Doctors Say These Mattresses Could Help You Say 'Bye' To Back Pain

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Anyone who spends a good portion of their day awkwardly bending over to provide some temporary relief to their back pain or hip pain knows just how any kind of pain can seriously affect the quality of your life. While things like sitting all day or constantly hunching over a laptop contribute to these things, what you're sleeping on may also be the culprit. That's why it's super important to invest in the best mattress for back pain you can.

Buying a mattress specifically for back pain is a solid way to skip the tossing and turning at night. According to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Biology (Basel), medical experts found that sleeping on a mattress with the right firmness and thickness can be a total game changer for your spinal health (I'm talking to you, side sleeper!).

“We spend almost a third of our lives in bed, so it is important to sleep on something that is comfortable and meets your needs for good sleep,” says Santhosh A. Thomas, DO, medical director of the Center for Spine Health at the Avon-Richard E. Jacobs Medical Center.

But, before you just buy one, orthopedic spine surgeon Payam Farjoodi, MD, advises that you try out a mattress before you decide to keep it. That may mean testing it out in a store or simply getting one with a good warranty (hint: all the mattresses below have great warranties!).

To find the best mattresses for back pain, we interviewed a panel of six doctors. Four Women's Health staff editors with back pain also field-tested a dozen mattresses for at least three months across a variety of price points.

Classic Mattress

What makes Saatva mattresses so special? They are made out of a special high-density foam designed to provide pressure relief along the spine and lower back. To avoid added pain, the brand also oven-bakes and tempers their coil units three times to prevent their mattresses from sagging.

Our deputy commerce editor Christian Gollayan has been using Saatva's classic sleeper for more than six months. "I've never slept better," he says. "Before, I suffered from chronic back aches, and after switching to Saatva's mattress and memory foam pillows, my back and neck pain vanished immediately."

Why We Like It: This mattress was specifically designed for people who suffer from back pain. And you can legit cater this mattress to your specific needs. It can be purchased in three different levels of firmness: plush soft, luxury firm, and firm.

Plush soft is ideal for lighter-weight people who find mattresses to be too firm or side sleepers who like that contouring, cushiony feel. Luxury firm, the brand's number-one bestseller, is designed to replicate the comfort level you often find in hotels, providing solid support. The third option, firm, is specifically made for back and stomach sleepers or heavier bodies that don't like to feel like they're sinking into the mattress.

Why it's good for back pain: The mattress is designed with Lumbar Zone Support technology. That means there is a concentrated amount of support in the center of the mattress—where your lower back typically rests—designed to help provide optimal spine alignment. It's also made with a plush Euro top pillow, which cradles your body and claims to relieve pressure points.

Rave Review: “I am 68 and have had five major back surgeries. I am a side and back sleeper, as is my husband. We chose the luxury firm mattress. Never have I ever slept on such a comfortable and supportive mattress. Three months in, I can't see peaks or valleys. We don't have that sunk-in, stuck feeling as we did on memory foam!"

Helix Midnight Elite

Sleeping on your stomach puts major pressure on your neck and the lumbar area, says research assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Nursing Carleara Weiss, PhD. So, opt for a firmer mattress like this one to avoid your lower body sinking into the mattress and putting your neck at a more intense angle.

Why We Like It: Helix's memory foam mattress is tailored specifically for side sleepers or those toss and turners, as the foam provides pressure point relief on both the hips and shoulders.

Our reviewer, WH lifestyle director Lindsay Geller, said this mattress is so supportive, she feels comfortable in any position she sleeps in throughout the night. This is, in part, due to the the quilted pillow top, which provides that hotel-like comfort.

Why it's good for back pain: The Helix Midnight Elite features zoning technology, which basically means it has firmness levels built into it to different support areas of your body. It also provides a softer feel under your shoulders and a firmer feel under your hips, cradling your body and aligning your spine.

Editor Review: "Ever since I started sleeping on the Helix Midnight Elite, I've noticed my lower back pain disappear practically overnight," says WH lifestyle director Lindsay Geller. "As a stomach/side sleeper who tends to change positions throughout the night, I always feel supported by this mattress, no matter what position I ultimately end up sleeping in. I love that I was able to take a quiz that determined the perfect mattress to suit my specific sleep needs because that's worked better for me than testing out a mattress at a traditional store."

Nolah Evolution 15"

Sleeping on a cloud sounds heavenly until doing it starts messing with your body. The Nolah mattress is cloud-like, but packs a firmer feel that's still supportive of various body types. It's constructed with targeted back support and responsive pressure relief, so that your body doesn't sink into and you experience pain the next day.

Why We Like It: The mattress is made with microscopic air pockets that help redistribute body weight, and coils within the layers to isolate motion while keeping the mattress responsive. Our tester, Jasmine Gomez, says she loves the way it contours to her body without causing her to sink in while she's sleeping on her stomach or side.

Why it's good for back pain: It's made with Nolah's pressure-relieving 'AirFoamICE' and a layer of zoned, individually-wrapped support coils with reinforced edges. This helps the mattress contour to the body, while supporting natural spine alignment.

Editor Review: "I received the Nolah as a gift, but it came at the perfect time, since the mattress I previously had was so soft I woke up with bad back pain nearly everyday," says commerce editor Jasmine Gomez. "The Luxury Firm Mattress has truly been perfect—it's soft, but firm enough to withstand my bodyweight and keep my body in proper alignment. That has also translated to less tossing and turning for me. My body honestly wakes up feeling so much better than it did with my previous mattress and, for that, I'm grateful."

Gel Memory Foam Mattress

If you feel like you constantly have kinks in your back, this mattress might be able to help. Its medium firmness and special foam layers are designed to help keep your spine in proper alignment throughout the night.

Why We Like It: Five layers of construction are all packed into this Nectar mattress, including a cooling cover and gel memory foam, which hugs the natural curve of your body. The mattress is also a solid 12 inches, so it has minimal motion transfer. Some reviewers said it's so thick, they couldn't even feel their dog jump onto the bed.

Why it's good for back pain: The Nectar mattress is made with an adaptive memory foam layer that the brand claims helps relieve common pressure points beneath your shoulders, hips, and legs for better spinal alignment.

Rave Review: "My first night sleeping on this, I slept like a log. I was able to get up in the morning and touch my toes without stretching out my lower back. I'm in love with this mattress!"

Snow Mattress

According to a 2022 study, sleeping on a colder mattress can improve your sleep. So, if you sweat while you snooze, consider investing in a mattress that's not only good for your back (duh), but also a pro at keeping you cool and promoting good quality rest.

"Better quality sleep is paramount because fatigue and sleep deprivation can exacerbate pain of any kind," says orthopedics professor at the Yale School of Medicine Leigh Hanke, MD. Whatever it takes to get a good night's sleep will be key in managing pain (that includes cool sleeping conditions).

Why We Like It: Casper's cooling hybrid mattress—it pairs springs and foam for a balance of comfort and durability—features the brand's patented Snow technology, which they claim keeps you five degrees cooler all night and pulls heat away from the body for up to 12 hours. It also features their AirScape technology, which increases airflow for that crisp feel.

If you're an extra hot sleeper, it also pairs perfectly with Casper's newly-launched Foam Pillow With Snow Technology.

Why it's good for back pain: If you have trouble getting into the bed, don't fret! This mattress has a firm foam edge around the perimeter, which makes getting in and out way easier.

The fourth layer of this mattress (there are six in total) features premium memory foam with zoned support, which the brand says is designed to relieve pressure and align your spine. The pocketed flex coils in the fifth layer give you that nice boost of support and reduce motion transfer.

Editor Review: "This mattress is the GOAT for a comfortable night sleep especially in hot or humid climates," says WH fitness editor Jennifer Nied. "It's so supportive yet plush, and it's incredible for back support. I don't have back pain but my husband (who refuses to do stretches/warm-up for workouts) does and we both sleep so soundly on it. As a hot sleeper, this was an exciting new launch I jumped on and am so glad I did."

Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress

If you’ve already started looking, you know that mattresses can be really, really expensive. But since your back isn't going to be impressed by a price tag, there's no need to spend more than even $400 on a mattress if it isn't in your budget right now. At $300 for a queen size, this Sleep Innovations mattress is proof of that.

Why We Like It: This cooling mattress has a three-layer TriComfort Design, which includes a gel memory foam top layer, a breezy middle layer, and an ultra supportive foam bottom. It’s also delivered in a box, so it'll be shipped compressed and rolled in convenient packaging that you can unpack and unroll on your own.

Why We Like It: This mattress claims to have responsive pressure point relief no matter your sleeping position. So, whether you're a stomach, back, or side sleeper, you may notice this mattress's motion isolation, edge support, and breathable comfort.

Rave Review: “I recently just got back surgery and needed a new mattress, so I decided to just quickly order one on Amazon. My first night sleeping on it, I slept for 12 hours straight, which is not only the most amount of sleep I’ve gotten since my operation, but in actual years."

Memory Foam Mattress

This medium-firm gel memory foam mattress is designed with three different layers of foam (gel memory foam, ventilated airflow foam, and high density foam) to keep you extra cozy and supported through the night.

Why We Like It: The top layer of the mattress is made with the gel foam, which pulls heat away from the body, automatically regulating body temperature throughout the night. The ventilated airflow foam with millions of microscopic holes keeps you on the cool side. Finally, the high-density foam offers proper back support and prevents sagging.

Why it's good for back pain: Aside from its ability to keep your temperature regulated through the night, the layers in Sweetnight's mattress offer great spinal alignment for side, back, and stomach sleepers. Together, they work to contour the body and provide enough support, relieving back pain.

Rave Review: “I was blown away with the quality of the product, and better yet—the quality of my sleep! Somehow, this memory foam gives me the soft, supple feel I like and the support my husband likes. It’s amazing."

Original Mattress

If you're a side sleeper, you want to buy a medium-firm mattress, as it supports your shoulders and hips, which can get sore and achy, says Dr. Weiss.

Why We Like It: This mattress has medium support for nice structure and durability, so you wake up feeling ready for the day. It also has an added memory foam recovery layer for even more pressure relief. At the end of a long day, there's nothing like plopping down on this mattress, especially if you're struggling with back pain.

Why it's good for back pain: Leesa's Original Mattress claims to cradle and support your body without any signs of sinking or overheating. What to thank? The layers of responsive foam and memory foam, which contour your body to relieve hip and shoulder pressure. The signature core support is an added bonus, as it holds your body in place no matter your sleep position.

WH Editorial assistant Addison Aloian has been recovering from a back injury over the past few months, and says this mattress has the perfect amount of support to stay comfortable through the night.

Editor Review: WH editorial assistant Addison Aloian has been sleeping on this mattress (it used to be her brother's!) for the past two years because it's too good to part with. "As someone who's struggled with back pain, it's given me just the right amount of support as a side-sleeper because it's firm, but also soft," she says. "Some days, I never want to leave it. Plus, it's held up well for years. I def recommend it."

Rx

While Saatva's Classic Mattress is made for aches and pains, this version is made for chronic back conditions. So, if you suffer from discomfort associated with serious issues like sciatica, arthritis, and scoliosis, this is the mattress for you.

Why We Like It: Saatva's Rx Mattress is a supportive plush mattress, so it feels juuust cushy enough, while keeping your back in alignment. It's best suited for side sleepers, but the Rx is also a great option for back and combination sleepers who struggle with chronic back pain. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, this mattress is also treated with an antimicrobial to reduce bacteria buildup. But don't worry, it doesn't have that icky factory smell.

Why it's good for back pain: The Rx features a supportive inner core, which adjusts to your body's natural curves and movements and targets pressure points. It also has the brand's patented gel-infused memory foam, which Saatva claims relieves back pain by keeping your spine in healthy alignment.

Rave Review: "My husband and I both have bad backs and questionable knees. After much debate, we decided to give this mattress a try. Wow! We are so glad we did! It's SO COMFORTABLE!! It's very soft to the point that we thought maybe it was too soft, but that's not the case. It's a great mattress for your aching back!"

Read more: Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers

Sedona Elite

If you can't shop for a mattress in person, but you're desperate to cure your back pain, Brooklyn Bedding has a slew of options to choose from. Take their quiz to find the best one for you. But, if you're super active and need a bed to support your constantly moving body, we've found the one for you (wink, wink).

Details: Brooklyn Bedding's Sedona Elite Mattress gets WH's yellow check mark from fitness editor Jennifer Nied. Thanks to its ultra plush top layers and contouring comfort, this pick provides a super restful sleep and a lot of underlying support. It also features the brand's patented GlacioTex+ Cooling Cover, which easily guides you into sleep with its temperature-regulating fibers (note: reviews say this doesn't necessarily make you feel cooler).

Why it's good for back pain: Finding a mattress that's comfortable is essential when it comes to helping back pain, and this one is *exactly* that. It features a double coil construction, which provides zoned support, enhances airflow, isolates motion, and provides pressure relief.

Towards the bottom of the bed, the ascension coils are placed in three carefully zoned areas to provide lumbar support. There's also a hyper-dense support function, which makes the bed beneath you feel smooth sans any lumps or bumps.

Editor Review: "This mattress is in our condo in Colorado, and it gets the stamp of approval for reviving my body after long days of hiking, running, snowboarding, and paddle boarding around the mountains," says WH fitness editor Jennifer Nied, who also slept on it the first six months after having a baby (without any back pain!). "I love that it does an awesome job of dampening any movement, so I don't feel any jolts when my husband rolls over in the night. It tends to feel a bit warmer, but that works in the cooler climate."

Solaire Adjustable Firmness Mattress

Not only does this adjustable mattress have 50 (you read that right) firmness settings, but you can customize your side of the bed, making this mattress perf for couples with or without back pain. It also has no motion transfer, so your restless partner won't be in the doghouse for keeping you awake.

Details: Saatva's Adjustable Firmness Mattress comes with a remote control, so you can choose your ideal firmness no matter your position. To add to your comfort, it's also made with organic cotton and a natural latex comfort layer for some extra breathability (who doesn't want that?).

Why it's good for back pain: This adjustable mattress is ideal for back pain, allowing you to easily switch positions for relief. It also has a latex layer for pressure-free support and the cushioned Euro pillow top and memory foam layers only add to its comfort.

Rave Review: "Got our Solaire yesterday and my sleep was out of this world. I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning. My number is 17 and I slept like a baby. Had a delivery problem and their customer service stepped right in. I know we made the right choice with Saatva!"

Lux Mattress

If you feel like you constantly have kinks in your back, this mattress might be able to help. Its medium firmness and patented Cooling Cloud Foam layers are designed to help keep your spine in proper alignment throughout the night and ensure you're super comfortable.

Details: Six layers of construction are all packed into this Puffy mattress, including a climate comfort foam and firm core support foam, which ensures better stability. The mattress is also a solid 12 inches, so it has minimal motion transfer.

Why it's good for back pain: The puffy mattress is made with a pressure-relieving foam layer that the brand claims contours the spine and lower back, cradling the body's natural curves. One reviewer, who sleeps in all different positions, says they haven't woken up with a single backache or stiff joint since buying the mattress.

Rave Review: "So happy we finally pulled the trigger! We LOVE our Puffy products! We were really nervous about purchasing them online without having tested them out, but after reading hundreds of positive reviews we decided to go for it. Over the last three years I have had three back surgeries. I was nervous about how I would feel on this. I couldn't be happier! My husband and I both are thrilled with our purchase."

Hybrid Mattress

If you're on the shorter side, you know how much of a struggle it is getting into a super tall bed. So, make your life easier and buy a shorter mattress that doesn't make crawling into bed such a chore. At just eight inches high, everyone from kids to adults will love the convenience of this mattress.

Details: While this mattress may be on the shorter side, it doesn't compromise on quality. It features three essential layers: a cozy memory foam top, a comfortable foam layer, and a sturdy steel spring base. These layers combine to provide reliable support and comfort. And the best part? You're getting a fantastic night's sleep for a price that won't break the bank.

Why it's good for back pain: This mattress combines the best of all worlds. It's got memory foam quilted into the cover for a snug feel, a contouring foam layer, and a robust spring layer that gives you that classic mattress bounce. According to the brand, these layers work together to create a medium-firm comfort level, conforming to your body to ease pressure, and offering support for whatever sleeping position you prefer.

Rave Review: "This mattress is plenty firm for me, but it's the first mattress I've had that has some give. I'm sleeping much better than I did on my old mattress, and I wake up with much less back and leg pain. This mattress is perfect for an adjustable bed. I waited about 30 hours for it to fluff up, but I really think it was fully 'inflated' within the first 12 hours. Also, I'm 5' tall and weigh 250. This is plenty supportive for me."

Original Mattress

Tuft & Needle makes a few mattresses, each designed to match your sleeping style and position preference. You can scroll through their three options to see which is the best one for you, but several reviews claim the Original Mattress is great for back sleepers.

Details: The Original mattress is specifically designed for those that sleep on their back or stomach, as the even support throughout the three layers provides the perfect amount of loft. The Original mattress is on the firm side, so it's perfect for those who are looking for consistent, contouring support throughout the entire mattress.

If you run hot, this is also a good option for you as it features a breathable, open-cell cooling technology infused with cooling gel and heat-conducting graphite.

Why it's good for back pain: This mattress boasts a substantial 6.5-inch foundational support base, ensuring you won't experience any uncomfortable sinking. The mattress foam has been specially designed with input from customers to target pressure points. Plus, its open-cell structure provides a flexible sleep surface that adapts and responds to your body's movements.

Rave Review: “This mattress was a blind buy…and 100 percent the best thing I ever purchased! Throughout my life, I always struggled with back pain from my mattress. If it was too soft my back would hurt, and if it was too firm my back would hurt. I heard good things about this mattress, so I figured I would look into it. I was very scared I would spend way too much money on the mattress and end up hating it. I’m so glad I stuck with my gut and just bought it without testing! I have never had any sort of pain from sleeping on this mattress. I absolutely recommend if you are someone that likes more medium to firm mattresses because this one is perfect."

Luxe Hybrid

If you're looking for a mattress that's pretty affordable and easy to unbox, but also super comfy and plush, this one from The Allswell is for you. As the brand's most awarded mattress, it combines cooling memory foam and supportive springs for the best sleep you've had in quite some time.

Details: This mattress is made of many layers of memory foam and springs, which offer the ideal amount of comfort without slacking on support. The springs provide a responsive bounce and reduce motion transfer, while the memory foam contours to your body. Plus, the added edge support makes for a much sturdier mattress despite the plush, cozy feel.

Why it's good for back pain: A super plush mattress may feel like a nightmare for your back pain, but this one hugs your body in all the right places, helping to support your back and your shoulders. If you're a side sleeper, you no longer have to worry about your shoulders and hips bearing the weight of your body while you snooze.

Rave Review: "I purchased mine back in 2020 when I was still in college, and I cannot believe it’s three years old—it still feels just like the day I got it! It’s just the right softness to firmness ratio to where my back feels supported, but it doesn’t hurt my shoulders (I'm a side sleeper). My partner and I sleep on it every night and we just love it. I remember it was super easy to unbox when it came in, and it’s not very hard to move once it’s out of the box and puffed out."

RejuvenatePlus Mattress

Each layer of the Purple Mattress is designed to help you get your best sleep ever. The top cover is made with breathable materials to help you sleep cool, while the inside layers are made of durable high-density foam to provide you with a cloud-like feeling.

Why We Like It: This soft mattress offers pressure relief, support, and temperature control in one. The quilted comfort cover gives it that pillowy feel without slacking on the supportive benefits. The RejuvenatePlus also features three zones of responsive coils for broad support and alignment.

Why it's good for back pain: The GelFlex grid in the top section of the mattress has over 20 patents and has been used in hospital beds for critical patients for more than 20 years. It literally moves as you move to support every sleep position. By conforming to the body, it also cradles pressure points for ideal alignment, no sinking or sagging in sight.

Editor Review: "As editors, our jobs involve sitting at a laptop all day, and since we're working from home most of the time, I'm usually craning my neck to look down at my laptop from my kitchen table," said one editor. "I get really bad tech neck, but just two weeks of sleeping on my new mattress has made a world of a difference in my neck, shoulder, and upper-back pain."

Read more: Best Cooling Weighted Mattresses

How our team chose the best mattresses for back pain

For the past few months, Women’s Health editors, including our commerce editor Jasmine Gomez, associate commerce editor Lily Wohlner, and editorial assistant Addison Aloian, have been testing and researching the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated mattresses for back pain. Our team consulted six doctors, Santhosh A. Thomas, DO, Payam Farjoodi, MD, Leigh Hanke, MD, Lena A. Ghannad, MD, and Carleara Weiss, PhD, for the story. WH also evaluated thousands of customer reviews to find the best mattresses for back pain, catering to various needs and preferences, including specific types of back pain and preferred sleep positions.

Meet the experts

• Santhosh A. Thomas, DO, medical director of the Center for Spine Health at the Avon-Richard E. Jacobs Medical Center

• Payam Farjoodi, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon

• Leigh Hanke, MD, orthopedics professor at the Yale School of Medicine

• Lena A. Ghannad, MD, primary care sports medicine specialist

• Carleara Weiss, PhD, member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

• Peter Whang, MD, orthopedic surgeon and spine expert at Yale Medicine

What to consider when buying a mattress for back pain

There are a few basics to mattress shopping that all women should know about, especially if you are dealing with back pain.

Firmness: Though you'll definitely want something that's more firm than soft, exactly how firm your mattress is should be determined by your body weight, Dr. Weiss says. "Medium firmness seems ideal for people weighing approximately 130 pounds and satisfactory for back and side sleepers under 230 pounds," she explains.

The higher your body weight, the firmer you may need your mattress to be, though it really depends on the individual, as sleep preferences differ from person to person (and again, comfort is king!).

Sleeping position: The way you sleep determines what areas you put the most pressure on, Dr. Weiss says, which is pretty useful information when it comes to buying a mattress.

• Back sleepers: If you're a back sleeper, for example, you might prefer a mattress that alleviates pressure points in the lumbar (lower back) area, Dr. Weiss explains. You'd likely fare better considering medium-firm mattresses, as they often provide good spine support. "On the other hand, back sleepers should avoid extra-firm mattresses as those are less flexible and may fail to adjust to the lumbar curve," she adds.

• Stomach sleepers: Dr. Weiss says this position puts pressure on the neck, in addition to the lumbar area, so you may prefer a firm mattress since it's ideal for spine support and helps alleviate neck tension. "That will help prevent the lower body from sinking into the mattress and putting the neck at an even more intense angle."

• Side sleepers: For side sleepers, Dr. Weiss also recommends a medium-firm mattress. "Shoulders and hips are pressure points for side sleepers. A medium-firm mattress would be ideal for this sleep position while still flexible to the body curvature," she explains.

Materials: There's no one-size fits all answer for which material is best for back pain, says Dr. Weiss. You can choose a memory foam hybrid mattress, which has different levels of firmness in each area of the mattress along with springs. Read on to find out which type might be best for your back pain.

How do I choose the best mattress for back pain?

It depends.

• Memory foam works, but only when supported by a firm or medium-firm core. "A mattress exclusively made out of memory foam tends to deform and increase pressure in sensitive areas," Dr. Weiss says.

• Then, there's the hybrid mattress, which is designed so that each side of the mattress offers a different level of firmness. They tend to be super supportive. "Hybrid mattresses are growing in popularity as they promote excellent support with an innerspring core and comfort with top layers of foam, cotton, or other materials," says Dr. Weiss.

• And don't rule out springs, even if they seem old-fashioned. "Their sturdy metal coils can be a good source of support, and when they're paired with a layer of foam, they can totally be comfortable," Dr. Weiss adds.

Are memory foam mattresses good for back pain?

Memory foam mattresses are popular because they conform to an individual’s unique body shape and may provide greater ventilation, " says orthopedic surgeon and spine expert at Yale Medicine Peter Whang, MD. So, when you think of them, you may assume that the material's plush comfy feeling is perfect for back pain, but proceed with caution.

"When it comes to back pain, it is important to ensure that a mattress provides sufficient support and does not allow for the trunk to 'sink' into the material," Dr. Whang explains.

Unfortunately, some mattresses made from memory foam are not the best for avoiding this. But there are some made with firmer foam or bases to specifically address back pain, like the Sweetnight Mattress on this list.

Overall though, "Many people with back pain may benefit from a more rigid mattress because it serves to better stabilize the spine," Dr. Whang says.

Is a firm mattress better for back pain?

Where you experience back pain also impacts what kind of firmness you should look for. "The general concept when thinking about buying a mattress is that lower back pain can be alleviated with a mattress that is on the firmer end of the spectrum rather than softer or squishier," Dr. Hanke says.

If you don't wake up with lower back pain and you like a softer experience, you can probably get away with a less firm mattress. If you find yourself dealing with upper back pain, orthopedic surgeon Lena A. Ghannad, MD recommends a medium-firm mattress, since it provides the best support for the back and is effective for reducing pain.

“It is also important to have a supportive pillow to maintain a neutral spine position,” she says. “Memory foam pillows tend to be better at this than cotton or feather.”

How often should you cycle out mattresses?

There is no hard-and-fast rule, Dr. Ghannad says. “It depends on multiple factors, such as how often you rotate the mattress and if you use it every day versus only part of the year in a guest room.”

A good rule of thumb is to purchase a new one every 10 years. But before you do dive into mattress shopping, Dr. Ghannad recommends that you first see a doctor to explore whether or not there's a structural problem in your spine. It might be your mattress, but it's a good idea to rule out any physical health issues first.

How should I maintain my mattress?

Mattresses go through a lot. Think about it—you sweat on them, drool on them, and maybe have even spilled a glass or two of OJ on them while having breakfast in bed (hey, it happens). So, it's important to maintain your mattress if you don't want to throw it away before its shelf life is up.

One thing you can do is purchase a mattress protector. Since you can't throw the whole mattress into the wash, a protector will collect the icky stuff. Since it's removable, it's very easy to keep it maintained and clean.

When it comes to your actual mattress, you can use baking soda and a vacuum to clean it. You can sift a whole box over your mattress, let it sit for a hour, and then whip out the vacuum. It'll deodorize your mattress and hopefully, make it (almost) as good as new.

I'm just gonna leave WH's mattress-cleaning guide here.

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