How to choose a mattress for back pain?

The actual health properties of a mattress are absolutely the first thing to consider when planning to purchase a mattress, as many mattress models simply do not meet the legal requirements necessary for registration as a medical device. These are commercial products created for profit, so their main purpose is to provide good sleeping comfort for a short period. However, they do not guarantee adequate spinal support, which should disqualify them.

In the case of lower back issues, whether you have had spine surgery or have been diagnosed with painful discopathy, your spine will need not only illusory comfort but, above all, good spinal support. Therefore, a mattress that is a medical device must be produced using all required conformity assessment procedures, and there are indeed many of them. Furthermore, in order for a mattress to become a medical device, its manufacturer must prove the medical efficacy of the product. Before registration, such a mattress must undergo extensive clinical trials.

Unfortunately, the common belief has established that the best solution for back pain is a firm mattress, but nothing could be further from the truth. This notion is a remnant of old orthopedic thinking, which suggests that immobilizing a specific part of our body, in this case, spinal immobilization, would aid in treatment and rehabilitation.

Although it is a well-known method that works perfectly for bone fractures, in many other cases, it can be completely the opposite. Medicine has moved away from it, especially in the case of sprains and dislocations, as it was discovered long ago that immobilization in these cases prolonged patients' rehabilitation time. Therefore, it is worth putting a cast on a broken leg, but in the case of the spine, it's exactly the opposite. It's the movement combined with proper joint positioning that allows us to regenerate and rehabilitate to return to full fitness.

So, we must remember that a mattress with high firmness exerts considerable force on the human spine and, as a result, locks the position in which a person lies down. Firm mattresses cause us to wake up when changing positions. We need to regain greater awareness to overcome the firm mattress surface and be able to turn to our sides or back. Furthermore, the spine aligns incorrectly and lacks support in the correct position. As a result, your sleep becomes interrupted and uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Furthermore, we must remember that a mattress that is too firm predisposes to sleeping on the stomach, which causes most people to have excessive lordosis in the lumbar spine, further exacerbating back pain. Typically, when sleeping on a firm mattress and in a stomach position, we place a soft pillow under our head to reduce the firmness of the mattress slightly. However, this position is extremely detrimental to our health.

Therefore, when choosing a mattress for back pain, let's not opt for the proverbial planks, as they may paradoxically only worsen spine problems. Sleeping on boards, recommended for many years, has turned out to be another harmful myth that should be avoided.

As is often the case in the world, the best solution is a compromise, which means an exceptionally functional mattress that is neither too firm nor too soft. Every ailing spine, regardless of the cause of discomfort, essentially needs the same qualities from a mattress:

• It must provide good support for the spine, meaning the spine should be in a straight line with the head, and all natural curves of the spine should be maintained, including lordosis and kyphosis;

• On the other hand, the mattress should be comfortable, so you shouldn't wake up feeling uncomfortable;

• Ideally, the design of a comfortable mattress for back pain should allow easy changes in sleeping positions;

• Sleeping on a functional mattress should not cause increased discomfort, and over time, discomfort should decrease;

• The mattress should be comfortable in all sleeping positions, both on the back and on the side.

All of the above-mentioned qualities are met exclusively by some available medium-firm mattresses constructed in layers. When it comes to mattress firmness, the commonly accepted scale in Poland ranges from H1 to H4, where a medium-firm mattress is labeled H3. However, this scale is unfortunately not standardized in any way, so in practice, different specimens of the same H3 mattress may vary. If we use the American 10-point scale, mattresses for people with spine problems should have a firmness level between 6 and 7, as well as high density.

Our most functional Osaka Air mattress is a medium-firm mattress, and it was participated in clinical studies by individuals suffering from spine conditions such as discopathies, degenerations, and spondylolisthesis, as well as many people in the postoperative period. For the significant majority of participants, the long-term and nightly use of the Osaka Air mattress contributed to a significant reduction in spinal pain symptoms, both during sleep and throughout the day.

The participants highly rated sleeping comfort and often stated that they did not experience body overheating, unlike their previous mattresses. The overwhelming majority of participants acknowledged that it directly contributed to improving their quality of life in every biopsychosocial aspect.

Choosing the right mattress for back pain is crucial to ensure comfortable sleep and proper support for your back. There are two main types of mattresses on the market, namely memory foam and spring mattresses. The choice between them can significantly impact the quality of your sleep, which is closely related to reducing back pain.

Of course, it is best to choose memory foam mattresses because, unlike archaic and less durable spring mattresses, they have a greater ability to conform to the shape of your body while providing adequate support for your spine. Meanwhile, on spring mattresses, which are usually much firmer, it is best to sleep on your stomach or back. Sleeping on your side is often uncomfortable on them. Furthermore, studies show that up to 90% of people worldwide sleep on their backs or sides.

ONSEN® is one of the few mattress manufacturers that wants to provide you with complete assurance that our Osaka Air mattress meets all your expectations. That's why we offer a unique testing opportunity for up to 100 days with fully transparent and straightforward terms, no hidden tricks.

Individuals dealing with spinal problems should be confident that the mattress they choose truly meets their needs. That's why we give you up to 100 days to see that our product is perfect for both day and night activities.

You can sleep on it peacefully, but you can also nap or engage in intimate activities. During the trial period, you can even enjoy your morning coffee on the mattress. Your children can jump on it to their heart's content, and pets can lie down comfortably on its surface without any issues. We are confident in the quality of our mattress, and we know it's the best.

We also encourage you to explore other articles on the best sleep and health blog, as well as the Encyclopedia of Healthy Sleep prepared by the ONSEN® team of specialists. For those who care about spine health, we recommend a set of spine exercises prepared by our physiotherapist.

How to Choose a Mattress for Back Pain?

For back pain, it's essential to select a highly elastic mattress, preferably made of open-cell high-resilience foam, often referred to as HR foam. The firmness of such a mattress should be around 6.5 on the American mattress firmness scale. A good mattress for back pain should contour to the body while providing proper support and spinal alignment. This is often achieved by incorporating memory foam into the second layer.

How to Choose a Mattress for People with Spinal Herniation?

For individuals with spinal herniation, a foam mattress is recommended, with the top layer made of high-resilience HR foam. In the second layer, viscoelastic memory foam should be placed. The ideal mattress for people with spinal herniation is the Osaka Air mattress.

How Firm Should a Mattress Be After Spinal Surgery?

A mattress following spinal surgery should have a firmness level of approximately 6.5 on the American mattress firmness scale. This firmness level is also optimal for others as it provides the highest comfort and ideal spinal support. After spinal surgery, it's essential to invest in a functional mattress that is appropriately designed and constructed.

Can a Mattress Cause Back Pain?

Yes, an improperly chosen mattress can cause back pain because an unsuitable mattress fails to provide proper body support and spinal alignment. Consequently, the spine does not maintain its natural position. This is often the case with innerspring mattresses or memory foam mattresses. Additionally, back pain can also result from using an inadequately chosen pillow. Therefore, it's advisable to invest in a high-quality orthopedic pillow.

In Which Sleeping Position Should You Sleep After Spinal Surgery?

After spinal surgery, it's best to sleep on your back. Occasionally, side sleeping may be permitted, but sleeping on the stomach should be avoided. However, it's crucial to use a suitable high-resilience foam mattress and an orthopedic pillow made of HR foam. It is strongly discouraged to use memory foam products in such cases.