4 Smart tactics when choosing a mattress for back pain

Mattress or mattress manufacturers do offer a series of choices that are so diverse, it becomes confusing. There are conventional foam and spring mattresses, combination, there is even a water bed. There are mattresses that are soft, medium, and hard. So, how do you choose the right mattress for you? Especially for those of you who experience back pain, of course choosing a mattress is not easy or trivial. Orthopedists often face questions about the choice of mattresses for back pain.

Now, to determine which mattress is best for back pain, see the complete guide below.

Smart tips for choosing a mattress for back pain

1. Your spine should be parallel

You may not realize it, but apart from the various restrictions and ways to deal with back pain, good posture is very important. The muscles and ligaments (the tissue that holds the joints) in your back need to be relaxed so that you can fully recover when you wake up.

Therefore, your spine should be parallel. If your mattress is too stiff or too soft, your spine will not be properly supported while you sleep. Especially in the neck and lower back that are most affected.

The study found that when study participants slept on mattresses that made the curvature of the spine and body weight distribution ideal, the levels of sleep were improved. They also don't take too long to rest and wake up refreshed.

Since everyone's weight is different, you should try the mattress yourself before you buy it. You don't need to buy a mattress for the hardest, stiffest back pain. If even with a softer mattress your spine remains straight and doesn't bend, you can choose that mattress.

2. Choose whichmedium-firmif you're confused

In one study involving more than 300 people with chronic low back pain, study participants were asked to use a mattressmedium-firm (moderate loudness) or firm (hard) for 90 days.

As a result, even more people who use hard mattresses complain of discomfort. In contrast, only a few people using mattresses that were not too firm reported any specific complaints.

Another study from experts at Oklahoma State University tested 59 people with mattresses who were already five years old. The old mattress is then replaced with a new mattress that is medium hard (medium-firm). After nearly a month of sleeping on the new mattresses, study participants reported sleeping more comfortably and experiencing less back pain.

In conclusion, a mattress for back pain should be firm enough, but it shouldn't be so hard that you feel like you can't sleep. Choose a moderate one, but enough to support your body weight evenly.

3. Also pay attention to sleeping position and pillow type

Even if you already have the right mattress for back pain, that doesn't mean you are 100 percent safe from the complaint. It's not just the type of mattress that determines whether back pain will recur.

Sleeping position also affects your condition. Likewise with the type of pillow you use and how you use it. Consult with your doctor which position is best for your health.

4. Don't be rushed when trying

Remember, a good mattress the first time you try it won't necessarily feel comfortable after you've slept all night or years afterward. Therefore, do not rush to buy a mattress just because the first time you try it, you feel comfortable.

You can ask and consult a shop clerk before buying a mattress for back pain right away. Usually shop employees already know what kind of mattress people with certain health conditions need.

If possible, choose a mattress that comes with a money back guarantee. Nowadays, more and more furniture companies or shops provide a 30 to 100 day guarantee. Apart from that, there are other ways you can apply it. If you sleep well and wake up painlessly after staying at a hotel or in a friend's room, write down the make and type (serial number) of the mattress.