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Your spine supports you and when something goes wrong it can wreak havoc on your entire body. Finding a bed that supports the natural alignment of the spine is extremely important. Some beds can apply unnecessary stress on already weakened or injured points in the body. You want to look for a mattress that is not overly firm or overly soft for best pain relief, especially if you have low back pain.

Quick Look: Top Back Pain Mattresses

Preventing Back Pain

You can prevent back pain while sleeping by keeping the spine in alignment. Beds that are too soft will cause a curvature that is unnatural to the spine’s normal positioning. Beds that are made from springs or coils can put too much pressure on parts of the spine. Memory Foam and Latex type mattress typically fare the best with those who have back pain.

Selecting Bed Firmness

The most highly recommended mattresses for back pain are medium firmness. There is no one size fits all firmness level, but when you chose your mattress, ensure the mattress is not too soft and not too firm.

A mattress that is too soft will cause you to sink and it becomes nearly impossible to keep the spine in a healthy position. Soft mattresses can also cause pressure on various parts of the body causing other aches and pains.

A mattress that is extremely firm used to be the most highly recommended for those with back pain. This is no longer the case, as a very firm sleeping surface can also cause way too much pressure on the spine and other points on the body.

Sleeping Positions

Whether you are a stomach, side or back sleeper, there is a mattress made for you. Typically sleeping on your side provides the most relief for your back, but here are some tricks you can use if you just can’t get comfortable sleeping on your side.

Another great way to ensure you can sleep in any position is to choose a mattress that is 10 inches or more in thickness.

Materials Matter

The best mattress materials for back pain are latex and memory foam. Because memory foam contours to the natural shape of your spine, it will stay better aligned. A better aligned spine will allow muscles to relax. Latex provides just a bit more pressure against your back, which in turn will provide more support for the curvature of your spine.

Both memory foam and latex sleep warm, but this can be a good thing for those with back pain as heat can also help muscles relax. Here are some of our top picks for medium firmness latex and foam mattress to help support your back.

Lucid 10 Inch Latex Mattress 

The Lucid Mattress is a medium firmness latex mattress. Latex is known for being one of the more supportive materials used in mattress construction. Latex is typically springy and will give you the cushiony feeling of memory foam while still providing great spinal support.

The Lucid Latex Mattress is made from ventilated latex. This will typically sleep a littler cooler than memory foam and other types of latex, making it a great choice if overheating at night is one of your concerns.

The memory foam used in this mattress carries the Certipur label so it is tested for many known volatile organic compounds. This testing ensures your mattress is free of many harmful chemicals. The materials in this mattress are also dust mite and bed bug resistant.

This Lucid mattress comes with an impressive 25 year warranty.

GhostBed 11 Inch  

The GhostBed is made with natural latex, a cooling gel layer, and a support foam base. The top layer is latex which provides more push back than standard memory foam, which means your spine is better supported.

The GhostBed mattress includes a cover that pulls heat away from the body, though it still sleeps warmer than a typical innerspring mattress.

The mattress is about 11 inches high. This is a great height for back, side, and stomach sleepers (if you are a stomach sleeper you may want to look for at least 10 inches in mattress height). The GhostBed mattress is considered medium firmness and the support and latex are great for alleviating back pain. 

Casper Mattress 

The Casper Mattress is great for all types of sleepers. Made from a support layer of high density memory foam and a top comfort layer made of latex, this mattress will sleep cool and comfortable.In between the bottom support layer and the top latex layer are two additional foam layers each specifically designed for a unique purpose. The second layer is made of responsive memory foam which contours to your body and provides support to the natural curve of the spine.

The third layer of adaptive foam will help your comfort level by evenly distributing weight throughout the bed. These layers combined create the ideal sleeping conditions for your spine and body. 

DreamFoam Latex Mattress 

The DreamFoam Latex mattress is made with 3 inches of Talalay Latex and a bamboo cover with 1.5 inch hyperflex foam layer built into the cover. These two layers sit atop the 6 inch high density foam base layer that has anti-bacterial properties.

The DreamFoam Mattress is made in the USA and offers several different firmness levels. The company will even help you select the right firmness for your needs.

This is a great mattress for preventing or lessening back pain because it is made of latex and you can select the firmness. Having more customizable options can let you tweak the comfort level to your perfect level.

Tuft & Needle 

Keeping everyone in mind, Tuft & Needle created a mattress that works great for nearly anyone. The top layer is made from a proprietary foam which is great for people who suffer from back pain. The top layer of this bed provides body contouring that relieves pressure from many problem areas and pressure points.

The Tuft & Needle mattress is infused with gel. This gel infused layer is designed so it will sleep a little cooler than other types of foam beds.The Tuft & Needle has a bottom layer to support both you and your bed, providing longevity for the mattress and additional comfort for you.

This is typically considered a medium firmness mattress, which is just what the doctor ordered to ease those aching backs and ensure you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start your day. Wrapping UpBack pain cannot be completely remedied by a mattress (so be sure to talk to your doctor), but selecting one that is a medium firmness and offers good support can help a great deal.

When you lay in bed try to make sure you are supported enough so that the spine stays in proper alignment. The lower spine should be slightly curved if you sleep on your back and as close to straight as you can get if you lay on your side.

Most quality medium firmness mattresses will mold with the natural curve of the spine. Be cautious not to select a mattress that is too firm as this will push against the spine causing unwanted pressure.

Selecting a mattress that is too soft will offer little to no support and can often worsen back problems. These top pick mattresses for back pain all fall in the medium firmness “sweet spot” and are great for anyone looking to lessen aches and pains.