Your quality of sleep has been proven to affect just about every aspect of your life in some way - your mood, your appetite, your relationships, your performance… So it’s a no-brainer that you need to invest in a high-quality mattress to reap the rewards.
While you can have the comfiest bed in the world, if you suffer from back pain - like over 80% of Kiwis at some point in their lives - a good night’s sleep is easier said than done.
Setting yourself up for sleep success starts with a strong foundation - finding the right mattress. So, what’s the relationship between your mattress and back pain?
Which The Best Mattress for Back Pain
The wrong mattress can make things worse
We spend (hopefully) around 8 hours a night sleeping. This works out to be about a third of our lives. Would you walk around for 8 hours a day with a bent back and a crick in your neck? Chances are, probably not - so to spend such a significant portion of your life in an uncomfortable position is going to take its toll.
If your mattress is too soft, your joints will sink in at different depths across your body. This will throw your body out of alignment and may aggravate any existing back pain you’re experiencing.
While a firm mattress used to be doctor’s orders when it came to back pain, we’ve since come to learn that too firm of a sleeping surface will only support your shoulders and hips; the uneven distribution of pressure will cause your body to try and compensate for the lack of spinal support.
Just like Goldilocks, finding a mattress that’s just right usually involves something in the middle.
Features to look for in a new mattress
So, we know what kind of mattresses you don’t want as a back pain sufferer - what kinds of things should you be looking for?
Ideally, the perfect mattress will contour to the shape of your body, to keep your spine in its natural alignment. It should be soft and comfortable enough to sleep on, while supportive enough that your body doesn’t have to try and compensate.
It should feature a system that allows the mattress to adjust to your individual needs - and comfortable for your partner too, if they don’t suffer from the same pain.
Brownies recommends Backsense
From our extensive range of mattresses at Brownies, we recommend beds in the Backsense range for those suffering from back pain.
Given the tick of approval from New Zealand Chiropractor Stuart Craig, each bed in the Backsense range features an exclusive independent coil design. Rather than a traditional spring mattress, these springs move independently of each other, meaning they can contour and give support to your body where it’s needed most. This also reduces motion transfer, so you and your partner can adjust as you need to without disturbing each other.
Models like the Windsor Backcare and Imperial Pillow Top provide extra lumbar support, while the Windsor Latex model is great for allergies. We’ve also got varying firmnesses available, so if you prefer a more firm mattress you don’t have to compromise on support.
Buying a new mattress is an investment in many ways, and so at Brownies we ensure that your new bed will stand the test of time. Antibacterial materials, air circulation, luxurious wool-blend pillow tops for comfort and two-sided mattress options are just some of the other features incorporated in our Backsense range to protect your investment.
Living free of persistent back pain doesn’t have to be just a dream - shop our Backsense range online and find a mattress that will give your back the support it needs. Want more information on selecting a mattress? Read our guide on finding the right bed here.
We also welcome you to visit us in-store and chat to one of our sleep experts to find the right mattress for you - with the added bonus of trying it out for yourself.
