Many of my clients
with low back pain blame their mattress.
Some have even bought a new mattress at great expense only to discover
that their back pain persists.
First of all,
back pain can be caused and maintained by many daily activities. Many people associate their back pain with
their mattress because they usually are aware of their symptoms when they get
up out of bed in the morning. This may
or may not be because of the mattress.
It could also be because they have been lying down for up to 8 hours and
their muscles and joints have stiffened.
So don’t go rushing out to buy a new mattress.
However, you may
need to consider a new mattress if yours:
1. is more than 8 years old
2. sags in the middle
3. is lumpy
4. creaks
(rather than the frame making the noise)
I am often asked
“What mattress should I buy?”
Choosing a
mattress is a very personal choice.
First of all, the
mattress size will depend on the space you have available in your bedroom and
on the size of the inhabitants. A
queen-size or king-size bed will give more room to sprawl.
Then you have to
choose between pocket sprung or foam.
Again, this is down to personal preference.
Pocket sprung
provide support through coil springs.
The thicker the coils and the number of coils determine the
support. But be aware, mattresses with thick
coils but a low coil count can become lumpy.
Foam moulds to
the shape of your body giving you complete support. However, some people find them too warm.
Some mattress makes claim that they are specifically good
for people with back pain. Remember that there are many different low
back pain symptoms and various causes for back pain so don't base your decision
on the claims. Find a mattress that is suitable for you, your body and
your symptoms.
There is no easy
answer to mattress choice. You need to do some research online and try them out
in the shop. Here are a couple of links which may guide you in the right
direction.
Better Sleep
Council http://bettersleep.org
Remember, if you
have a new mattress but you are still getting back pain, come and see us as it
may be something we can resolve with treatment.
