A memory foam mattress can cause you lower back pain as well as upper back pain due to several reasons such as your mattress is too soft or too firm, it sinks or sags more, it doesn’t provide adequate support, you placed the mattress on the wrong bed foundation or base, the mattress doesn’t give you good posture while sleeping, it can’t align your shoulder and neck perfectly with the pillow, it doesn’t adjust to your body weight and shape, your mattress is not compatible with all sleeping positions, etc. In this article, you can learn how is memory foam mattress causing back pain.

4 Ways A Memory Foam Mattress Causing Lower Back Pain

#Reason 1: Your Mattress Is Too Soft or Too Firm

If you are using a mattress, you know the common factor firmness. It determines how soft or hard the mattress is. Mainly, two common types of firmness are available on the market such as soft and firm. Some people like soft mattresses and some prefer firm mattresses. Sometimes, the firmness may be one of the major reasons for causing your lower back pain.

If you are using a too firm mattress, it does not sink enough and you feel discomfort and pain on the hips, back, spine, neck, and shoulder. On the other hand, if your mattress is too soft, it can’t hold your spine perfectly and aligned it in a wrong position which may cause your lower back pain.

Solution 1: Pick The Right Firmness of Your Mattress

So, you have to choose the right firmness while buying a new mattress. Here are some helpful tips for you to choose the perfect firmness of your mattress.

#Soft Mattress

Soft mattresses are perfect for side sleepers because it removes the pressure on the hips and shoulders while sleeping on the side. This is why a side sleeper can get more comfort and perfect support to the back & spine in the side sleeping position. The lightweight sleepers and slim sleepers can use the soft mattress for better pressure relief, ultimate comfort, and great back support. Do not use soft mattresses if you are a heavy sleeper like over 200 lbs. It may sink more and aligns your spine incorrectly and cause lower back pain.

#Medium Firm Mattress

The medium firm memory foam mattresses are suitable for almost all types of sleepers such as side, back, and stomach sleepers. It is perfectly fit for people in the 100-200 lbs. If you prefer to sleep on both side and back positions, the medium-firm mattresses are perfect for you. You can check the list of best gel medium-firm mattresses. Also, check the list of best medium-firm mattresses under $300.

#Firm Mattress

If you are a stomach sleeper, mix sleeper, or heavy sleeper over 200 lbs, the firm mattresses are perfect for you. It can give adequate support and perfectly aligns the spine of heavy sleepers over 200 lbs. For stomach sleepers, the firm mattress provides better support and does not create lower back pain. You can check some popular comfortable firm mattresses that are fit for heavy sleepers: Classic Brands Cool Gel 14 Mattress, Ssecretland 14 Inch Hybrid Mattress, Ashley Chime 12 Inch Hybrid Mattress, Lucid 12 Inch Hybrid Mattress, Linenspa 12 Inch Gel Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress, Sweetnight 12 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress,

Solution 2: Make Your Firm Mattress Soft

If you are using a firm memory foam mattress and it causes you lower back pain, you can make it soft by the following methods below.

#Use A Soft Mattress Topper

Place a soft and comfortable mattress topper on your existing memory foam mattress. It will make your firm mattress softer and gives you desire comfort and reduce your pressure along the hips, spine, back, and shoulders. There are a lot of kinds of mattress toppers are available on the market. From my personal research, I recommend you to choose the 3-4 inches memory foam toppers for better comfort and sleep. You can check the most popular top-rated comfortable toppers Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Topper and Linenspa Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper.

#Break In Your Mattress

If you are using a new memory foam mattress, it will soften up over time. You can make it softer by walking, lying, rolling, jumping, etc for 20-40 minutes on your mattress. Although this method will make your firm mattress softer, it may harm your mattress foam and internal materials. I recommend you to follow the topper method.

#Increase The Room Temperature

The memory foam material is temperature dependant. If you increase your bedroom temperature 25°C, it will soften your firm memory foam mattress. This is another way to convert your firm mattress softer.

Solution 3: Make Your Soft Mattress Firm

If you are using a soft memory foam mattress, you can make it firm by using the following simple methods below.

#Use A Firm Mattress Topper

You can make your soft mattress firmer by placing a firm topper on it. There are various types of firm toppers available on the market such as Dunlop latex or compact wool topper, etc.

#Change Your Bed Frame

If you are using a slatted bed frame, old bed frame that sags more, you can simply change it and use a new solid platform bed frame or base. You can also put your soft mattress on the floor to make it firm.

#Use Plywood

You can make your soft mattress firmer by using a piece of plywood below your mattress. It will make it firm instantly and prevent sinking temporarily.

#Cool The Bedroom Temperature

As like as increasing the temperature make your firm mattress soft, you can cool or decrease the room temperature to make your soft mattress firm. The memory foam is temperature-sensitive, so increasing or decreasing the bedroom temperature can change its property and firmness.

#Flip Your Mattress

If your mattress causing you back pain, you can simply flip it 180 degrees to reduce the chance of creating back pain. The top and bottom sides of the mattress are different firmness and you will feel comfortable when flipping and rotating it.

#Reason 2: Your Mattress Can’t Give Enough Support

Another reason for creating back pain is that your mattress can’t provide you adequate support to your back, spine, hip, and other joints of your body.

Solution: Choose The Mattress That Provides Perfect Support

Support is an essential part of all kinds of sleepers such as heavy sleepers, light sleepers, side & back sleepers, stomach sleepers, etc. The memory foam mattress that gives you a lack of support can cause lower back pain. You must choose a mattress for the right support. If you are a heavy sleeper like over 200 lbs, you must sleep on a mattress that has high-density base foam. It will give you the highest support and prevent sinking and safe your spine and back.

Most memory foam mattresses use multiple layers for different purposes such as top foam layers for comfort or feel, the base support foam layer for providing adequate support, etc. When you choose a new mattress that has high-density support foam, it will give you more support than others. If you feel your mattress sinks, you should change it quickly and get a good high-density supportive mattress. So, I recommend you choose a mattress that will give you enough support. You can check my researched list of top-rated highest supportive memory foam mattresses.

#Reason 3: Stomach Sleeping Can Cause You Lower Back Pain

Stomach sleeping is not good for your health and it may cause you lower back pain. If you are used to sleeping on the stomach, I suggest you avoid this sleeping position. When you sleep on the stomach, your memory foam mattress can’t hold your spine, back, and neck perfectly aligned and cause back pain.

Solution: Try To Sleep on The Side and Back

If you are suffering from lower back pain due to stomach sleeping, I recommend you to switch your sleeping position. You have to try sleeping on the side, back, and stomach frequently. It will reduce the chance of creating back pain.

FAQs

Is memory foam mattress causing neck pain?

If you are using a too-soft mattress, it will sink more and can’t hold your spine, back, and neck incorrectly and put extra pressure on these joints. It does not give you good posture while sleeping. That’s why it may cause your neck pain.

Does your memory foam mattress uncomfortable?

If your mattress is too firm, you may feel discomfort while sleeping on it. For side sleepers, the firm mattresses are uncomfortable and sometimes create body aches and joint pain.

What are the disadvantages of memory foam mattress?

The soft memory foam mattresses cause back pain, neck pain, and bad for the side & back sleepers. And, the firm memory foam mattresses can cause joint pain and feel uncomfortable while sleeping on the side. Few memory foam mattresses are hot and can’t pass airflow perfectly. You have to choose the get memory foam mattresses that are cool and comfortable.

Is memory foam mattress topper causing back pain?

Almost all memory foam toppers are soft and comfortable. The common topper thickness is 2″- 4″. If you place a thin memory foam topper on your too firm mattress, it may feel uncomfortable and cause lower back pain and other joint pain while sleeping on different sleeping positions. Furthermore, if you place the topper and bed on an old bed frame that sinks, it may cause you back pain. I recommend you use at least 3″ thick memory foam topper for ultimate comfort as well as great back support.

Is your new memory foam mattress causing back pain?

If you buy an extra firm or extra soft memory foam mattress, it may cause your body aches, joint pain, and back pain. The medium-firm memory foam mattresses are fit for all sleeping styles and provide optimum back support. Most people buy too soft memory foam mattresses for more comfort but it may cause them lower back pain after sleeping a few days on it. I recommend you use a medium-range memory foam mattress that has a thick supportive foam layer. Some people ask that memory foam mattress hurts my back; I think they should choose the correct mattress and maintain the right sleeping posture.

Is memory foam mattress bad for back pain?

If you are a back pain patient, you should use a firm memory foam mattress that has a support foam layer. The support layer will give you the ultimate support and hold your spine, back, and neck correctly aligned and prevent back pain. The extra soft memory foam mattress is bad for back pain and the extra firm memory foam mattress is also bad for back pain.

What are the memory foam mattress problems and solutions?

The memory foam mattress is highly comfortable than other types of mattresses in the market but it may cause few problems due to the wrong choice while buying it. Most people do wrong in the following points such as wrong firmness, lack of support, cool or hot foam. The medium to firm range memory foam mattresses are good for all sleeping styles. The high-density support foam mattresses are great for better back support. The gel foam mattresses are good for cool.

Conclusion

A memory foam mattress can provide you a dreamy sleep with required back support if you can choose the right mattress. After reading the article, I think you are now clear about memory foam mattress causing back pain. We have listed many top-rated memory foam mattresses and 10 best cool gel memory foam mattresses that are safe for health, relieve back pain, give optimal comfort, and hypoallergenic.

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