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Memory Foam Mattress Causing Back Pain: 6 Common Reasons

Back pain is a common symptom experienced by people of any age. One of the main reasons is due to incorrect sleeping position. So, the bed plays a vital role. Is a memory foam mattress causing back pain?

The short answer is yes. If the mattress is too firm, too soft, or too thin, it might cause back pain. You should replace this mattress when it’s not suitable.

This article will give you an in-depth explanation of how your mattresses affect your sleep. We also recommend some tips to address the problem. Let’s check this article for more details!

What Are The Reasons To Cause Back Pain?

If you want to heal your back, you must tackle the source of the problem, which is the mattress. Once you understand how it affects your back, you’ll be able to choose which answer will assist you in improving your problem.

So, let’s look at the most common reasons why the memory foam mattress might cause back discomfort.

Excess Softness

You must be so proud to buy the most fantastic mattress that makes you feel like sleeping on the cloud. Yet, it may be overly fluffy, and you can wake up in misery.

An extremely soft mattress, for example, will not be capable of supporting your back in a neutral posture. Conversely, it enables the heavier parts of your body to sink deeper.

This issue will result in unhealthy curves in your back, pressure on some parts, and pains.

Excess Firmness

You will suffer from a headache if the mattress is too firm. It can’t keep your spine in its normal curvature unless you lie on your belly, which isn’t the ideal sleeping posture.

A firm mattress will simply press the heavier parts of your body into the bottom rather than supporting them softly, resulting in misalignment.

New Mattresses Feeling

If you’re new to sleeping on a foam mattress, you may experience back pain. As a result, most memory foam mattresses take some time to settle.

The material relaxes and adjusts to your body shape throughout this period to provide a perfect balance of cushioning and support.

Read more: How To Make Memory Foam Mattress Expand Faster

Old Mattresses

When the age of your foam mattress last too long, these mattresses start losing their supporting capabilities, developing body indentations, sinking, and lumpiness. Whatever the situation may be, an old bed is painfully uncomfortable.

In addition, the mattress can’t provide the necessary spine assistance in this case. It may lead to an awkward, harmful sleeping posture as well as pain.

Read more: Is It Illegal To Sell A Used Mattress

Wrong Foundation

If your mattress’s foundation slats are too wide apart, it may not provide adequate assistance. The cushion may easily find its way through the spaces between the slats. As a result, you can’t sleep with even support and proper spinal alignment.

Cheap Models

Low-density foams often come with low-cost mattresses. It may not always work as desired in terms of support. These mattresses also form droops and bumps far more rapidly than their more pricey counterparts.

Furthermore, most of them have low-cost, hazardous foams. Hence, an inexpensive mattress will never be safe.

How To Make Your Memory Foam Mattress More Comfortable?

Don’t worry if your memory foam mattress causes you discomfort. There are various things you may apply to improve your mood and sleep.

Adjust The Thickness

If you lie on an exceptionally soft mattress, try toughening it and seeing how your back feels. Applying a firm mattress topper is an excellent way to go. To change the comfort of your cushion, you can choose latex or high-density foam.

To give the mattresses more support, lay a piece of plywood below them. You may also try flipping the cushion if it is moveable. Because it didn’t undergo much pressure, the other side is likely to be stronger.

The most straightforward method is to use a mattress topper. There are some popular toppers material such as soft latex, wool, down, and plush foams.

Adjust Your Sleeping Position

A mattress can be too hard or too soft just while you’re in a specific sleeping position. For example, if you rest on your side and feel that the bed is too stiff, try sleeping on your back.

If you like sleeping on your back or stomach but find yourself sinking too much because the cushion is too soft, consider sleeping on your side.

Notice how your body reacts, and your back feels the following day after changing the sleeping position. Perhaps you don’t even need to change the cushion.

Change A New Mattress

Getting a new cushion is the most straightforward answer, particularly if yours is unsupportive, too old, and sagging.

Suppose you prefer a different touch or a fresh model appropriate for your body weight shape and that meets your comfort needs. In that case, you may discover many great alternatives to non-memory mattresses.

Read more: Best Mattress Without Fiberglass

Wait For The Mattress To Break In

If your memory foam mattress is new, it will most likely need to be settled. Walking or rolling on the cushion for a while every day might help accelerate the process.

Increasing the temperature on the thermostat may also be helpful. In general, you need to wait before replacing your cushion. Maybe it just needs to lighten up and adjust to fit your body weight.

Invest In A New Foundation

If the gap between the planks is larger than 3 inches, the foundation is most likely incompatible with your cushion. It will cause the cushion to lose supporting features.

You can try lying on the floor for several nights to see how it affects your back.

In most situations, sleeping on another surface will provide you with further assistance. You’ll find out that the problem was with the cushion foundation.

How To Choose Memory Foam Mattresses?

Replacing your current memory foam mattress with a new one is the simplest way to heal your back. Here are some criteria to consider for buying the best solution.

Sleeping Style

If you often suffer from back pain, you need to find proper cushion firmness for your sleeping style.

To assist their aching spines, back sleepers often require medium-firm mattresses. Mattresses with denser foams are better for stomach sleepers; meanwhile, most side sleepers like soft mattresses.

Read more: Linenspa Mattress Review

Foam Density

These mattresses are available in 3 density levels: low-density, medium-density, and high-density.

The most durable foam is a high-density cushion. On the other hand, medium density provides excellent motion insulation, making it a perfect choice for people who share a bed with another person.

It’s simple to break in the low-density memory foam. Your body may adapt to the low-density cushion more quickly.

When considering density levels, foam weight is a good guideline. Medium-density variant, for example, weighs 4 or 5 pounds per cubic foot. This figure for the high-density version is 10 pounds.

Thickness

The thickness of memory foam mattresses varies between 6 and 14 inches. Thicker mattresses are often soft, compared to thinner ones. However, choosing a thinner choice will not detract from the natural softness of the foam.

The foundation cushion’s primary support structure and subsequent level give additional suppleness. It’s also worth noting that applying a soft mattress topper to your cushion can assist in boosting its overall comfort and thickness.

Hypoallergenic Foam

Memory foam is antibacterial. These mattresses are more efficient than others in preventing dust and allergens. The most dust-resistant memory foam must be gel memory foam. Meanwhile, traditional high-density mattresses can help avoid sniffles.

On the other hand, latex foam is the only choice that is regarded as genuinely hypoallergenic.

Consider pairing a hypoallergenic mattress topper or hypoallergenic bedding with your cushion. This combination will protect you from allergies that keep you awake at night.

Size

Memory foam mattresses are a type of cushion that works for specific purposes. They do, however, come in all of the usual bed sizes, making them easy to fit with your bed frame.

You’ll discover the right memory foam mattress to match your needs, whether you have a space-saving small bed or a luxury king.

Foundation

The bed frame and foundation for your memory foam mattress are equally as vital as the mattress. Memory foam mattresses can go with foundations for a good night’s sleep. Then, you can adjust it to your preference.

Plain steel frames or modern-style beds in different finishes are available to match your decorating style. Slat beds can work as well, but only if the gap between the slats is about 3 to 6 inches.

Conclusion

A memory foam mattress may be bad for your back in various ways. Not all these mattresses, though, are terrible.

Many people have claimed that sleeping on a memory foam mattress has enabled them to sleep better and have less back discomfort. You should invest in a high-quality cushion to avoid back pain.

Hopefully, this article will help you tackle your problem. If you need any further information, please leave a comment below. We will reply as soon as possible!

Thank you for reading!

FAQs

Why memory foam mattress cause back pain?

A mattress with too soft or too firm a level can cause back pain for sleepers. Your back will droop and go out of alignment if your mattress is overly soft, which may be quite painful. Other sides, if you sleep on your side or back on a mattress that is excessively firm, your joints will be under too much strain.

What are the drawbacks of memory foam?

Memory foam mattresses are known for retaining heat, which can be uncomfortable for some sleepers who do not like sleeping on a hot mattress. In addition, for some people, who prefer a firmer resting surface, memory foam mattresses might be excessively soft. Poor spinal alignment and back discomfort may result from this.

Is memory foam good for side sleepers?

Yes, for side sleepers, memory foam mattresses might be a suitable option. The reason is memory foam can adjust to your body and provide support and pressure relief where you need it most.

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David Elkie

David Elkie

David Elkie is the CEO at Banner Mattress. He has been in the writing and editing business for the mattress, bedding accessories and décor industries for over 20 years.