How Does Mattress Help Your Back Pain
Since slumber is deemed an essential activity in our life, it's high time to make sure we choose the right kind of mattress.
21/04/2020
Did you know that we spend approximately one-third of our day sleeping or relaxing in bed? While slumber is deemed as one of the most essential activities in life, it is high time to make sure we choose the right kind of mattress for the same.
Sadly, for most people around the world, sleeping does not always lead to a comfortable situation as many individuals end up getting backache. Recent researches have revealed several factors that lead up to chronic pain in the body, out of which mattress rules out as the main culprit.
Therefore, it becomes highly essential to choose the right kind of mattress for eliminating back pain and relaxing peacefully.
How to tell if the mattress is to be blamed
Waking up with back pain can be really frustrating for every person around the world. Just imagine you have a really important client meeting to catch up on. But as soon as you get out of the bed an awkward pain saps all your energy in a moment. Dreadful right?
The above scenario is actually a reality check for most people around the world irrespective of age. Although there are many factors to be blamed like posture and sleep pattern, mattresses also play an important role and hence need to be changed at an interval of 8-10 years.
What Makes A Good Mattress?
A perfect mattress hugely depends on some innate features and more importantly must be fully supportive of your delicate back.
Here are some important points to be covered specially for a mattress if you suffer from back pain:
1. Lower back support: The first and foremost point is that the bed needs to be supportive of the whole body with proper spinal cord alignment. Aches and pain on an average radiate from the lower back and hence sleep shall not be associated with added pressure on the waist.
On the whole, the mattress should be able to provide adequate support to your spine and curves and remain comfortable at the same time.
2. Firmness: Firmness is another important aspect of a mattress. Many people confuse firmness with support even though both these properties are diametrically opposite. Now when it comes to the back sleepers, then this category of people shall rely on a medium scale mattress.
Another factor to consider when determining the firmness will be your weight. For instance, the heavier you are the more pressure you would exert on the mattress, therefore look at a firm mattress to compensate for the sinking.
On the other hand, lightweight people shall steer clear of a firm mattress and rely on a plush version.
3. Pressure Points on the back: Pressure points, in the long run, are capable of causing deformations along your spine. Therefore, the mattress shall not be too soft, as it will leave the various pressure points unsupported while creating spinal curvature.
It is also highly essential for getting a mattress which accurately supports all the pressure points on the body and allows you to rest in a relaxed state.
Recommended mattress for people with back pain
There are various types of mattresses available in the market which differ by a lot of factors. The type of material that you choose can play an important role in your current back and health condition. We know it becomes quite a difficult task to choose the best from the rest, but fret not as the guide below gets you a deep analysis of each material and how it is helpful for your back.
1. Memory Foam: Memory foam is one of the best options for people with back pain as these are known for great support, pressure relief and body contouring. Recent studies reveal that the majority of people with chronic back pain own the best memory foam mattress as it provides major relief and satisfaction.
All thanks to the unique properties possessed by the mattress, memory foams are the ones that provide you with optimal spinal cord alignment. Also, there are many memory foam mattresses that are enhanced with the latest technology providing coolness and comfort.
2. Latex: Another highly recommended material that is also one of the best options available in the market for chronic back pain. The appealing factors about latex mattresses are that they are relatively cooler and more responsive than memory foam.
Crafted from spongy material, the mattress supports the body instantly with its contouring capabilities. Although a little more than expensive this is one of the best options available in the market for people with severe back pain.
3. Innersprings: These mattresses contain hundreds of coils that are wrapped individually. These inner coils then exert pressure and act independently to contour the body.
Widely regarded as a suitable option for pain treatment, just make sure that when you buy an innerspring mattress do your research properly and settle for the one with a good number of coils.
Important Factors To Consider When Buying A Mattress
The human body needs an adequate amount of rest for at least 8 hours during the night. And for people with chronic pain, the resting phase becomes slightly extended to feel more productive in the morning.
For this matter of fact, one should always invest in a good mattress and consider some of the below factors while buying the same:
Weight of an individual: Many people tend to ignore it but body weight makes up the most pertinent factor. The firmness level of the mattress along with the total weight play an important role and hence a mattress should cater to both the sides:
· For all people who weigh less than 150 pounds or 68 kg, a medium-firm bed with a firmness level of 5-6 is the most appropriate.
· People who weigh less than 150-200 pounds or 68-90 kg shall opt for a bed with a firmness level of 5-7.
· Heavier people with a bodyweight of more than 200 pounds or 90 kg exert more pressure on the spinal cord while sleeping and hence require a bed with a firmness level of more than 7.
Test out the mattress before buying: While many people would claim that a firm mattress works better for them, there would be others who will settle for a medium-firm one. If you still are uncertain about the mattress you are buying then test it out using these methods:
· Place plywood under your bed to minimize movement.
· Try sleeping with the mattress on the floor.
Toxicity: Recent studies have shown that mattresses made from plastic and synthetic latex are full of harmful petroleum-based chemicals. Since these help in exaggerating pain, people with chronic illness shall sleep on a non-toxic mattress.
Also when looking for non-toxic mattresses, settle for options like natural latex and organic bamboo.
Sleeping Position Of People: It is also important to understand your sleeping posture before choosing the mattress. While side sleepers shall choose a soft mattress that cushions their hips, stomach sleepers should go for firmer ones.
Try Out A Few Before Settling for this one: This is one of the most important factors to determine the comfiness of the mattress. Whenever you buy a mattress take up this test and lie down for like fifteen minutes to get a good feel of its firmness level.
Conclusion:
Every time we sleep our muscles are not paralyzed and we move around more than often. Therefore it is very crucial for the mattress to support our proper spinal cord alignment.
Even for all those people who do not have back pain sleeping on an ergonomic mattress can help them in the long run. So, to avoid all those sleep complications and achieving optimum health and sleep goals, it is important to have a mattress that not only is easy on the pocket but also provides an adequate level of support in every way.