Best Mattress For Neck And Shoulder Pain

How We Put Together This Mattress List

While we have a great group of editors, testers, and production people, we do not have a full-time doctor or chiropractor on staff. Therefore, in order to feel at least somewhat comfortable putting this post out there, we sought the counsel of Dr. Ranvir Sahota of Synapse Chiropractic. We discussed in-depth some of the many causes of neck and shoulder pain as they relate to mattresses. We also went through an in-person demonstration and presentation about proper spinal alignment and health. We relied heavily on his professional opinion in order to assemble this list and add all of the necessary context. Even so, we do sincerely recommend you consult your physician and/or chiropractor before you purchase a new mattress or change anything in your daily routine. In addition to working closely with Dr. Sahota, we conducted our own tests and ultimately spent hundreds of hours researching, testing, and producing our list and this post. We take great pride in remaining above the fray and doing good work. Hopefully you learn something and finally find the mattress that you’ve been looking for.

What Are Some Of The Causes Of Neck And Shoulder Pain

Clearly, we’d be making a big mistake claiming that there’s one root cause of neck and shoulder pain. You could be experiencing pain for any number of reasons, including an irritated joint, pulled muscle, pinched nerve, strained ligament, or some other reason. All you know is that it doesn’t feel good and you need a mattress to help (or at least to not make things worse). As I’ve said for the third time now, please visit your doctor and/or chiropractor to learn more about what’s going on with your spine.

What To Consider With A New Mattress

In general, if you’re experiencing back or neck pain, it might be better to look for a more supportive mattress. Notice that I didn’t say firmer or softer. That’s not the same thing as support. You want a mattress that doesn’t sag too much and can easily support your weight. That said, you can get away with a slightly softer mattress if you’re worried about shoulder and neck pain. You will need it to be comfortable and give you a certain level of pressure relief. I should follow up by noting that firmness level is subjective based on your weight. If you’re lighter, the bed will feel firmer. Conversely, if you’re heavier, the bed will likely seem softer to you, although you may also find yourself sinking right through the comfort layers and feeling only the support layers of the mattress. This is why we present firmness on a spectrum—it’s not the same for everyone.

Tips For Back Sleepers

Back sleepers generally prefer firmer mattresses that make them feel like they’re sleeping on the mattress, not in it. That will also help to prevent your hips or shoulders from sinking too far into the mattress. That can stretch your muscles and throw your back out of alignment. Of course, this is a general statement. It really comes down to how you feel. Anywhere in that medium to firm range is a good idea for back sleepers.

Mattress For Stomach Sleepers Dealing With Pain

Similar to back sleepers, stomach sleeper will likely gravitate to firmer beds so that they don’t sink in too much. Having said that, sleeping on your stomach is not really advisable if you have neck issues. It’s really easy to get out of alignment on your stomach and your pillow is incredibly important, as well. Check out all of our pillow reviews. If you are a strict stomach sleeper and you simply cannot learn to sleep on your side or back, you’ll want a thinner pillow for sure. You really don’t want your neck overly angled upwards, as that can overstretch your ligaments and muscles and mess with your spine. One thing you will want to think about if you’re committed to exclusively sleeping on your stomach is sleeping flatter. The more you contort and twist your body, the more you could be pulling yourself out of alignment and making your situation worse.

Mattresses For Side Sleepers That Have Shoulder Pain

Side sleepers are definitely going to want to test out beds that offer more pressure relief. Since you’ll be putting a lot of pressure on your shoulders and hips, you’ll need the mattress to compress quite a bit. Firmness is up to you, but if you get too firm of a mattress you can make your existing shoulder pain worse. All mattresses will soften over time, but if you think there’s excess pressure on your shoulders, move on to the next bed.

Your Pillow Is Also Important For Neck Pain

I know we’re talking about mattresses here, but you can’t overlook how important your pillow is. After all, if you have neck pain, it’s probably as much to do with your pillow as your mattress. Knowing this, stomach sleepers should take special care to pick the right pillow. As I touched on earlier, you’re looking for a pillow with a thinner loft. You’ll know the right height when you feel it. Test a few pillows and don’t settle until you have the right one. Back sleepers will also want somewhat of a thin pillow so that you can maintain the natural “C” curvature of your neck. You almost want to be pointing your head directly upward. The pillow should not be pushing your head forwards, thereby stretching out your neck. You’ll likely end up with even more neck pain this way. Side sleepers should look for a pillow with a moderate loft that keeps their head aligned with their spine. A good way to think of it is to follow a path from your nose down your body. You should be drawing a straight line that follows your spine.