Top 5 Best Beds For Scoliosis
- Best Cheap Mattress :NectarStarting at $399 Shop Now
- Best Natural & Organic Mattress :Avocado Vegan MattressStarting at $899 Shop Now
- Chiropractor Endorsed :Casper Wave HybridStarting at $1795 Shop Now
- Best for Side Sleepers with Scoliosis :Layla HybridStarting at $1299 Shop Now
- Best Medium Firm Mattress :Leesa Sapira HybridStarting at $1199 Shop Now
Best Mattress For Scoliosis
Scoliosis and other spinal defects can range from being mild issues that don’t affect your daily life much to severe, life-altering conditions that can require braces or even surgery. As such, it’s important to find a mattress that promotes proper spinal alignment and better quality sleep.
We do not have a full-time doctor or chiropractor on staff, so in order to create this guide, we worked closely with Dr. Ranvir Sahota of Synapse Chiropractic in Rocklin, California. We specifically discussed scoliosis and his recommendations for mattresses, pillows, and sleeping positions. As such, the bulk of this post is based on his professional opinion, given that he has had extensive experience with treating patients with scoliosis.
Compare Best Mattresses for Sleepers with Scoliosis
Best Cheap Mattress For Scoliosis
Nectar is an affordable bed in a box mattress that almost always ships with some sort of sleep accessory, whether that’s a pillow, sheet set, weighted blanket, etc.
Nectar is about 12” thick and is made entirely of foam, so it is best for heavy and average-sized sleepers. The core of the bed is dense polyfoam, but the comfort layers are memory foam. Naturally then, Nectar has a familiar, dense memory foam feel, similar to what you’d associate with Tempur-Pedic, only a heck of a lot more affordable.
Why we like this mattress: The Nectar Mattress is not only a great value but also has a comfortable memory foam construction. It’s suitable for all sleeper types thanks to its medium feel and a good mattress for average to heavy-sized sleepers with Scoliosis.
Best Natural & Organic Mattress For Scoliosis
If you’re an eco-conscious shopper or you’re prone to household allergens, a natural and organic mattress might be an accommodating option for you.
At the base of the Avocado Green Mattress is 8” pocketed coils made from recycled steel. These allow the mattress to be suitable for people of virtually all body types. On top of the coils are a few layers of certified organic latex foam.On top of the 3” latex foam is organic cotton and New Zealand wool.
If you can afford to pay a little more for Avocado with the pillow topper, we’d recommend it, particularly if you spend a decent amount of time at night on your side. It makes the mattress just a little softer (around a “medium-firm”), and we think that could be a good thing for those with scoliosis.
Why we like this mattress: We selected it for numerous reasons, including the fact that it is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial thanks to its natural and organic construction, highly supportive, resilient, and comes in three options (with and without a pillow top, and a fully vegan mattress). Though, we recommend it most to back, stomach, or combo sleepers who don’t spend much time on their side.
Chiropractor Endorsed Mattress For Scoliosis
The Casper Wave is a hybrid mattress that’s specifically designed to provide more support around your center third where you carry the majority of your weight. It’s a zoned support system that you will only find on the Casper Wave (although there is a similar system on the original Casper mattress).
It has a neutral-foam feel and it’s suitable for any and all body types and sleeper types. As such, we see it as being a safe pick for people who suffer from scoliosis. As for firmness level, Casper Wave sits at about a medium.
What we like about this mattress: The Wave is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association, and we find it to be a comfortable mattress fit for all body and sleeper types. Due to the Zoned Support System, it’s a solid option for a person suffering from a spinal issue. Not to mention it’s very comfortable and extremely well-built.
Best for Side Sleepers with Scoliosis
Layla is one of our favorite mattresses for side sleepers given that it has a fluffy memory foam feel and is double sided. It’s not an ideal bed for heavy people, but if you’re under about 230 lb, you should be good to go.
The “Soft” side is truly soft and great for people with shoulder or hip issues. The “Firm” side lands at about a medium, and has less of a memory foam feel, but is still really comfortable. If you tend to rotate sleeping positions, the “Firm” side is where you’ll want to start.
Why we like this mattress: The Layla Hybrid is comfortable for side sleepers, supportive for all body types, and comes with a “soft” and “firm” side that makes it a versatile mattress. Ultimately, the reason it made the list is because it’s comfortable and offers you two options with one mattress.
Best Medium Firm Mattress For Scoliosis
We just think this will be the best mattress for scoliosis because it offers a great balance of support, firmness, and cushioning. People with scoliosis pain require support first and then a gentle amount of cushioning. That’s exactly what Leesa Hybrid offers.
Given its firmness level (about a medium to medium-firm), Leesa Hybrid is best for back, stomach, and combination sleepers, though, many side sleepers will be fine as well since the bed will soften over time.
Why we like this mattress: The Leesa Hybrid is one of the best mattresses for scoliosis because it’s firm and supportive, yet provides enough cushioning for ample pressure relief. It’s different than Big Fig and WinkBed—which are the other beds that we seriously considered including on this list—but it’s a darn good bed with plenty to offer, nonetheless.
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The Review Team
What Is Scoliosis?
A simple definition of scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. Of course, in reality, scoliosis is far more complicated than that since we’re discussing a three-dimensional structure in the spine. Scoliosis typically develops in early childhood between the ages of nine and 15 and it is far more common among young girls than boys. According to the Scoliosis Research Society, Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of scoliosis and can be found in as many as four in every 100 adolescents.
Most causes of scoliosis are unknown or misunderstood, but it can arise from birth defects, injuries, or neuromuscular conditions. It is also found to be hereditary. Scoliosis can be a simple and slight curve of the spine or—in extreme cases—it can even cause a twist or tilt in the spine. From the ATP (anterior to posterior) view, the spine will usually curve to form a “C” shape or, if there are two curves, it could form an “S” shape. You typically find scoliosis in the thoracic portion of your spine, but it can occur in the lumbar region, as well.
Scoliosis generally develops gradually and in many cases doesn’t create back pain. It can cause your shoulders and hips to be uneven and one shoulder blade to protrude more than the other. A lot of cases require monitoring, but no proactive care. However, in extreme cases, scoliosis can cause a twist or tilt and may warrant a full-time brace or even spinal fusion surgery.
Finding A Mattress For Scoliosis Pain
The top priority is not making your condition worse, which is why we emphasize that you should talk to your doctor about a mattress. Finding the right bed will have to do with a number of different factors, including the list below.
- Weight — How much you weigh has a lot to do with what style of bed will be acceptable.
- Your Scoliosis — Depending on your condition, your doctor may prefer that you sleep a certain way.
- Sleeper Type — Side, stomach, back, or combination.
- Mattress Construction — Foams, support system, and more.
- Motion Transfer — How efficiently the mattress deadens motion.
Whether you’re a side sleeper with scoliosis or need a firm mattress we’ve tried to think of everything.
How Does Scoliosis Affect Sleep?
The curvature of the spine can make it difficult for people with scoliosis to get comfortable. About four in 10 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis experience chronic back pain. And research shows that people who suffer from back pain tend to have more severe insomnia and episodes of sleepiness during the day. Chronic back pain sufferers were also more likely to exhibit moderate depression, which can exacerbate sleep problems.
Patients with scoliosis can also have breathing challenges during the night. Sleeping on the convex side of the thoracic curve is especially correlated to an increase in respiratory events, which cause patients to wake up during the night.
There are several changes that people with scoliosis can make that might support better sleep habits:
- Limiting naps
- Avoiding caffeine
- Exercising during the day
- Developing a relaxing nighttime routine
- Purchasing a more supportive and comfortable mattress
Side Sleepers With Scoliosis
If you sleep chiefly on your side, you should also discuss this with your physician. Side sleeping, in general, isn’t a bad thing if you have scoliosis, but, depending on your condition, there may be a preferable side to sleep on. That said, you will still likely prefer a medium to medium-firm mattress. You still need good support, but too firm of a mattress could cause extra shoulder or hip pain for you. You want a good amount of pressure relief, but again, this all depends on your situation.
Considerations For Stomach Sleepers
This will be more general since there’s a lot that goes into finding a bed beyond just your sleeping position. That said, sleeping on your stomach may not be the most ideal position for scoliosis. It’s very easy to contort your neck and back when you sleep on your stomach. Your pillow has a lot to do with this, but it also stems from your head not being able to lay flat. Think about a typical chiropractor’s table. It’s flat with a hole in the center for your face to sit in. That keeps a neutral position for your spine.
With a mattress, however, you don’t have a hole to put your head in and therefore you usually tilt it to one side or the other. From there, you’ll usually compensate with the rest of your body by twisting or bringing your arms or legs up.
For someone with an uncompromised spine, this might not be an issue. It may stretch out certain muscles or ligaments more, but probably not a big deal for them. For a person with scoliosis, it’s more complicated. If laying on your stomach is comfortable, I don’t want to change that, I’m merely suggesting that you bring this up to your doctor.
In general, though, stomach sleepers prefer a mattress in the medium to firm range. You don’t want your hips sagging in too much and you’ll probably want to feel as though you sleep on the mattress rather than in it.
Back Sleepers With A Spinal Condition
Much like stomach sleepers, back sleepers will likely prefer a firmer mattress. You’re probably looking at something in the medium to firm range with a medium-firm mattress being the most common. This is, again, so you don’t have your hips and shoulders sagging in too much. Laying on your back is usually preferable to stomach sleeping because you can lay your head flat and keep your spine is a more optimal alignment. Pillows are really important here, as well, so check out our Pillow Reviews page.
The idea with back sleeping is that for a lot of scoliosis cases you won’t be pushing your spine in either direction side to side. You’ll hopefully be keeping it as is. This is probably more important if your condition is especially painful. If you don’t really notice or experience pain from your spine, you probably have more leeway with your sleeping position. Make sure to check with your doctor about this.
Best Type Of Mattress For Scoliosis
If you have a spinal condition, selecting a mattress will have as much to do with support as it will with comfort. When deciding what is the best mattress for a person with scoliosis, you first want to make sure that you’re taking the proper steps to help your back. Comfort is sort of secondary. That said, there are a number of materials that you’ll find in a mattress that we should cover.
For example, the support for a bed usually comes from one (or more) of the sources that you’ll see below.
Hybrid Mattress
A hybrid mattress is a bed with multiple layers that has an innerspring or coil system along with a top layer. Innersprings are usually a great support system since the coils are typically made of steel. They’re durable and last a very long time even if you’re a heavier individual.
Pocketed coils are much the same, but they are better at deadening cross-mattress motion since they are not really interconnected.
The most common top layers that you’ll see on a mattress are:
- Air — Usually offers adjustable settings.
- Memory Foam — Comes in different densities and can feel softer or firmer.
- Latex Foam — Really bouncy and responsive. Also stays cool throughout the night.
- Poly Foam — Generally found on more affordable mattresses.
Air isn’t really that common on most online mattresses, but it’s a neat concept because you can usually adjust the firmness of the bed, allowing you to make it more supportive or more pressure relieving.
Memory Foam is common because it’s a versatile material. You can get a lower-density memory foam that feels a bit softer (around 3 pcf), medium-density memory foam (around 4-5 pcf), or high-density memory foam (6 pcf+). If you’re looking for durability and extra support, a mattress with a high-density foam will be preferable, but it also has a lot to do with that feels good to you.
Memory foam is great at reducing motion transfer. Some people absolutely love memory foam, but others find that it heats up too much. In fact, gel memory foam was introduced to counteract memory foam’s natural tendency to heat up.
Latex is another commonly used foam because it stays cooler than memory foam and is far more responsive, which makes switching positions at night a lot easier. That may be something you consider if you’re a combo sleeper. You probably won’t want to feel stuck, so you’ll either get a high-density memory foam, latex foam, or a bed with coils.
Overview Of The Best Mattress For Scoliosis
| Mattress | Best Of Title | Firmness Level | $$ Of Queen Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avocado | Natural & Organic | Medium Firm | $1,399 |
| Casper Wave | Chiropractor Endorsed | Medium | $2,695 |
| Layla Hybrid | Side Sleepers | Soft/Firm (Two Sides) | $1,599 |
| Nectar | Affordable | Medium Firm | $799 |
| Leesa Hybrid | Medium Firm Mattress | Medium Firm | $1,799 |
