A bad back is something many of us are used to.
But it shouldn’t be that way.
That’s when a good mattress can come to the rescue. A proper bed can help you alleviate the back pain, keep your boy supported during sleep, and maintain a healthy alignment of the spine. And luckily, there are many mattresses like that to choose from. You can check out the selection of the top options based on the extensive research from Sleepingocean and pick the bed that could change your sleep (and improve your back health, potentially).
And while you browse through the best chiropractor-recommended mattresses, it’s important to understand how to choose something that would work for you and meet your specific requirements. So, keep on reading and find out how to shop for a new mattress smartly.
What Makes a Good Chiropractor-Approved Mattress?
Back pain affects almost everyone at some point in their lives. And oftentimes, changing a mattress can help you deal with that issue.
Source: https://spineteamtexas.com/blog/archive/back-pain-statistics-are-you-in-the-mix/
But what makes chiropractor-approved mattresses so special?
Well, a good mattress has to possess a set of specific characteristics, including the following ones:
- It has to be supportive. A mattress that offers proper support is able to prevent the heavier body parts from sinking in too deeply and can keep your spine aligned during the night (protecting it from strain and any unwanted stress). Now, don’t think that a supportive mattress should be as stiff as a brick. You can still enjoy that cloud-like feeling with a proper chiropractor-recommended mattress, but it will keep your body in a relatively straight line, with the spine, shoulders, and hips aligned properly. A supportive mattress should have a thick, reliable core. It should also use quality materials to avoid premature sagging.
- It should offer decent conforming. Close conforming means the mattress’s ability to mold to the shape of one’s body. In this case, the materials of the bed allow the protruding body parts to sink in while filling in the curves. It helps distribute the body weight evenly and minimizes the pressure points. When a mattress can offer decent conforming, it might aid pressure relief and has a chance of alleviating one’s back pain.
- It should be high-quality and durable. Mediocre-quality mattresses can lose their properties quite fast. They tend to develop sags and lumps and stop being as supportive, which can cause incorrect spinal alignment and increased back pain. That’s why a good mattress has to be durable. Chiropractor-recommended models typically use high-density foams, latex (which has a long lifespan), or thick coils.
How to Choose a Suitable Chiropractor-Approved Mattress
A simple recommendation isn’t enough, is it?
You also need to account for your personal preferences and a few important factors when searching for a new mattress suited for back pain. So, here’s what you might want to consider:
- Your sleeping position. The way you usually sleep should determine the mattress firmness that you choose. Back sleepers, for instance, are advised to choose medium mattresses, as they need minimal sinkage for the hips and sturdy support for the back. Also, keep in mind that back sleeping is often considered the healthiest position for back pain sufferers as it creates optimal conditions for proper spinal alignment. As for side sleepers, they are recommended to pick soft or soft-to-medium beds. Why? Because when lying on your side, you require a generous hug for the hips and shoulders. And stomach sleepers need extra support and don’t require sinkage, so they should choose firm mattresses.
- Your weight. The previous recommendations would apply the best to average-weight users. If you are a heavier individual (over 230 pounds), you probably need extra support and should choose a slightly firmer mattress for each sleeping position. Just like that, lightweight users (less than 130 pounds) are recommended to give their preference to softer mattresses.
- Mattress type. Among chiropractor-recommended mattresses, the most common types are memory foam, latex, and hybrid. You should remember that each of them has a unique feel, and choose accordingly. For instance, memory foam mattresses usually have little to no bounce. They are cradling and hugging, which many users appreciate. Memory foam mattresses offer good pressure relief and minimal motion transfer. Latex beds are bouncier, but still do a great job of ensuring great tension relief. Latex isn’t as cradling but can adapt to the sleeper’s body and aids proper weight distribution. As for hybrid mattresses, they offer a balanced combination of the materials, with bouncy support and gentle cradling (especially if the comfort layers are rather thick).
- Sleep trial. When dealing with back pain, not every bed could work for you, even if it was recommended by chiropractors. That is why a long sleep trial is so important. It allows users to test their new mattress for quite some time and see how it works for them. If the pain levels don’t change, the sleep trial allows shoppers to return the mattress for a full refund.
- Motion isolation (if you share your bed with a partner). Back pain often makes sleepers toss and turn when trying to find a comfy position. If you are worried that this might wake your partner up, you should get a good motion-isolating mattress. Memory foam does the best job in this case.
- Cooling (if you are a hot sleeper). Sleeping with back pain is uncomfortable enough, but when you also sweat all through the night, this can drive you crazy. If you want to avoid that, give your preference to latex or hybrid mattresses. And if you are a devoted fan of memory foam, at least try to pick a model that uses gel-infused or open-cell foam for the comfort layer.
- Edge support. Back pain can make it hard to get out of bed, so you might have to rely on your mattress’s edges (to press into them and help yourself get up). In this case, a good mattress should have reinforced edges. You can check hybrid models, many of which use an extra row of coils around the edges for more support. This might also come in handy if you and your partner need more sleeping space.
- Warranty. Typically, good mattresses come with at least a 10-year warranty. If a manufacturer offers even a longer period, that is a good indication that their mattress is made of quality materials. However, don’t forget to read the warranty conditions and what it covers before finalizing your purchase.
- Compatibility with adjustable bed frames. Sometimes, sleeping in a reclined position can really help you alleviate back pain. If you have an adjustable bed frame at home, your new mattress should be compatible with it. Memory foam and latex are usually suited for this kind of bed frames. And if you are considering a hybrid mattress, make sure it uses individually wrapped coils. It won’t hurt to reach out to customer service and inquire about the mattress’s compatibility with an adjustable frame, just to be on the safe side.
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