Sometimes getting a good night’s sleep is tough. You toss and turn. You avoid coffee after a certain hour. You count sheep. But nothing works.
So, maybe it’s your mattress.
You may want to ask yourself how long you’ve been sleeping on the mattress you have now. If the answer eludes you, then let me suggest it’s been way too long. Your mattress might be at least part of the problem, if you have back or neck pain.
So, what’s the best mattress for your back? Let’s do a brief round up of suitable mattress properties to arrive at an answer.
Too hard?
Once upon a time, physicians thought an extra-firm mattress was best for people who suffered from back pain. But times change and so do opinions.
The recommended firmness is now “medium”. A medium hard mattress is your best bet if you’re trying to care for your back as you sleep. But it’s such a personal matter. Everyone has their own comfort level. I recommend “test driving” potential mattresses for comfort prior to buying a new one.
The commercial quest for sleep comfort
In the commercial quest for sleep comfort, the mattress market now offers a huge array of materials to help you sleep well. Materials like latex, memory foam and air mattress construction are helping people with back issues sleep more comfortably.
I’m a fan of memory foam. It conforms to your body as you shift sleeping positions, relieving pressure. It’s a little more expensive than the standard models, but memory foam is something of a miracle for those seeking a comfortable night’s sleep.
Sleep number mattresses are another great alternative. These allow you to adjust the flow of air to create the appropriate firmness, just for you. Sleep number mattresses are proven to reduce pressure on crucial points of the body, reducing soreness and stiffness when you get up in the morning.
The right pillow
While you’re mattress-shopping, you’ll want to add pillow-shopping to your economic activity. The right pillow can make an amazing difference to your neck and spine.
A cervical pillow offers purpose-built support for your head. This design maintains the head in a neutral position – not above or below the spine. It’s costly, but can contribute greatly to sleep comfort and spine health.
I’m sure some of you are going a little green about the money these changes will cost and wondering if it’s worth the scratch. But you spend a lot of time in bed.
Fully one-third of our time is devoted to sleeping. How you sleep has an enormous impact on all areas of your life and wellbeing. As a chiropractor, I think that’s worth ponying up for.
Find the right mattress, matching it with the right pillow. Then, wake up feeling fresh as a daisy and ready to take on the day with everything you’ve got.
You can’t really put a price tag on that, right?
Are you dealing with back pain? Book a consultation and we’ll talk about it.
