric reflux because gravity helps when you are on your left side. Side sleeping can also release pressure in certain issues as scoliosis and hip pain. However, side sleeping might reduce blood flow in the arms and shoulders. These positions also cause pressure on the lungs and stomach so rolling over periodicially is recommended. During side sleeping, the face is directly placed on the pillow which can cause wrinkles in the long run. Side sleeping, especially on the left side, is recommended during pregnancy.

• Spinal Alignment

Side sleeping does support the natural alignment of your spine. However, an uneven sleeping surface can build up the pressure and can cause your spine to curve unnaturally.

• Best suited sleeping surface

The best-suited sleeping surface for side sleepers must have enough firmness to provide proper support to the body. It will enable the body to sink appropriately, especially in pressure point areas like shoulders and hips.

• Also read: Best Mattress For Side Sleepers 2022

Stomach sleeping

• Pros & Cons

Doctors do not recommend stomach sleeping because it causes more discomfort and pressure on the organs. Furthermore, the sleeper will be prone to turning and tossing that can disrupt sleep.

• Spinal alignment

Stomach sleeping doesn’t support the natural alignment of your spine because a significant portion of your weight is on your stomach and you might end up sinking too much in your mattress. If you are a stomach sleeper, you can try to wean yourself off this habbit by using a body pillow to create the hugging feeling of sleeping on your stomach while sleeping on your side. Don’t try to force a change all at once. A good method is using the body pillow while you go to sleep at the beginning of the night and again, if you wake during the night. Don’t worry if you find yourself back on your stomach. In time, your body will begin wanting to spend more time on your sides.

• Best suited sleeping surface

The best mattress for back pain is firm enough to prevent over-sinking. Stomach sleeping is the least healthy position recommended for sleeping.

Back sleeping

• Pros & Cons

You don’t need extra cushion for support and comfort when you sleep on your back. This sleep position can prevent facial wrinkles. However, people do suffer from sleep apnea because the circulation of air is partially halted and there is considerable potential for snoring.

• Spinal alignment

Back sleeping does support the natural alignment of your spine, but the sleepers have to maintain his/her back sleeping position. Placing a pillow underneath your knees, the way a massage therapist does during therapy, can help maintain the alignment of your spine.

• Best suited sleeping surface

The mattress must provide support from tailbone to neck and must also have even firmness. Too much firmness can create a gap between the lumbar and the surface while a surface that is too soft can cause misalignment of the spine.

Conclusion

A good quality mattress can provide excellent support to the spine, and it can eradicate problems in various sensitive parts of your body such as lumbar region, neck, hips, and shoulders. On the other hand, a bad quality mattress can develop pressure in various muscles of your body.

• 1. FATHOM Medium Queen Mattress 10 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Queen...
• 2. ERORVX Full Size Mattress,12 Inch Full Mattress,Memory Foam Hybrid Mattresses...
• 3. BedStory Firm 13 Inch Mattress Queen, Luxury Hybrid Mattress for...
• 4. EGOHOME 14 Inch Queen Memory Foam Mattress for Back Pain,...
• 5. Novilla 8 Inch Twin Size Mattress,Twin Hybrid Mattress for Kids...
• 6. Nectar Classic 12” Twin Mattress - Medium Firm - Contouring...
• 7. EGOHOME 14 Inch King Size Memory Foam Mattress for Back...
• 8. VISCOFLEX Queen Memory Foam Mattress 14 Inch - Extra Firm...
• 9. EGOHOME Medium Queen Mattress 12 Inch Memory Foam Mattresses Bed...
• 10. RRESTA Firm Queen Mattress 14 Inch - Hotel Collection Hybrid...

People who suffer from back pain must understand that they need to look at the mattress types, its firmness, and their body weight if they want to purchase the best mattress to relieve their back pain. People who are less than 130 lbs. should go for a soft sleeping surface while people over 220 lbs. should opt for a firm sleeping surface. Gel and memory foams are best for conformance and support, and they can significantly ease back pain.

Read more:

• Best Mattress Topper for Back Pain 2022
• Best Ergonomic Office Chair for Lower Back Pain
• Best Recliners for Back Pain

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