Sleeping Positions and the Right Mattress For People With Back Pain

Choosing a new mattress is an important decision, but if you suffer from back pain, it is even more important that you understand what mattress will best suit your condition. In this article I have tried to cover the main problems that affect the back and advice on the best sleeping position and the best mattress type:

Osteoarthritis - If you suffer from osteoarthritis you will probably find that it is more comfortable for you to sleep on your side with your knees pulled up towards your chest as if you were in the foetal position. The effect of raising your knees has the effect of opening up the joints of the spine and should help relieve some of the pressure from within. The best type of bed for this condition is an adjustable bed, as the head and legs can be raised giving a similar effect to sleeping in the foetal position.

Degenerative Disk Condition - Degenerative disk disease is a particularly difficult condition to live with. If you suffer from this condition you will probably find that sleeping on your stomach with a flat pillow positioned under your hips and stomach. This position should relieve some of the pressure on the disks, and a you'll find that a relatively firm mattress will give you the most comfort.

Hip Pain - If you suffer from hip pain, you'll probably find sleeping on your side more comfortable than anything else. If you get some comfort from sleeping this way, try putting a soft pillow between your knees as this will relieve a lot of the pressure from across the top of your hips and should improve you comfort levels. The best type of mattress for you is likely to be a medium to firm mattress, but with this condition it is very much down to personal preference.

Non-Specific Back Pain - If you have non-specific back pain or one of the many general forms of lower back pain, you might be one of the many people who would benefit from sleeping on your back with a pillow placed below slightly raised knees. It has been reported in numerous studies that this is a great way for many patients to achieve comfortable sleep after they have undergone spine surgery.

One final tip that has proved useful for a lot of individuals, is to sleep in a reclining chair or one of the many adjustable beds that are available nowadays. If you notice that your back pain is worse when standing upright but better when bent forward slightly, using an adjustable chair or bed will benefit you.