Digital connectivity has exacerbated this behavior through the ability to research deals and promotions, compare multiple products down to the minute specifications, and gain instant feedback from your peers (via online reviews). We as individuals will always look to bring quality and value to the lowest and most affordable price point possible – but when should we draw the line on compromise?
As time goes on, more and more consumers are looking to spend as little money as possible on their mattress and push their purchasing decision to the convenience side of the spectrum – What’s it made of? Will it last? And will it get the job done? The reality is that buying a mattress is one of the most important purchasing decisions you will ever make – and can have painful repercussions if you choose cost savings over quality.
Can A Bad Mattress Cause Back Pain?
Approximately 8 out of every 10 Americans will experience some range of back problems during their lifetime. While many people blame their back issues for causing them to have a poor night’s sleep, the reality is that a poor night’s sleep on a cheap, lower quality or old mattress can contribute and even enhance major back pain issues.
The magnitude of the burden from low back pain has grown worse in recent years as well. In 1990, a study ranking the most burdensome conditions in the U.S. in terms of mortality or poor health as a result of disease put low back pain in sixth place; in 2010, low back pain jumped to third place, with only ischemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ranking higher.
How Does A Bad Mattress Cause Back Pain?
The startling reality that many consumers fail to recognize is that we will, on average, spend a third of our lifetime on our mattress. We won’t spend a fraction of that time in our vehicles, yet we are more than willing to invest a large amount of time and research into finding the right car while also rationalizing a significant monetary investment.
Sleeping on a cheap mattress that’s not suited to your specific body profile can be the leading cause of and increase your back pain, especially if the mattress is not of a marginally high quality construction. Good posture doesn’t just apply to sitting and standing – the muscles and ligaments in your back relax and heal themselves while you sleep, which is why it’s critical that your sleep system (mattress, pillows, etc.) is keeping your spine straight through the night instead of curved.
Overall, a cheap, lower quality or old mattress does a poor job of helping you get the support you need to keep your back straight. This is known as spinal alignment, and poor spinal alignment will cause or worsen existing pain in your back.
How To Tell If Your Mattress Is Causing You Back Pain
Since there are a number of causes of back pain, it is best to figure out that your mattress is truly the culprit. The easiest way to assess whether or not your mattress is causing your back pain is to determine when you feel the most back pain.
If you wake up in the morning with back pain every morning, but feel better within a half an hour, that’s the most noticeable sign that your mattress is causing your back pain. Another tell tale sign that your mattress is the reason your back hurts is that you are consistently tossing and turning or waking up frequently throughout the night. This along with waking up with pain are the most obvious signs your mattress is the root of your back pain.
Other ways to determine if your mattress is causing your back pain are if you feel like you can’t get comfortable, the feeling of increased pressure based on how you’re laying, feeling like the bed is “swallowing you” or you are sinking into it, or if the mattress feels extremely flat on all your body’s curves.
What Is The Best Mattress To Fix Back Pain?
When you are in the market for a new mattress, it is important to understand what causes and fixes back pain. The best mattress to help fix back pain is one that is custom made for you and your unique body. Everyone is different, and your mattress should reflect that.
The easiest way for a mattress to help improve your back issues is to provide you with the proper support you need to improve spinal alignment. In addition to proper spinal support, the feel of your mattress matters too. A mattress that is too firm can continue to worsen your back pain because it pushes on the main pressure points of the spine. This will continue to make matters worse. Looking at the opposite side of the spectrum, a mattress that is too soft is just as bad. Softer mattresses leaves the pressure points of your spine unsupported. This creates a more exaggerated curvature in the spine, again, resulting in increased pain.
The reality is that no matter how much marketing mattress manufacturers do, it’s difficult to guarantee perfect spinal alignment with a name-brand mattress made for everyone. Rather than choosing between a softer mattress or a firm mattress, the reality is that you need a mattress and pillow that’s completely tailored to who you are and how you sleep.