Mattress Man

Are Air Mattresses Good for your Back

Manufacturers claim that air mattresses are good for your back.  Are they right? Does sleeping on an air mattress improve back pain?  What about sciatica or pain in the shoulders, hips, neck and other locations?  The purpose of this guide is to answer this question so you can decide if your next mattress should be an air mattress.

What is an Air Mattress?

First, let’s be clear.  The type of air mattress we’re talking about is NOT the cheap air mattresses used for camping or for extra guests in a pinch.  Those air mattresses are horrible for your back!

The type of air mattresses we are discussing here are adjustable air mattresses that can be made more or less firm depending on your specific needs for support.

Quality adjustable air mattresses have air chambers that can be filled with air to make them more firm.  Air can be removed to make them softer.

How Air Mattresses Work

From a practical standpoint, an air mattress uses a small pump to add air to the chambers that hold it.  A small valve releases air when you want the mattress to be softer.

Why Air Mattresses are Good for your Back

The primary reason that air mattresses are good for your back is that they distribute weight and reduce pressure points.  Imagine lying on a wood board.  Your head, shoulders and hips/buttocks would take most of the weight.  They’d probably get sore in a short period of time.  Your back might get sore too, because it would be forced to flex in order to be supported by the mattress.

Traditional coil spring mattresses are not as hard as boards, but the point is the same.  They may not provide equal support to all points of your body, producing pressure points that result in pain.

A quality adjustable air mattress conforms to your body so that more of your body is supported by the surface.  This reduces pressure points, also reducing conditions which lead to back pain.  When your body is more equally supported, a sore back or other parts of your body have a chance to heal, feeling better in the morning than when you went to bed.

Conclusion

Many studies have shown that air mattresses are good for your back. The consistent support across your entire body is the key.   Pressure points are reduced or eliminated, giving aching muscles and joints an opportunity to heal. This is why so many physicians and chiropractors suggest an adjustable air mattress for their patients with back pain.

 

What are the Best Mattresses for Bad Backs?

If you’ve got consistent back pain, you know that your mattress can either be part of the problem or part of the solution.  If you are in the market for a mattress that will help your back, then this guide will provide useful information.

What are the best mattresses for bad backs?  While it can be different for each person, studies show that these are the best mattresses for relieving pain in your back, neck, shoulders, hips and other locations.

The Best Mattresses for Bad Backs

Medium Innerspring Mattresses: Soft mattresses don’t offer enough support to significantly alleviate back pain.  Some users claim a soft mattress actually makes back pain worse.  Firm mattresses aren’t comfortable enough for many sleepers, adding to their tossing and turning.  A good night’s rest is essential for reducing back pain.

A medium mattress is “just right” for Goldilocks and for many who suffer from back pain.  There’s enough support, yet it’s also comfortable.  If you like a coil spring mattress, you might consider getting one with a memory foam topper. Users rate them very high as a mattress that is good for bad backs.

Adjustable Air Mattresses: We’re talking about quality air mattresses here, not camping mattresses or anything like that.  The wonderful thing about an air mattress is that you can adjust it to meet your specific needs.  The air chambers allow the mattress to conform to your body, offering more consistent support and eliminating pressure points.  A high-quality adjustable air mattress with a foam top can combine in a mattress that is very good for bad backs.

Memory Foam Mattresses: If you’ve got back pain, a memory foam mattress will definitely help.  The open cell structure allows the foam to conform to your body rather than pushing back the way closed cell foam mattresses do.  Rather than increasing pressure, memory foam mattresses decrease pressure points by distributing your weight more equally than either coil spring or adjustable air mattresses can do.

In addition, memory foam is heat sensitive.  This means that as it heats up, it becomes softer.  When you lie on it, the foam warms up, softens, and then cradles your body very snuggly.  The balanced support at typical pressure spots like your shoulders and hips does a great job relieving the type of stress that increases back pain.  Instead, your aching back or other areas have a chance to rest and heal while you sleep.

Summary

What are the best mattresses for bad backs? Those we’ve outlined here offer proven results for those who suffer from back pain.  If you’ve got aches and pains in your back or elsewhere and you’d like relief, these three types of mattresses are the best for bad backs.

 

Are Firm or Plush Mattresses Better for your Back?

The type of mattress you use is an important part of maintaining back health.  And if you already suffer from back pain, the choice is even more important.  Which type is the best?  Are firm or plush mattresses better for your back?  The information you find here will help you understand the type of mattress you need.  You’ll be equipped with the knowledge to choose the best mattress for your back.

Firm vs. Plush Mattresses

Let’s start by defining these terms because they get thrown around in different ways by the mattress manufacturers.

Firm Mattresses: There’s actually good consensus about what a firm mattress is.  While not being stiff, it is the hardest type of mattress you’ll find in most brands.  If it’s an innerspring mattress, it may have more coils than comparable medium or soft mattresses.  The coils may be tighter so they compress less, producing a firmer feel.  Traditionally, a firm mattress was believed to be the best choice for those with a bad back.

Plush Mattresses: In most cases, a plush mattress will be on the softer end of the spectrum.  The problem arises when some manufacturers put a plush pillow top over a firm or medium mattress.  For our purposes, a plush mattress is nearer the soft end of the range made by most mattress companies.

The Best Mattress for your Back

The best mattress for maintaining back health or alleviating soreness in your back is one that reduces pressure points.  These are places in your body that have higher mass, such as your shoulders and hips.

The best mattress distributes the weight of your body more evenly so that the pressure points aren’t as pronounced.  The mattress should give equal support to all areas of your body, reducing the amount of stress experienced by any one location.

Are Firm or Plush Mattresses Better for your Back?

Most physicians and chiropractors recommend you stay away from a plush mattress if you have concerns about your back. A plush mattress simply doesn’t offer enough support to maintain good back health or to relieve pressure points in order to reduce back pain.

In most cases, a firm mattress will provide the kind of balanced support that is better for your back.  Stay away from stiff or ultra-firm mattresses, but those labeled “firm” by most manufacturers are generally very good for back health.

If you want the best of both worlds, take a look at mattresses with a firm core, either foam or coil, and a plush pillow top made from memory foam.  You’ll get the support you need as well as the soft, body-cradling comfort of foam.

 

New Blog on Mattresses

Having a long history with back problems and noticing the way that the mattress you choose has a great impact on how your back pain improves I thought I would create a blog to help with what I have learned in this arena.  If you are suffering from back pain it is quite possible that a new mattress could go a long ways to improving your life.  If you don't get the required sleep you are going to have a worse quality of life.  In addition, not having the proper support for your back will make this a double whammy.

I hope you enjoy what I have to say on all things mattress and back related.