British backs are in crisis. Almost a million people in the UK are too sick to work because of back and neck problems, according to official figures, while charity Versus Arthritis says 5.8 million experience severe back pain each year. The causes of back problems are complex, and treatments often fail to bring relief, especially where the pain is chronic and debilitating.
Long-term back pain is unlikely to be cured by upgrading your mattress, and a doctor or physiotherapist should be your first port of call if pain is affecting your quality of life. But studies suggest that switching to the best mattress for your body type and sleeping position can genuinely help. In years of testing mattresses, I’ve often suffered temporary backache after sleeping on a surface that doesn’t suit me, and switching to a more appropriate mattress has often brought real relief.
Firmer doesn’t always mean better, and the term “orthopaedic mattress” is little more than marketing spin. “The term was made up by mattress manufacturers,” says Hannah Shore, head of sleep science at Mattress Online. “It was made to sound medical, because at the time, doctors were telling people a firm mattress was best for a bad back. More recent research has proved this to be wrong.” The Lancet reported in 2003 that medium-firm mattresses had better outcomes for patients experiencing back pain.
The key to keeping your back healthy is “spinal neutrality” – your spine relaxes in a straight-ish line when lying on a mattress that’s neither too firm nor too soft. “If your spine isn’t aligned when you sleep, you’re engaging muscles at a time when they should be relaxing and recovering,” says Shore. Over a prolonged period, this can turn into serious back pain that affects you during the day.
To achieve spinal neutrality, choose a mattress that’s neither too firm nor too soft for you. Bed firmness isn’t one-size-fits-all; find one with the ideal balance of cushioning and support for your body size and sleeping position. Osteopath Ian Greaves advises: “Medium-firm mattresses consistently come out on top in research into back pain. Comfort matters as much as support, and medium-firm beds strike a better balance than firm or soft types.”
