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How firm should your mattress be for back pain, side sleeping & more? Here, we’ll help you understand the mattress firmness scale and how to find what you need.
Pain Back Pain. Mattresses fit for handling back pain are those that keep the sleeper’s spine in optimal alignment but can still help with pressure points. In this case, the right firmness for someone with back pain would reflect their body weight and sleep position.
Lighter weight back sleepers may go as low as a 5 firmness, but should not go much softer. Heavier weight back sleepers may go as firm as an 8 firmness. Back sleepers need enough pressure relief to create a comfortable sleeping surface, but otherwise are looking for a highly supportive mattress.
For that reason, we usually recommend that back sleepers stick with a medium-firm mattress. Why is this firmness level so good for back sleepers? Well, it helps to lift their spines into a neutral alignment, thereby establishing sound support and comfort across the back.
The mattress firmness scale is rated from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. Most mattresses fall into the medium-firm range, which is a 6.5 on the scale. Soft. Most soft and plush mattresses are somewhere between 3/10 and 6/10 on the firmness scale, thanks to features like soft foams and cushioning pillow tops.
People with back pain need adequate support for both stomach sleepers and side sleepers. The best choice for back pain would be a medium to firm mattress, depending on their sleeping position. Check out our guide on the best mattresses for back pain. Hip Pain. Misalignment can lead to hip pain.
Choosing the right level of mattress firmness can help you sleep more comfortably, while picking the wrong firmness for your body and sleeping position can lead to pain and discomfort.