Mattress guidelines for sleep comfort

By: Richard A. Staehler, MD
August 29, 2003

Mattresses impact sleep quality

The right mattress can significantly contribute to having a good night’s sleep and waking up feeling rested and refreshed; and sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause sleeplessness, back pain, and overall aches and pains. For people with a back condition, sleep can aggravate the pain if the mattress isn’t a good fit.

Mattresses are a personal choice

When searching for the best mattress, perhaps the most important thing to remember is that mattresses are largely a matter of personal preference. There is no single type of mattress or bed that works well for all people, and there is no best mattress for back problems. Likewise, there is no single sleep position known to be best for all people. This is due to several factors:

• There are many causes of back problems, and different back conditions may respond better to specific types of beds, mattresses and sleep positions

• There is a high degree of personal preference for mattresses, and what works well for one person may not work well for another

• There is very limited scientific study published on mattresses and back pain, and findings from the studies that have been completed are inconclusive

• Overall, the causes of back pain can be quite complex, and it’s difficult to isolate whether or not a person’s mattress has played a significant role in improving the pain or making it worse.

The bottom line is that the type of mattress that is best for any particular person is really a matter of personal preference. That being said, there are a number of useful guidelines when selecting a mattress or bed - as well as suggestions for sleep positions - that are discussed in this article. These guidelines can be especially important to help people with back conditions sleep more comfortably.

Factors in addition to mattresses that affect sleep comfort

It is important to remember that the type of mattress one uses is not the only factor for patients with pain and sleep difficulty. Many other factors need to be considered that may affect sleep, including:

• Medication side effects

• Irregular sleep patterns

• Caffeine/alcohol/tobacco use

• Sleep apnea

• Anxiety/stress

If comfort is not the only thing making sleep difficult, it is advisable for the patient to consult his or her family physician to discuss other possible causes and treatments for sleeplessness. And if anyone experiences significant or persistent back pain, there may be an underlying back condition that has nothing to do with the mattress. It is always advisable for people with back pain to consult with a health care provider for a thorough exam, diagnosis and treatment program.

As a final reminder, sleep comfort is first and foremost a matter of personal preference. No one should expect that switching mattresses or beds will cure their lower back pain, and changes in the type of bed or mattress used should be made solely for the sake of comfort.