We all know that things like our diet, exercise, and stress affect our health. But did you know that the quality of your mattress does too? A bad mattress can really take its toll on your body and can lead to a whole host of issues. If you’re struggling to get comfortable in bed and consistently don’t get a good night’s sleep, you have an increased risk of mood disorders, weight gain, and obesity. You’re even more likely to get sick, as it’s been proven that poor sleep quality can lower your immune system.
And, of course – old or unsuitable mattresses inevitably lead to back pain or worsen any existing back pain. Anyone who has experienced back pain knows that it can really reduce your quality of life. It can make everyday activities a struggle and lead to you missing out on some of life’s best bits. If you’re trying to tackle your back pain or want to avoid it altogether, investing in a good quality mattress should be step number one.
A mattress is a long-term commitment and an investment in your health, so there are a few things to consider before buying one.
Just like people, mattresses are not all made the same. It’s important to look into the physical aspects of the mattress like the depth, coils, and padding. Hard mattresses may worsen back pain as they can put pressure on your body’s pressure points while soft mattresses may not provide enough support.
You want to achieve the perfect balance between comfort and support, which can usually be found in a mattress with medium-hard firmness. It’s also good to find a mattress that suits your sleep position (Some are designed especially for people that sleep on their side – who would have thought?!). To help you choose, here is a list of some of the best mattresses for back pain on the market.
1. Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
Best for: Staying Cool in Hot Weather
Warranty: Forever
Free Trial: 365 Nights
Price: £314
The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress is a brilliant choice. It’s a medium-firm mattress, so is ideal for people with back issues. It minimises motion transfer (so your partner can’t wake you if they squirm in their sleep!) If you swelter in summer, you’ll love this one. It’s designed to have constant airflow drawing heat away from your body to keep you cool on those uncomfortably hot nights. Adaptive memory foam relieves pressure on your body’s pressure points, making it an excellent solution if you wake up with pain in your neck or back.
‘The mattress was easy to unpack and expanded quickly. I was a little amazed how much it expanded in a short period of time. It is very fluffy while still managing to give support. I like a soft bed, which the nectar most definitely is’ – Joy.
2. Simba Hybrid Mattress
Best for: Comfort
Warranty: 10 Years
Trial: 200 Nights
Price: £426.75
The Simba Hybrid Mattress won the Which? Best Buy award for mattresses in 2020 and is proud to have loads of positive feedback from customers who have suffered from back pain. It has a super-light comfort spring layer with a cone-shaped design that moulds to every point of the body to distribute your weight and relieve pressure from your neck and back. Meanwhile, the memory foam layer provides luxurious comfort. Simba are confident that this mattress is perfect for 95% of sleepers.
‘I have arthritis in my spine and muscle spasms in my lower back, since having the Simba mattress I sleep better and when I get up I’m more mobile than I was with my old mattress. I have less pain in my back and hip. There is no bounce in the mattress compared to a traditional spring one and it feels firm when you first lay on it but it then starts to contour to your shape and supports me in my sleep.’ – Steven
3. Emma Original Mattress
Best for: Supporting You in Every Position
Warranty: 10 Years
Trial: 200 Nights
Price: £299
The Emma Original Mattress boasts being the UK’s most awarded mattress, and for good reason. The creators of this mattress had back pain sufferers in mind, designing the mattress so that your spine is aligned and your shoulders and hips are supported. The high-quality foam distributes the pressure of your body weight so that you don’t wake up with aches and pains. It also means that you’ll feel comfortable in absolutely any position you sleep in.
‘Both my husband and I suffer with back problems and chose Emma because it was highly rated by Which and offered back support for people whichever way they slept (on side, back or front). Truly delighted with the comfort and have enjoyed great sleep quality…all the aches and pains have gone. Can highly recommend it.’ – Jackie
4. Eve Sleep Original Memory Foam Mattress
Best for: Softness
Warranty: 10 Years
Trial: 100 Nights
Price: £279
The Eve Sleep Original Memory Foam Mattress provides the best in memory foam technology. It has three unique layers, each one playing a role in making sure you get an excellent sleep and helping you to overcome back pain. The base layer has seven contour zones that mould the mattress to your body to relieve pressure on your back, neck, and hips. Meanwhile, the memory layer provides cloud-like softness, and the foam layer ensures your spine stays aligned all night.
‘After researching for a while I decided to try the eve mattress. Delivery and set up was really easy. We had the best nights sleep from day one! I regularly suffer with back pain, but since sleeping on the eve mattress my pain has eased up. Definitely recommend’ – Nadia
5. Silentnight 3 Zone Memory Foam Rolled Mattress
Best for: Anti-Allergy
Warranty: 3 years
Trial: 60 Nights
Price: £169
The Silent Silentnight 3 Zone Memory Foam Rolled Mattress pairs amazing support with a great price. This mattress is a perfect choice for side sleepers and is neither too firm nor too soft. It features a three zoned support system that relieves pressure from your body’s pressure points to help with back pain. A unique feature is its anti-allergy purotex fibers, which protects those that suffer from allergies by ensuring allergens aren’t trapped in your mattress’s fabric.
‘On this mattress, after only a single night. The complete lack of any soreness, pain or pressure. I had my first enjoyable uninterrupted painfree night for a long time. The benefits are obvious but the motivation of the energy and freedom from worry. Unparralled speed of recovery which continues all day. The foam supports all over the spinal cord and you sink into the total foamy support structure. Which helps the painful spots. ‘- Amazon Customer
6. Naturalex Extrafresh | Urban Living Extra Deep Memory Foam Mattress
Best for: Firmness
Warranty: 10 Years
Trial: 30 days
Price: £115
The Naturalex Extrafresh mattress is perfect for those who need a firm mattress. Multiple layers of open micro cells release any extra moisture, keeping the mattress well ventilated. This is beneficial to those with back pain, as any sudden temperature drops can cause back muscles to contract. Despite being firm, its layer of memory foam relieves pressure on your joints by distributing your weight across the mattress. It moulds to your shape as you sleep, providing comfort and support all night.
‘I suffer from chronic back problems with nerve pain from back to legs to feet. I suffered terribly with the mattress I had and was looking for a new and much better mattress. Since it came I’ve not woken up in complete agony or had to try and get off the bed through the night at times taking anywhere up to 15 mins to get out of bed. It is very comfortable and firm. Being a thick mattress with memory foam and gel layers with I believe no springs is a god send for my back / legs.’ – Jamie
7. Inofia Memory Foam Sprung Mattress
Best for: Couples
Warranty: 10 Years
Trial: 100 Nights
Price: £155.99
The Inofia Memory Foam Sprung Mattress has unique zoned coil support that adapts to provide the perfect level of support to each individual body. Therefore, this is a great option if you sleep with a partner who has different needs. Also, this mattress absorbs your movement so you can get in and out of bed as much as you like without waking each other up. Its Pocket Coil Technology offers excellent spinal support while delivering pressure relief and aiding in the reduction of back pain.
‘This has got to be the best mattress I have ever bought and experienced it’s sheer comfort and having used it for several weeks, months, it has noticeably made a difference to my back and joint pain. I read words like mine and often poopoo them as poppycock. But I’m converted. Great quality, well made and does what it says on the tin’. Sarah
