The Best Twin Mattress for Back Pain
Chronic back pain is an issue that one can’t ignore, and while therapy and medicine go a long way in containing or solving the problem, a good mattress for back pain has to be a part of the equation as well. Sleeping in an incorrect position or not getting enough support when you’re sleeping will make recovery more difficult, which is why mattresses for back pain are a thing and a useful one at that. Today, we’re going to address the topic of mattresses that are good for back pain but, before looking into some of the best products, we have to talk about the problem further in-depth.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
| #1 |  Nectar
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| #2 |  Casper Original
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| #3 |  Bear
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| #4 |  DreamCloud
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| #5 |  Saatva Solaire
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Back Pain & Sleep
According to statistics, about 80 percent of adults are bound to suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives. For a lot of them, this is a condition that they’re going to have to learn to live with for the rest of their lives, so increasing one’s comfort to diminish the discomfort caused by this issue is of uttermost importance. Before you go on buying the very first mattress that you see advertised as being “the best” for back pain, you have to understand a little bit more about how back pain can affect your sleep (and vice-versa).
When you have a healthy spine, it will help protect the spinal cord, it will make tactile movement easier, and it will promote support and a correct posture for sitting in an upright position. People that have unhealthy spines will have their spines incapable of performing any of these three functions (maybe even all three of them at once). There are two common types of back pain:
- Acute back pain which is a temporary condition that typically lasts less than 12 weeks and is often the consequence of an accident or an injury.
- Chronic back pain will extend for more than three months and, while it can still be a consequence of an injury, it’s typically associated with other medical problems, such as scoliosis. Chronic back pain doesn’t go away even if the underlying cause has been treated.
Some of the conditions that lead to either acute or chronic back pain include:
- Muscle and ligament strain occur when there is too much strain put on these parts and it usually happens when you lift heavy objects. People with poor physical health are likelier to experience this strain.
- Bulging and ruptured discs are another cause of back pain. Intervertebral discs are located between the spinal column’s discs and they act as shock absorbers. When they are bulged or ruptured, they result in a lot of pain, especially when coming in contact with nerves. In turn, this leads to back pain.
- Arthritis also leads to back pain, but there are many different forms of this condition. Osteoarthritis leads to premature bone cartilage damage; gout is a result of joint inflammation in the feet, ankles, and knees; rheumatoid arthritis is felt in the synovium material; psoriatic arthritis is a consequence of the skin condition known as psoriasis and it’s also an inflammation of the joints.
- Osteoporosis is a condition that results from skeletal degeneration which results in brittle and porous bones. People who have osteoporosis will often end up having fractures in the spine, wrists, or hips. This can lead to terrible back pain.
- Skeletal irregularities can take many forms, including kyphosis, scoliosis, and lordosis. People who have such problems claim that sleeping on the back is the most comfortable position and switching to side sleeping is often required using support (such as pillows beneath the ribs, for instance).
Back Pain & Common Sleeping Positions
There are three main sleeping positions: on the side, on the back, or the stomach. Some people will spend most of the night sleeping in one of these positions, while combination sleepers will evenly rest in two or even three of these positions for an equal amount of time. If you suffer from back pain, choosing the right mattress for your sleeping position is imperative, so here is what you should know about each of these positions if you have back pain.
#1: Side sleeping
This is the most common sleeping position known to man and it comes with a series of benefits. If you are a side sleeper and you’re looking for a mattress that helps alleviate back pain, here are some of the things that you should keep in mind:
- You are less likely to experience heartburn if you’re sleeping on the side because this position relieves pressure on the heart.
- However, this position puts extra pressure on your lungs and stomach.
- People who suffer from scoliosis and hip pain should sleep on the side, as this minimizes pressure.
- Sleeping on the side might cause blood flow restrictions to the arms and shoulders.
#2: Back sleeping
For most people who suffer from back pain, sleeping on the back has gone a long way in helping reduce pain, but that’s not always the case. If you sleep on your back but don’t use a mattress that can promote proper spinal alignment, the pain won’t be reduced. Here are some other things to keep in mind if you prefer this sleeping position:
- People who suffer from acid reflux will benefit from sleeping on their backs.
- This position causes airflow restrictions, which could lead to problems such as snoring or sleep apnea.
- Sleeping on the back usually doesn’t require extra support given by pillows.
#3: Stomach sleeping
From a purely objective point of view, this is the worst and least recommended sleep position out of all the common ones. It’s a bad position to sleep in when you suffer from back pain because there is a lot of pressure put on your stomach since people will sink too deep in their mattress when sleeping on the stomach. If you simply can’t avoid sleeping on your stomach and you suffer from back pain, it’s best if you choose a firm mattress that will prevent your hips from sinking into the mattress.
- Stomach sleeping does help reduce sleep apnea and minimizes the chances of snoring.
- When you’re sleeping on your stomach, your head will inevitably be turned either left or right, which puts a lot of strain on your neck.
Best Twin Mattresses for Back Pain
Now that we all know a little bit more about back pain and sleep, it’s time to invest in a good mattress for back pain. The following models have been carefully selected and are recommended by sleeping experts that have tested the quality of the beds, as well as how the different materials work together to provide good levels of comfort and support.
Nectar
Specs:
- Available sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Mattress height: 11 inches
- Construction: different types of foam
Bargain buy
The Nectar mattress is the kind of product that’s popular in a variety of different categories, being one of the best budget-friendly foam mattresses on the market. It is designed with two comfort layers made from quilted gel memory foam and gel memory foam. The transitional layer is made from HD memory foam and comes with a support core made from HD foam as well, but of a different density than the layer resting on top of it. The cover is made from a combination of lyocell and cotton, leading to a breathable cover that can be removed and machine-washed.
It is an 11-inch mattress that performs well in chapters such as motion isolation, pressure relief, and noise, but tends to lack edge support and long-term durability. It has a medium-firm feel and an 11-inch profile. It is a top choice because it combines quality materials and a really good price, making it a pick worthy of people who want to stick to a limited mattress budget.
Pros:
- Excellent pressure relief.
- Great motion isolation.
- One year of sleep trial.
- Very good price.
Cons:
- Poor edge support.
- Not for hot sleepers.
Who Should Buy This?
The Nectar mattress can help alleviate back pain for people who sleep on their backs and the side. The two comfort layers on top of the bed make it work for people with sharp pressure points. In the end, it’s also an option worth considering by people who want to stick to a limited budget.
Casper Original
Specs:
- Available sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Mattress height: 11 inches
- Construction: different types of foam
Best for lightweight sleepers
A sleeper’s weight is a decisive factor when choosing a mattress because the weight of one’s body determines how much the body will sink into the surface of the mattress and how much support they will get in return. The Casper Original mattress is a good choice for lightweight sleepers that suffer from back pain. The mattress debuts with a cover made from a combination of lycra, rayon, upcycled cotton, recycled polyester, and regular polyester. Then, you have two comfort layers that combine 1.5 inches of standard polyfoam and two inches of memory foam with zoned support. The support layer is made from 7 inches of PCF high-density polyfoam, leading to a total height of 11 inches.
People who weigh 230 pounds or less have tested this mattress and claim that it offers a decent amount of spinal support without feeling any pressure build-up. The mattress comes with free shipping in select locations across the US and, if you’re not whether you want to keep this mattress or not, you have 100 nights of free sleep to test it out and see how your body adjusts to the feel of the mattress.
Pros:
- Great motion isolation.
- 10 year warranty.
- Minimal noise.
- Excellent pressure point relief.
- Good price.
Cons:
- Strong off-gassing.
- Poor edge support.
Who Should Buy This?
The Casper Original mattress is a worthy purchase for people who are on a budget and want an all-foam mattress with good pressure point relief. It’s designed for sleepers who weigh less than 230 pounds and love to feel that proper combination between support and contouring.
Bear
Specs:
- Available sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Mattress height: 10 inches
- Construction: different types of foam
Best for injury-induced back pain
The Bear mattress was originally designed to aid with athletic injury recovery because it sports a type of construction that is almost unique on the market. It all starts with the cover, which is made from Celliant performance fabric blended with polyester. Celliant will make use of your body heat to convert it to infrared energy which is then sent back to your body to aid with recovery by helping improve blood circulation. The comfort layer of this mattress is made from two inches of graphite memory foam with a graphite infusion. The transition layer also measures two inches and is made from polyfoam, while the support core is made from HD polyfoam and measures 6 inches.
This 10-inch mattress is pretty firm (having a rating of 7 on a scale from 1 to 10) and sleeps cooler compared to other mattresses that feature an all-foam construction. Despite using the Celliant technology to absorb body heat, the mattress doesn’t retain heat, which makes it a comfortable mattress from a temperature point of view. It comes with a 10-year warranty and 100 nights of free sleep trial, just like the Casper Original mattress.
Pros:
- Excellent motion isolation.
- Celliant technology for faster recovery.
- Sleeps rather cool.
- Great for physically active people.
- Alleviates acute back pain.
Cons:
- Very poor edge support.
Who Should Buy This?
If you are an athlete in aid of fast recovery or you have acute back pain induced by an accident or an injury, then you can surely benefit from what the Bear mattress has to offer. It’s also a good bed for value seekers, for people who like to sleep cool on an all-foam bed, or for couples that share a bed and want to benefit from good motion isolation.
DreamCloud
Specs:
- Available sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Mattress height: 14 inches
- Construction: hybrid bed with foam and pocketed springs
Best for heavyweight sleepers
When you have more than 230 pounds, it’s important to invest in a quality and firm mattress, especially if you suffer from back pain and could use all the extra support you could get. If we’ve looked at all-foam beds so far, the DreamCloud mattress is a hybrid bed that sports a combination of foam and pocketed coils for additional support. The 1.5-inch Euro-top of this mattress includes the comfort later, being made from one inch of polyfoam, 0.5 inches of 1.5-pound polyfoam, plus 1.5 inches of gel-infused memory foam. The transition layer is made from 2.5 inches of 1.8 PCF polyfoam, while the support core is made from 8 inches of pocketed coils. The base of the mattress lies in the additional 1.5 inches of conventional polyfoam.
The mattress measures 14 inches in height and has a medium-firm feel to it. Unlike the other foam mattresses we’ve looked at today, this one offers good edge support and temperature neutrality, but it’s also more durable compared to a bed that’s made entirely out of foam. It is also one of the most convenient hybrid mattresses on the market, price-wise.
Pros:
- One year of sleep trial.
- Great edge support.
- Very durable.
- Priced lower than the hybrid mattress market average.
Cons:
- Average motion isolation.
- Pocketed coils can be noisy.
Who Should Buy This?
This is a great mattress for heavyweight back and side sleepers that suffer from back pain because it has just the right firmness and pressure point relief for people who like to sleep on the side. If you suffer from chronic pain and you find it difficult to get in and out of bed, you need a mattress with good edge support, and the DreamCloud mattress performs well in this chapter.
Saatva Solaire
Specs:
- Available sizes: Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, Cal King, Split Cal King
- Mattress height: 13.5 inches
- Construction: air chambers, memory foam, Talalay latex
Best adjustable mattress
The Solaire by Saatva mattress is very different compared to the other products we’ve added to today’s list. First of all, it’s a more expensive mattress with the rather original construction. It’s an air mattress that uses the power of pressurized air chambers to allow you to adjust the firmness of the bed to the best of your comfort. The cover of this mattress is a quilted pillow top made with organic cotton and edged with gold damask to make it look luxurious. The comfort layer is made with Talalay latex for more temperature neutrality and a little bit of bounce.
Underneath it, you can find a layer of gel-infused memory foam that helps promote proper spinal alignment. The support layer of the mattress is designed with air chambers that measure 7.5 inches in height and have a baffle-box design that helps distribute the air inside the chambers evenly across the entire surface of the mattress. The mattress measures 13.5 inches in height and has a firmness that can be adjusted between 3 and 7, which is excellent in terms of flexibility, being able to address the sleeping needs of a lot of different people. Aside from being a very durable mattress, the Solaire thrives in a lot of different mattress features, such as edge support, temperature neutrality, pressure relief, and motion isolation.
Pros:
- Highly adjustable firmness.
- Premium durability.
- Excellent edge support.
- Great pressure point relief.
- Great temperature neutrality.
Cons:
- Pretty expensive.
Who Should Buy This?
The Solaire mattress has a highly-adjustable firmness level, which makes it suitable for a variety of different sleepers: those who like to sleep on their back or side (regardless of their weight), people who tend to sleep hot, and those who suffer from pain and need to adjust their firmness level accordingly to benefit from as much support as possible.
Bottom Line
Regardless of the underlying condition that has led to your back pain, investing in a proper bed is a crucial part of making sure that you recover properly, that you feel less pain when you wake up, and that you can get a proper night’s sleep despite the pain you’re feeling. But before you spend money on a mattress for back pain, it’s important to understand more about your body and the way you sleep, so that you can identify the mattresses that can help you sleep better.