Dr. Barry Jarvis
If you regularly wake up with aches and stiffness in your back and hips, your mattress could be to blame. The wrong mattress that lacks support and cushioning can exacerbate pain and discomfort in these zones. The right mattress helps keep your spine aligned, absorbs pressure away from hips, and promotes restful sleep.
In this guide, we’ll highlight the top mattress picks for back and hip pain recommended by doctors and chiropractors. We’ll discuss how to select a mattress tailored to your body and sleep style based on pain symptoms. You’ll also find detailed reviews of the highest rated mattresses for reducing back and hip aches along with tips for waking up pain-free.
How the Right Mattress Can Relieve Back and Hip Discomfort
Choosing a supportive mattress is key for managing back and hip pain. Here’s how the right mattress makes a difference:
Proper Spinal Alignment – Keeps your spine, neck and hips aligned, avoiding painful twisting that strains muscles and joints.
Pressure Point Relief – Targeted cushioning of the shoulders, lower back, and hips via close contouring. This minimizes painful pressure buildup in these zones.
Soothing Comfort – Plush comfort materials allow tense areas like the back and hips to fully relax into the mattress rather than on top. This prevents stiffness and soreness.
Responsiveness – Beds that adapt to your body’s movements make changing positions easier so you avoid staying fixed in one spot and exacerbating pain.
Targeted Support – Lumbar reinforcement right where you need it prevents mid-back sagging and strain.
Finding a mattress tailored for spinal alignment and pressure relief can help manage chronic back and hip discomfort. Next, let’s review the top mattresses recommended for pain in these zones.
Top 5 Mattresses for Back & Hip Pain Recommended by Experts
Based on expert chiropractic recommendations, verified customer reviews, in-depth materials analysis, and extensive product research, these mattresses deliver the right blend of support and tailored pressure relief to best minimize back and hip pain:
1. Amerisleep AS2
With zoned support plus pressure relief, the AS2 is ideal for back and hip pain.
Reviews
With nearly 6,000 reviews and a 4.7/5 star average rating, this mattress is highly recommended by chiropractors. Customers mention it provides the perfect balance of conforming to the curves of the lower back while supporting proper spinal alignment in all sleeping positions. The pressure relief also helps hip pain.
Benefits
- Advanced memory foam adapts to the body’s natural contours
- Zoned support reinforces the center third to support the lower back
- Pressure-relieving foam cradles the shoulders, hips and back
Firmness
Medium Firm (5/10)
Cost
$$$
2. Helix Midnight Luxe
With zoned lumbar support and premium materials, the Helix Luxe targets back and hip tension.
Reviews
This luxe mattress has rave reviews for its tailored spinal reinforcement combined with conforming cushioning around the hips and shoulders. The dynamic foam comfort layer also helps keep the spine aligned in any sleep position. Many mention they wake up with significantly less pain and stiffness.
Benefits
- Cushioning foam comfort layers provide pressure relief
- Zoned lumbar support reinforces the lower back
- Breathable TENCEL cover regulates temperature
- Pocketed coils and high density foam base prevent mid-mattress sagging
Firmness
Medium Firm (6/10)
Cost
$$$$$
3. Nolah Signature 12
With multiple foam layers, this mattress cushions the areas that need it most.
Reviews
The Nolah Signature earns a 4.8-star average rating from verified buyers. They mention this mattress stands out for its cradling comfort around the hips and shoulders while keeping the entire spine supported properly thanks to its premium foam layers. It allows them to sleep without painful pressure points at tension areas.
Benefits
- Proprietary AirFoam delivers four times more pressure relief than memory foam
- Deep contouring around the hips and shoulders
- Responsive transitional layer reinforces the lower back
- High-density foam base prevents sagging
Firmness
Medium (5.5/10)
Cost
$$$
4. WinkBeds GravityLux
Offering zoned support, the GravityLux relieves back tension and cushions side sleeping.
Reviews
With its multilayer foam construction, this mattress garners over 4,700 five-star reviews for its excellent pressure point relief. Customers report waking with significantly less or no back pain thanks to the lumbar support and softer shoulder cushioning that absorbs tension where needed. The responsive foam also facilitates movement to find a comfortable position.
Benefits
- AirCell memory foam provides responsive contouring
- Shoulder relief zone with TriangulexTM technology eases side sleeping
- Reinforced lumbar support zone in 7 strategic areas
- Quantum edge coil unit for reinforced stability
Firmness
Medium (5.5-7/10)
Cost
$$$-$$$$
5. Bear Hybrid
Responsive support coils paired with conforming foam layers help ease back and hip discomfort in any sleep position.
Reviews
This universally comfortable hybrid has over 21,000 reviews and a 4.6/5 star rating. It performs well for all positions thanks to its balance of contouring foam and responsive springs. Customers mention their back and hip pain has significantly improved since they are properly supported without uncomfortable buildup of pressure.
Benefits
- Responsive memory foam adapts to the body’s curves
- Zoned pressure relief in the shoulder and hip areas
- Pocketed coil unit reinforces the spine
- Mattress stays cool to prevent heat buildup in painful areas
Firmness
Medium Firm (6.5/10)
Cost
$$-$$$
As you can see, there are excellent mattress options to meet the needs of those suffering from back and hip discomfort. Next, let’s go over how to choose a mattress tailored for your specific pain symptoms.
How to Choose the Best Mattress for Back & Hip Pain
Here are the most important criteria and features to keep in mind when mattress shopping to minimize back and hip pain:
Close Contouring Support
Conforming mattresses like those made with memory foam or latex help fill in the spaces in the lower back and cradle the hips. This prevents uncomfortable pressure points from forming.
Cushioning Comfort Layers
Plush foam near the top of the mattress absorbs weight in the shoulders, hips and sides to minimize pain in those frequently stiff zones.
Zoned Construction
Mattresses with strategic reinforcements in the center third help support the lumbar region properly so you don’t overarch which strains the back.
Strong Edge Support
Reinforced edges allow you to sleep comfortably across the entire mattress surface for better support. This becomes especially important as we age.
Increased Responsiveness
Beds that cushion yet quickly respond to shifts in position make moving easier when back and hip pain strikes. This facilitates changing positions to find relief.
Targeted Cooling
Advanced technologies like copper infusion paired with airflow components prevent heat and sweat buildup around painful areas.
Now that you know the most important criteria, let’s dive into the in-depth considerations you should evaluate when shopping for the ideal mattress to minimize back and hip discomfort.
In-Depth Mattress Buying Guide for Back & Hip Pain
Use this detailed buyer’s guide covering mattress construction and components to select the right model tailored to reducing your back and hip pain:
Types of Mattresses
Certain mattresses excel at pressure relief and healthy spinal alignment:
Memory Foam cushions the body to relieve tension around the hips and lower back. Contours closely to keep the spine aligned. Can sleep hot.
Latex offers responsive support. Contours to the body and instantly recovers. Natural or blended latex provides more pressure relief. Sleeps cooler than memory foam.
Hybrid combines responsive coils for support with conforming memory foam layers for pressure relief. Breathable and durable.
Adjustable Air fully customizable support. Can sculpt pressure relieving zones around the hips and lower back. Responsive. Expensive.
Mattress Firmness Scale
Finding the right firmness helps keep your spine aligned while cushioning tension areas:
- Soft (2-3/10) – Best for lightweight side sleepers. Too little support for back/hip pain.
- Medium Soft (4-5/10) – Decent pressure relief for side sleepers under 130 lbs.
- Medium (5-7/10) – Balances conforming and support for average weights.
- Medium Firm (6-8/10) – Excellent for back and stomach sleeping. Supportive but not rigid.
- Firm (7-9/10) – Heavier individuals need reinforced support. Can be too hard on the hips.
Mattress Height
Thicker mattresses prevent sinking in and provide the best support:
- 8-10” – Too thin to adequately support the spine long-term
- 10-12” – Just adequate for petite sleepers
- 12-14” – Ideal thickness for most average-sized adults
- 15”+ – Taller mattresses prevent compression over time for bigger bodies
Pressure Relief
Close contouring cushions areas prone to tension and soreness:
- Memory foam conforms tightly to distribute weight away from pressure points.
- Latex instantly recovers but still gently cradles joints. Natural latex offers superior pressure relief.
- Microcoils in the comfort layer adapt around the body’s shape for customized relief.
- Zoned cutouts strategically target the shoulder and hip zones.
Lumbar & Hip Support
Targeted reinforcement in the lower back/hip areas prevents painful sagging and twisting:
- Zoned coils made firmer in the center third for enhanced lumbar support
- Thicker foam in the middle cushions the lower back and absorbs hip weight
- Adjustable air beds allow customized firmness in the lumbar and hip areas
Responsiveness
Beds that adapt to your movements make it easier to shift positions and find relief:
- Latex offers the most responsive, bouncy support
- Hybrids combine conforming foam with an innerspring coil layer
- Innersprings provide a traditional springy, flexible feel
- Air beds can be adjusted instantly for maximum responsiveness
Cooling Components
Targeted temperature regulation prevents heat buildup that worsens pain:
- Gel/graphite/copper infused foams
- Innerspring coils promote airflow
- Moisture-wicking covers pull heat and sweat away
- Latex and hybrids sleep cooler than all-foam
Strong Edge Support
Reinforced perimeters allow you to sleep soundly near the edges and get in and out of bed easily. This prevents painful roll-off sensations.
Trial Period
Trying the mattress at home for at least 90 nights ensures adequate time to test pain relief and support.
Cost
Expect to invest $1200 to $2500+ for a mattress designed to specifically alleviate back and hip pain.
Customer Reviews
Read verified reviews and testimonials from real customers specifically mentioning back, hip or pressure point relief.
Carefully evaluate all the above criteria against your specific back and hip pain points and sleeping position to select the ideal mattress model that delivers both sound support and lasting pressure relief tailored to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mattresses for Back & Hip Pain
Still have some uncertainties? Here are answers to the most common questions about finding the right mattress for back and hip relief:
What mattress firmness level typically works best for back and hip pain?
Medium to medium firm mattresses offer the best blend of conforming to cushion sore spots while providing reinforced support right where you need it. Softer can lack spinal support while ultra firm may create new pressure points.
Which mattress type is ideal for back and hip pain?
Memory foam and latex consistently earn the highest ratings for tailored spinal alignment and pressure relief around the hips and lower back. Hybrids also perform very well for back and side sleepers.
When should you replace an old mattress if you have chronic back or hip pain?
Replace sagging, lumpy mattresses immediately, as this unevenness strains the back and hips. Mattresses degrade faster where you sleep most, so replace at 6 years even if the surface still looks flat. Rotating prolongs the mattress lifespan.
Can a new mattress potentially worsen back or hip pain?
Yes, typically if the new mattress lacks adequate support – either too plush so your spine hyperextends or too firm creating new pressure points. Allow 2-4 weeks to adjust to a new feel before deciding if it exacerbates pain.
Is memory foam, latex or hybrid better for back and hip pain?
It depends on your preferences. Memory foam contours closely, latex cradles yet responds quickly, and hybrids provide a balance of cushioned support. Focus on finding a tailored model in your preferred mattress type that delivers proven pressure and pain relief.
How long does it take to adjust to a new mattress with back/hip pain?
Allow at least 2-3 weeks for your body to fully adapt to a different support feel, especially if you’re switching mattress types. Temporary increased soreness or stiffness is common as your muscles learn to relax into the new mattress shape.
Conclusion
As you have learned, a supportive mattress designed specifically to relieve pressure while keeping your spine properly aligned provides the best route to minimizing chronic back and hip pain. Carefully evaluate mattress construction and components like targeted lumbar reinforcement, pressure relieving foams, strong edge support, and cooling properties against your specific needs. With expert guidance, you can be confident you will choose a mattress that helps you wake up rested and pain-free.
Originally posted on September 19, 2023 @ 5:51 am
Author
Dr. Barry Jarvis
Dr. Barry Jarvis is a renowned sleep specialist, dedicating their illustrious career to the intricate world of sleep medicine. Holding a medical degree from a prestigious institution, Dr. Jarvis has cultivated a deep understanding of the complex mechanisms that govern sleep and its pivotal role in overall health and well-being. With a compassionate approach and a meticulous eye for detail, Dr. Jarvis has helped countless individuals reclaim restful nights and vibrant days. Beyond their clinical expertise, they have contributed to groundbreaking research in sleep medicine, unraveling the mysteries of sleep disorders and pioneering innovative treatments that stand at the forefront of the field.
