Best Mattress For Neck And Shoulder Pain

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.

The Best Type Of Mattress

Everyone is different, so there’s no single best mattress, but there are a few types of beds that we have more confidence in. In no particular order, here’s our list of the best types of mattresses for neck and shoulder pain:

• Pillow Top Mattress
• Hybrid/Coil Design
• Memory Foam
• Soft Foam (i.e. Poly Foam)
• Zoned Construction
• Latex Mattress
• Premium Air Bed

What If I Have Back And Neck Pain?

Back and neck pain together is a nasty. You need to get to the root of the cause before we can give any concrete advice. In general, however, there is a difference between your upper back and neck pain and other types. If you do have upper back and neck pain you’ll probably want to take aim at your pillow first. We’ve seen plenty of stomach sleepers using a pillow that’s too thick. The pillow, in this case, could make the upper back and neck pain worse. Again, everyone is different, so please contact your doctor to get their advice. If he/she says that you need a firm mattress, well then, go for a firm one.

Below is more information about different sleeping positions. Identifying your dominate sleep style will be helpful in alleviating your back, neck, and shoulder pain.

Mattresses For Side Sleepers With Neck And Back 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, 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—and it can also cause even more neck or back pain. All mattresses will soften over time, but if you think there’s excess pressure on your shoulder, move on to the next bed.

When it comes to neck and back pain specifically, it’s really important that you pay attention to your body. Feel the mattress out. If it’s not making you better, get rid of it and move on—that’s why we include so many beds with free returns.

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. Bottom line, back sleepers with neck and back pain need a supportive mattress.

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 to help make your back and neck pain better. 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.

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 back and 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.