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Choosing the Best Mattress for You
A good mattress will protect your back for the many hours that you are in
bed. A mattress that properly supports the body is also a very important
element in helping relieve stress on the muscles and joints of the back.
The most important information needed for finding the best mattress to
support the back involves knowing your sleeping position. The information
below will help you to search for the best mattress for you.
Back Sleepers |
Side
Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
All Sleepers
The Best Mattress for Back Sleepers
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The general rule of thumb for back sleepers is that when shopping for a
mattress, go firm. Unfortunately, people often mistake a firm, supportive
mattress for one that is just plain hard. The reason a firm mattress works
better in this case than a softer type is simply that the spine needs to
be kept straight when you are on your back. A mattress that gives too much
or bends inwardly will not be supportive enough for the spine. |
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Back sleepers have a larger area to lay on than side sleepers, which means
less weight per square inch of the body. Therefore a
mattress that is more firm will hold the spine in check without irritating
the muscles and joints. Placing a pillow or using a support knee elevating
wedge under your legs while on your back will be beneficial as well, as it can
reduce the traction from the muscles attached to the spine. The best
mattress for back sleepers will have a supportive and firm density, but
also have enough give to conform to the joints, with a softer overlay to
provide more comfort for the muscles and joints. (Back to
top of page)
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The Best Mattress for
Side Sleepers
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Firm mattresses
are not always necessary for good support. Firm mattresses work better for back
sleepers than they do for side sleepers, but this does not mean that a soft
mattress will be more beneficial either. A mattress that gives too much or bends
inwardly will not be supportive enough for the spine while a mattress that is
too firm will put too much pressure on the sensitive areas of the hip
and shoulder, thereby causing irritation to those regions over time. The
best mattress for side sleepers will have a supportive density, but also
have enough give to conform to the bumps and curves of the body, with a
softer overlay to provide more comfort for the muscles and joints. When
laying on your side, it is also important to put a pillow |
| or orthopedic leg space between
your knees to prevent rotation of the pelvis and spine. This measure will
combine to keep your spine in a more correct alignment while sleeping. A
leg space will also help prevent excess pressure on the spine from pelvic rotation when you
are on your side, while moving with your body if you roll onto your back. (Back
to top of page) |
The Best Mattress for Stomach
Sleepers
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Sleeping on your stomach can be irritating to your neck and back due to
the complete rotation of the neck to one side while in this position.
While it is not recommended that you sleep on your stomach, if you can't
make the change to your side or back, keep the following in mind: Pick a
mattress that is soft enough on the surface to substitute for the lack of
a pillow, as using a pillow while on your stomach will only push the neck
further to a rotated and backward extended position. This compression can
be a source of irritation to the joints and soft tissue of the spine. The
best mattress for a |
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| stomach sleeper will have a supportive density, but
also have enough give to conform to the bumps and curves of the body, with
a softer overlay to substitute for the lack of a pillow and provide more
comfort for the muscles and joints. When laying on your stomach, always put a
pillow wedge under one side of
the pelvis and same side leg, thereby limiting the amount of rotation of
upper spine. While this will still not be a perfect position, these tips
should combine to keep your spine in a more correct alignment while
sleeping. If you are a stomach sleeper that wants to
break the habit, try using a wedge to help keep you on your side, which
will move with your body if you roll on your back. (Back to
top of page) |
The Best Mattress for All
Position Sleepers
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A mattress that properly supports the body should be solid enough to not
cave inward with body pressure and yet have enough give to allow
contouring of the body. This is especially important with side sleepers,
as a lot of pressure is placed on the shoulders and hips. While back
sleepers can get away with a more firm mattress, the contouring of the
body that occurs with a mattress that gives with pressure applied will
hold the body in a more proper position for a comfortable sleep. Sleeping
on your stomach can be irritating to your neck and back due to the
complete rotation of the neck to one side while in this position. While it
is not recommended that you sleep on your stomach, if you still move
around to all positions, or if you have a bed mate which sleeps in a
different position than you, keep the following in mind: Pick a mattress
that is soft enough on the surface to substitute for the lack of a pillow
when on your stomach, as using a pillow in this position will only push
the neck further to a rotated and backward extended position. This
compression can be a source of irritation to the joints and soft tissue of
the spine.
The best mattress for all position sleepers will have a supportive
density, but also have enough give to conform to the bumps and curves of
the body, with a softer overlay to substitute for the lack of a pillow and
provide more comfort for the muscles and joints. When laying on your
stomach, always put a pillow to wedge under one side of the pelvis and
same side leg, thereby limiting the amount of rotation of the upper spine.
Back sleepers can place a pillow |
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under their legs to reduce traction on
the spine. When laying on your side, always put a pillow or orthopedic leg
space between your knees to prevent rotation of the pelvis and spine. We
recommend a leg space, as it helps prevent torque on the spine from pelvic
rotation when you are on your side, while moving with your body if you
roll on your back. This measure will combine to keep your spine in a more
correct alignment while sleeping. While back sleeping is still the most
supportive position for the spine, and stomach sleeping will still have
the potential to irritate the muscles and joints, these tips should
combine to keep your spine in a more correct alignment while
sleeping. (Back to top of page)
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