by The mattress you sleep on daily has a significant role in delivering sleep quality. If you tend to wake up frequently at night unrested or have sore muscles, your mattress might not be providing you with proper support (also check the top rated mattresses).
You must pick the right mattress firmness based on your preferred sleep position and body type. You need to get your muscles relaxed and get proper spinal alignment. In this scenario, you should consider two options: a soft mattress (check the best selling soft mattresses) or a firm mattress.
Which One to Go for – Soft or Firm Mattress? (Saatva offer the best compromise)
This combination mattress is suitable for personal preference.
Now, the fact that this mattress is suitable for all sleep positions and body types is because it comes with a medium-firm configuration. So, this mattress provides an optimal balance between support and comfort.
If you prefer to sleep on your side or your back, your body needs spinal alignment with pressure relief. And for that, you will need to sleep on a mattress that offers more comfort than support.
It’s because you don’t want your pressure points, including your hips, shoulders, and knees, to feel stressed when you get out of bed while sleeping on a firm surface.
But for proper spinal alignment, you need your mattress to offer more support, and it should be firm enough, so your hips don’t sag. Such sagging can cause spinal misalignment, resulting in lower back pain.
And that is exactly why this mattress is good for you if you prefer to sleep on your back or on your side or if you are a combination sleeper. It provides you with pressure relief and spinal alignment, and you can sleep in any position you want.
But it will not work well for you if you strictly prefer to sleep on your belly. Such sleep position requires a firmer mattress, or your hips will sag, resulting in spinal misalignment and ultimately lower back pain.
Similarly, a medium-firm mattress like Ghostbed Classic works well with most body types. This mattress is a fine choice if you weigh between 130 to 230 lbs. But if you are a heavyweight weighing more than 230 lbs, you will need a firmer mattress for adequate pressure refi and spinal alignment (also check 8 amazing mattresses for spinal stenosis).
Similarly, petite sleepers will find it too firm for their bodies, and it will result in lower back pain along with joint pain. But if they prefer to sleep strictly on their belly, then this mattress will work well for them.
Moreover, you can make this mattress more comfortable by adding some quality bedding accessories from GhostBed. These include quality bed frames (check the best selling sturdy bed frames for active couple), bed sheets, mattress toppers, mattress protectors, pillows, and pillowcases.
How to Choose Mattress Firmness?
Choosing the firmness configuration of your mattress depends entirely on your body type and sleep preferences. Mattress firmness comes in various varieties. Some mattresses are firm, while others are soft. You can find medium, medium-soft, and medium-firm mattresses.
The thing is, softer mattresses are great when it comes to pressure relief and comfort. On the other hand, firmer mattresses are suitable for spinal alignment and support.
Of course, the mix of these two is a medium feel, providing comfort and support for pressures and spinal alignment. Now, you can go for a medium-firm sense if you want more help than comfort and choose medium-soft if you prefer more comfort than support.
Your sleep position and body type will matter a lot in your decision. For example, if you prefer to sleep on your side, you will need more pressure relief for your shoulders, knees, and hips.
But if you prefer to sleep on your back or belly, you will need more spinal alignment. So, softer mattresses are suitable for side sleepers, and firmer mattresses are ideal for back and belly sleepers.
But if you are a combination sleeper, you will need a mix of both comfort and support, and that’s why you should consider going for a medium-firm or medium-soft mattress, depending on your body weight (check the top rated mattresses for combination sleeper).
Medium-firm and medium-soft mattresses are great for people who weigh between 130 to 230 lbs. They need a combo of both support and comfort, and these mattress firmnesses will provide them with both (also check the most comfortable mattresses).
Petite sleepers need a softer mattress because their body doesn’t push too much on the sleep surface. While heavyweight sleepers need firm mattresses because their body does put a lot of pressure on the sleep surface (check 10 amazing mattresses for overweight sleeper).
People who have to deal with lower back pain need more support in their mattress, but those who have joint pains should consider buying a softer mattress.
Is It Better to Sleep on a Firm or Soft Mattress for Back Pain?
As we have just mentioned, if you have back pain, you should consider sleeping on a firmer mattress because your body needs more support than comfort (also check 10 great mattresses for back pain).
Sleeping on a softer mattress will cause your hips to sag, and your spine will go out of alignment. This results in lower back pain as soon as you leave your bed.
Therefore, you need to sleep on a firmer surface for a restful night’s sleep. This is especially the case if you prefer to sleep on your back or your belly. A firm mattress would be an ideal choice for you.
But if you prefer to sleep on your side, then you can consider going for a medium-firm mattress because it will provide you with the much-needed support to keep your spine aligned and will provide you with pressure relief to keep your muscles relaxed.
What is the Best Firmness of a Mattress for Lower Back Pain?
The best firmness of a mattress for lower back pain is medium-firm. This configuration works well for most body types weighing 130 and 230 lbs, and it works for combination sleep positions.
But if you prefer to sleep on your side more, you will need a softer mattress for more pressure relief. And if you prefer to sleep on your back or belly, you will need a firmer mattress.
Similarly, if you weigh more than 230 lbs, you will need a firmer mattress for better support. And if you weigh under 130 lbs, you will need a softer mattress for better comfort.
Can a Firm Mattress Hurt Lower Back?
A firm mattress will only hurt your lower back if you are a combination sleeper and weigh between 130 and 230 lbs. Firm mattresses work well for heavyweight sleepers or those who prefer to strictly sleep on their backs or bellies.
Sleeping on a firm mattress if you are a side sleeper will cause more strain on your muscles, and you will get up with joint pain if you don’t develop lower back pain. But if you strictly sleep on your back or belly, a firm mattress will work well because these positions need more support and spinal alignment.
What is the Best Type of Mattress for Lower Back Issues?
The best type of mattress to deal with your lower back issues is a firm mattress. And this is especially the case if you prefer to sleep on your back or your stomach strictly (check 10 great mattresses for stomach sleepers).
If you are a heavyweight, you should consider going for a firmer mattress because your mattress will stay in shape and provide you with the optimal spinal alignment and support you need.
And if you weigh between 130 to 230 pounds, then you should consider going for a medium-firm mattress if you are a combination sleeper. While being a petite sleeper, you should consider going for a softer mattress to tackle your lower pain problems.
How Do I Know If My Mattress is Too Soft or Firm?
You will need a medium-firm mattress if you are a combo sleeper and weigh between 130 to 230 lbs. A softer mattress will work for you only if you are petite or prefer to sleep on your sides.
A firmer mattress will be a suitable choice if you are heavyweight or prefer to sleep on your back or your stomach. These are the rules that you need to follow.
If your mattress is too firm, you will need more pressure relief because your joints and muscles will start to ache. And if your mattress is too soft, you will need more spinal alignment, and your lower back will start to ache.
What Firmness is Best for Back Pain?
If you’re looking for a mattress specific to deal with your back pain, you should consider a medium-firm mattress. But that is only if you are a combo sleeper and weigh between 130 and 230 lbs.
If you prefer to sleep strictly on your sides or petite, you will need a softer mattress. On the other hand, you will need a firmer mattress if you’re a heavyweight or prefer to sleep on your back or stomach strictly.
Why Does My Lower Back Hurt When I Wake Up?
Your lower back hurts because your mattress is too soft for you to sleep on. A softer mattress causes your hips to sag, and your spinal becomes misaligned. This results in lower back pain.
If you are a side sleeper, you should consider a softer mattress. And if you prefer to sleep on your back or belly, then you should own a firmer mattress for proper support.
How Should I Sleep with Lower Back Pain?
There are a few options that you can try out here. If you lay on your side, you should be in the fetal position, and if you lay on your back, it should be a reclined position.
You should also lay with a pillow that supports your knees if you lay on your side. And when slaying on your belly, you should place a pillow under your lower abdomen and pelvis. If you prefer to sleep on your back (check 10 great pillows for back sleepers), have a pillow underneath your knees.
Is a Firm Mattress Good for Sciatica?
No, a firm mattress is not the right option for those who have sciatica (check the best selling mattress toppers for sciatica). You should consider using a medium-firm mattress as your body will get enough support and spinal alignment.
Softer mattresses won’t be supportive enough, and firmer mattresses will be too uncomfortable to sleep on. Therefore, the best option to consider here is a medium-firm mattress that provides you with both support and comfort.
Pros & Cons of a Firm Mattress
Pros
● Firm mattresses keep your body properly aligned the entire time you are in bed.
● They reduce stress on blood circulation and enable more oxygen intake during sleep.
● These mattresses tend to reduce stress levels significantly.
● Firm mattresses are way more durable and resilient than soft mattresses.
● These mattresses are more versatile as you can alter their firmness by using a plush mattress topper and boost your support with support pillows.
Cons
● Firm mattresses are not suitable for people who have muscle or joint pains.
● These mattresses tend to increase lower back pain for combo and side sleepers.
● You need to take some time to adjust yourself to these mattresses initially.
● They are not suitable for petite sleepers.
● You will need some pillows or mattress toppers to adjust yourself to these firmer mattresses in the beginning.
Pros & Cons of a Soft Mattress
Pros
● Soft mattresses assist in significantly relieving joint and muscle pains.
● These mattresses can help properly align your hips.
● Soft mattresses are much easier to move around.
● They can come in handy in relieving back pain with light support.
● These mattresses work well for light or petite sleepers.
Cons
● Soft mattresses don’t provide much spinal alignment and support.
● These mattresses can be pretty expensive.
● Soft mattresses are unsuitable for couples with different comfort levels and sleeper preferences.
● These mattresses are unsuitable for heavyweight sleepers as their bodies will put too much pressure on the sleep surface.
● They are not durable and begin to sag after a couple of years.
Key Takeaways: Decoding Mattress Firmness for Lower Back Pain Relief
Impact of Mattress Firmness on Sleep Quality
The firmness of the mattress you sleep on plays a pivotal role in determining the quality of your sleep. An incompatible mattress firmness can lead to unrestful nights, sore muscles, and improper spinal alignment which may aggravate lower back pain.
Soft vs Firm Mattress: A Dichotomy of Comfort and Support
While soft mattresses excel in providing pressure relief and comfort, firm mattresses stand out for their spinal alignment and support attributes. The dichotomy between soft and firm mattresses boils down to individual preferences based on sleep positions and body weight. For instance, side sleepers may find solace in the cushioning of soft mattresses, while back or stomach sleepers may benefit from the support of firm mattresses.
Medium-Firm: A Balancing Act for Back Pain Relief
A medium-firm mattress often strikes a balance between comfort and support, making it a viable option for alleviating lower back pain, especially for individuals weighing between 130 to 230 lbs. It caters to a range of sleep positions by ensuring a blend of pressure relief and spinal alignment.
Body Weight: A Significant Determinant of Mattress Firmness Choice
Your body weight significantly influences the choice of mattress firmness. Petite sleepers, weighing less than 130 lbs, may find soft mattresses more comforting, while heavyweight sleepers, weighing over 230 lbs, may require the support of a firm mattress to prevent excessive sinking and maintain spinal alignment.
Back Pain vs Joint Pain: A Firm or Soft Dilemma
Individuals with lower back pain might find relief on a firmer mattress as it provides the necessary support to maintain spinal alignment. Conversely, those with joint pains might benefit from the cushioning effect of a soft mattress, which can alleviate pressure points.
Adaptability with Mattress Toppers
The versatility of firm mattresses can be enhanced with the addition of plush mattress toppers, allowing for an adjustment in firmness level to cater to personal comfort preferences. This adaptability can be a boon for those seeking a balance between firmness and comfort.
Investing in Restful Sleep
Investing in a mattress that aligns with your sleeping preferences and body type is pivotal for achieving restful sleep and alleviating back pain. Whether you opt for a soft, firm, or medium-firm mattress, ensuring it provides the right blend of support and comfort is crucial for waking up refreshed and pain-free.
Our Recommendation:
Both soft and firm mattresses have their positives and negatives. A good night’s sleep entirely depends upon your personal sleep preference and your body type.
A medium-firm feel is ideal for most body types and sleep positions. But if you prefer to sleep on your back or stomach strictly, you will need more spinal alignment and support and a firmer mattress. Otherwise, a softer mattress is a good choice because this mattress works well for side sleepers and those who need pressure relief and comfort.
And for lower back pains, you need more support, so in action to your mattress, you will need suitable supportive pillows and mattress toppers (check the top rated mattress toppers for back pain) along with other bedding accessories according to your needs.