3 Mattress Types For People With Back Pain
Do you have back pain that only seems to be aggravated when you sleep? Do you wake up every morning with a stiff and achy back? It could be time for a new mattress. Considering how much time you spend in bed, it's easy to understand why mattress quality can have such a big impact on your back health. However, choosing the right type of mattress isn't always easy. There are many different types of mattresses and each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Here are three of the most popular types of mattresses and how they can impact back pain:
Innerspring coil mattresses. These are the most common types of mattresses. They use interior coils to give the mattress its shape and to provide firmness. Some mattress dealers will say that the more coils a mattress has, the firmer it is. However, coil count usually doesn't have much impact.
What's more important is the thickness or gauge of the coils. The higher the gauge number, the thicker the coils and the firmer the mattress. You can customize an innerspring coil mattress by putting a foam or feather pillowtop on top of it. The one downside to an innerspring is that couples will feel the same level of firmness. That could be a problem if you have back pain and need a firm mattress, but your partner doesn't.
Memory foam mattresses. These mattresses use a layer of memory foam that allows the mattress to contour to your body. This could help your back pain because it not only provides support, but specifically provides support to the areas where you need it most. It's also great for couples because the foam will adjust to each person. On your side, the foam will conform to your body shape, while your partner's side of the mattress could have a completely different feel.
One possibly negative is that memory foam tends to absorb heat. That means it could take in your body heat through the night and make your bed uncomfortably warm. You may want to look for a mattress that combines memory foam with cooling technology.
Air mattresses. No, these aren't the kind of air mattresses that you'd take on a camping trip. Rather, they're just like regular mattresses except that they use air pockets instead of wire coils. The advantage of this is that you can change the amount of air in each of the pockets based on where you need the most support. If your back is in serious pain and you feel like you need support, you can pump up the mattress. If not, you can release some air. As an added bonus, your partner can adjust his or her side of the mattress to best fit their needs.
Visit a mattress store and try a few out to determine which is best for you. Their knowledgeable staff can help you find the best mattress to meet your needs. If you have questions, contact a company like West Coast Mattress with any concerns you might have.