Bed For Back Pain
Contents
Which type of bed is good for back pain?
Memory foam or latex foam mattresses are best for back pain aid. These help in proper spinal alignment, blood circulation, and pain relief by evenly dispersing the body’s weight.
Is a harder bed better for your back?
You have pre-existing conditions – In the doctor’s office, the answer to the question, “Is a firm mattress better for your back” used to always be yes. Doctors used to recommend that patients with chronic pain sleep on a firmer mattress. However, studies have shown that people with low back pain who slept on hard beds had the poorest sleep quality.
Is foam bed good for back pain?
Are memory foam mattresses good for back pain? – Yes, memory foam mattresses are the best for relieving back pain. They conform to your body providing pressure-point relief, reducing aches. Memory foam’s body-conforming feature is the best in all mattress types,
Why is my back pain worse in bed?
What causes back pain? – The main cause of back pain in bed is poor posture, either from how a person sits at work or how they sleep at night. Between the vertebrae in the spine are intervertebral discs, which rehydrate at night (this is why we are taller in the morning, and part of the reason that the elderly lose height as they get older).
Poor posture can prevent the discs from rehydrating. Read more: The NHS Guide To Back Pain Attached to the vertebra are smaller muscle groups such as the erector spinae, and large muscles such as the trapezius. Poor posture can put the muscles into awkward positions that can cause irritation over a prolonged period of time, resulting in aches or pains.
Lower and middle back pain tend to be the common culprits when sleeping. While there are several causes of back pain, a small number of which can be more serious underlying health issues. NHS Live Well gives us a list of common indicators of poor posture:
Slouching in a chair Sticking your bottom out when standing (this could be a sign of hyperlordosis, an accented curve in the lower spine) Standing with a flat back Leaning on one leg Hunched back and ‘text neck’ when focusing too much on your phone Poking your chin out when at a computer Rounded shoulders (a sign your back needs strengthening) Cradling your phone in between your head and shoulder
These points are developed with images and solutions on this helpful NHS web page,
Is sleeping on floor good for back?
It May Increase Back Pain – While some people with back pain find it beneficial to sleep on the floor, others may find it increases their back pain. Without adequate cushioning around pressure points like your hips and shoulders, sleeping on the floor can cause stiffness and discomfort,
Can a too firm bed cause back pain?
Beware of “Orthopaedic” labelled products – It’s understandable to assume that the best mattress for back pain is the one with a generic “orthopaedic” stamp attached to it. However, this is a substantial myth. The truth is that there exists no industry standard requirement, regulation, or any specific test for a mattress to pass in order to be labelled as “orthopaedic”.
- It is true that reputable orthopaedic mattresses have indeed been designed with the goal of supporting the joints and spine to relieve pain in mind.
- However, unreputable mattress brands have taken advantage of this term purely for marketing ploys; this results in a higher price tag without any genuine benefit for the sleeper in return.
Rather, it is a far better sign of quality of a mattress to be recommended by an independent party such as an osteopath, instead of it being touted as “orthopaedic” by the manufacturer. However, a truly orthopaedic mattress has no guarantee that it will necessarily be a good fit for your body type.
How should I sleep at night with back pain?
How to Sleep with Lower Back Pain |Sleep Foundation The lower back features an interwoven series of structures National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) NINDS aims to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.
- It includes the five vertebrae of the lumbar spine, each of which is bolstered by shock-absorbing discs and held in place by ligaments.
- Surrounding muscles offer support and are connected to the spine by tendons.
- Nerves run through the spinal column to deliver signals throughout the body.
- The lower back supports most of the body’s weight Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends.
and is integral to all kinds of movements. Whether standing, sitting, walking, or lying down, the lower back plays a role in mobility and comfort. Given the complexity of the lower back and how much we depend on it, it comes as no surprise that it is a leading hotspot for pain.
- Eight out of 10 people Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends.
- Have back pain at some point during their life, and lower back pain is one of the top reasons why people see a doctor.
- Back pain can range from mild to severe, and it may be short-lived or long-lasting.
When serious, it can be debilitating and interfere with nearly all aspects of daily life, including sleep. Pain and sleep have a complex relationship. Pain can disrupt sleep, and poor sleep can make it more likely that a person will experience pain. In addition, a sleeping position or mattress that doesn’t support the lumbar spine can induce or exacerbate,
- Acute lower back pain is short-term, lasting for just a few days up to a few weeks. It is often connected to an identifiable event or injury. When acute back pain fades, there is no ongoing effect on mobility.
- Chronic lower back pain Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. goes on for three months or longer. In many cases, it occurs without a clear link to an initial injury.
Lower back pain that starts as acute may become chronic. It is estimated that around 20% of cases of acute low back pain persist and become chronic. Researchers have long seen an association between lower back pain and sleeping problems, and growing evidence points a two-way relationship National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
In which they can be mutually reinforcing. Discomfort from pain can be a major barrier to sleep. Lower back pain makes it hard to get comfortable enough to fall asleep or may provoke nighttime awakenings when pain surges. At the same time, people with sleep problems are more likely to start having pain or to have pain get worse National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
Experts aren’t certain why this happens, but there are several potential explanations. Sleep deprivation may impair healing, affect mood in a way that heightens pain sensitivity, or disrupt chemicals in the brain that are involved in how we experience pain. Another link between sleep and lower back pain is tied to how sleeping position affects spinal alignment. Although posture is typically associated with sitting and standing, it’s also critical when lying down. A sleeping position that involves twisting, contorting, or otherwise putting pressure on the lumbar spine can cause pain and stiffness.
This pain is often worse in the morning but may persist throughout the day. The best sleeping position for lower back pain is on your side with a partial bend in the knees FamilyDoctor.org Familydoctor.org is the public-oriented website created by the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) that features physician-reviewed patient education materials.
Keeping the knees bent helps balance the body and reduces pressure on the lumbar spine. Many people find it helpful to put a small pillow between their knees to make this position more comfortable. Unfortunately, many back and stomach sleepers have a hard time changing their sleeping position.
- Back sleepers can put a pillow under their knees, legs, and/or lower back to support the natural curve of the spine and minimize lumbar pressure.
- Stomach sleepers should opt for only a thin pillow under their head and place a more supportive pillow under their hips and abdomen. This works to prevent the lower back from sinking into a U-shape that pulls the spine out of alignment.
Some people with back pain use an adjustable bed that makes it easy to raise the upper or lower part of the mattress in a way that decreases tension in the lower back. Because it is a principal means of supporting the body during sleep, can play an important role in preventing or reducing lower back pain.
Proper spinal alignment demands a mattress that is in good condition and doesn’t sag excessively. Research supports using a medium-firm mattress National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
to combat lower back pain National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information., although the most appropriate firmness can vary based on a person’s weight, body shape, sleeping position, and individual comfort preferences. Getting quality sleep is an important part of recovering from lower back pain, but sleeping well may seem like a tall task when your back hurts. While there’s no guaranteed way to get better sleep, certain practical tips can help:
- Find a supportive sleeping position. Ideally, you can, but regardless of the position, make sure your spine is well-aligned. If needed, use extra pillows for body support.
- Be careful with alcohol and caffeine. Though alcohol may help you doze off, it can throw off the quality of your sleep. As a stimulant, caffeine can make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
- Try relaxation methods. Finding techniques to wind down can put you in the right state of mind for sleep with less focus on pain.
- Reduce potential sleep disruptions. If you inadvertently wake up at night, pain may make it harder to get back to sleep. For that reason, try to eliminate excess noise and light from your bedroom or block them out with a sleep mask or earplugs. Set your bedroom to a temperature that will be comfortable throughout the night.
Focusing on can improve your sleep habits so that you can sleep better both during and after episodes of lower back pain. Back pain is common and often recedes quickly, but it’s important to talk with a doctor if:
- The pain began with a specific injury
- Pain continues or worsens for more than a few days
- Pain is debilitating
- Pain radiates to the legs or other parts of the body
- You experience weakness or numbness in your lower body
- There are signs of infection like redness, warmth, swelling, or fever
- You have a personal history of cancer
- You have other unexplained health changes like weight loss or urinary problems
A doctor can review your symptoms and determine the appropriate next steps for testing, diagnosis, and treatment.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2020, April 27). Low back pain fact sheet. NINDS., Retrieved September 20, 2020, from
- A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. (2018, March 20). Low back pain – acute.
- MedlinePlus: National Library of Medicine (US). (2016, October 21). Back Pain.
- A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. (2019 May 13). Low back pain – chronic.
- Marty, M., Rozenberg, S., Duplan, B., Thomas, P., Duquesnoy, B., Allaert, F., & Section Rachis de la Société Française de Rhumatologie (2008). Quality of sleep in patients with chronic low back pain: a case-control study. European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 17(6), 839–844.
- Finan, P.H., Goodin, B.R., & Smith, M.T. (2013). The association of sleep and pain: an update and a path forward. The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society, 14(12), 1539–1552.
- American Academy of Family Physicians. (2020, January 17). Low Back Pain.
- Jacobson, B.H., Boolani, A., Dunklee, G., Shepardson, A., & Acharya, H. (2010). Effect of prescribed sleep surfaces on back pain and sleep quality in patients diagnosed with low back and shoulder pain. Applied Ergonomics, 42(1), 91–97.
- Ancuelle, V., Zamudio, R., Mendiola, A., Guillen, D., Ortiz, P.J., Tello, T., & Vizcarra, D. (2015). Effects of an adapted mattress in musculoskeletal pain and sleep quality in institutionalized elders. Sleep science (Sao Paulo, Brazil), 8(3), 115–120.
: How to Sleep with Lower Back Pain |Sleep Foundation