A lot of people wake up with a painful back or a stiff neck. A common cause — besides underlying medical conditions — is sleeping on the wrong mattress. Problematic as things are, you probably won’t consider your mattress a problem until you sleep on a better mattress. The best mattress for back and neck pain must consider ergonomics and pain relief as top priorities. Here’s our list of five best mattresses for upper back and neck pain which could help improve your quality of sleep and life.
- Casper Sleep Mattress
- Roma All Latex Mattress
- Bear Mattress
- My Green Mattress Natural Escape
- Sealy Adaptive Comfort Layers Mattress
How Important Is My Sleeping Position For Back And Neck Pain?
Your sleeping position can have an impact on the effectiveness of your mattress and on back and neck pain. In any sleep position, it is important that your spine is well aligned and pressure points are relieved from the stress of handling the weight of the body.
A majority of people sleep on their side, at least for a few hours every night. Side sleepers are at a greater risk of neck and lower back pain. Apart from a good mattress, side sleepers should invest in a good pillow that keeps the neck in line with the spine. Don’t go overboard with the height! A soft or medium mattress is usually suitable. If buying a new mattress isn’t on the cards, you can consider buying a mattress topper for back pain for getting some relief.
Sleeping on the back is usually beneficial when dealing with back pain. Back sleepers should consider a relatively thin pillow, enough to be comfortable, but not one that lifts the neck substantially higher than the shoulders. A medium-firm mattress is generally suitable.
Sleeping on the stomach can be tough on the back as well as the neck. While your pelvis and the spine’s lumbar region faces pressure from the body’s weight, the cervical region may also be troubled by hyperextended muscles — especially if you’re sleeping with your head to a side. It is often considered the worst sleep position, and you should try turning away from it if you start developing pains. A medium-firm or firm mattress is usually helpful. As for pillows, it’s best not to use any. If you do use one, try a very thin pillow.
5 Best Mattresses For Back And Neck Pain
1. Casper Sleep Mattress
Casper Mattress does a pretty good job of spine alignment, thanks to its Zoned Support system. The mattress has a relatively firmer layer in the middle that provides greater support for the heavier pelvis region and prevents it from sinking deep into the mattress. This targeted works fairly well with most weight groups and sleep position preferences. The Zone Support system is placed in the transition layer of the mattress. The comfort layers make use of memory foam and Casper’s proprietary foam to provide excellent contouring support as well as avoid sleep hot problems that can trouble foam mattresses.
| Pros | Cons |
| Contouring support relieves pressure points | Poor edge support |
| Zoned support helps keep spine aligned and encourages better sleep posture | Zoned support placement may lower mattress longevity slightly |
2. Roma All Latex Mattress
The flippable Roma All Latex Mattress claims to be built from the “finest quality natural latex”. Roma Latex Mattress has a height profile of 9-inches with 6-inches of natural Dunlop latex at its core. The cover is quilted with natural organic cotton and foam and forms a 1.5-inch layer on either side of the mattress.
As is evident, the mattress depends on the thick layer of latex to do most of the work. Latex foam works admirably well for pressure relief, allowing the Roma All Latex Mattress to be fairly useful for all sleep positions. One side of the flippable mattress is rated soft, allowing convenience for side sleepers, while the other is rated firm and is built for back and stomach sleepers.
On a side-note, it bugs me that the mattress is “All Latex” when one-third of it is the plush cotton-foam cover. Not a deal breaker since the latex layer is the mainstay, but something worth noting anyway.
| Pros | Cons |
| Good pressure relief and spinal alignment for neck and back pain | Off-gassing may persist for a few days |
| All-natural latex is naturally hypoallergenic and antimicrobial | Some customers say the softer side can “bottom out”, especially for heavy people who are side sleepers |
| Two firmness options in a single mattress allow for greater convenience and options |
3. Bear Mattress
Bear Mattress is somewhat true to its name and probably will take pleasure in mauling your pain like a bear so you sleep better. The mattress is marketed mostly to active people and sportspersons, and offers greater support and comfort that these physically active people need. The same properties also work for those looking for a mattress to deal with neck and back pain.
As an added bonus for its robust and thick comfort layer, the Bear Mattress has a Celliant-infused cover. Celliant is a fabric that is purported to help sore muscles heal faster, and to bring on a deeper, better sleep. It has FDA approval as a “general wellness product” and “medical device”.
| Pros | Cons |
| Celliant in mattress cover may help muscles to get better quicker | Better edge support should be expected from a 10-inch mattress |
| Robust comfort layer provides good contouring support | Just one firmness option available |
4. My Green Mattress Natural Escape
Pure Echo from My Green Mattress is a firm mattress suited for back and stomach sleepers, as well as those who prefer the conventional feel of innersprings while enjoying the support of latex. A quilted cotton covers sits over three-inches of natural Dunlop latex to provide good contouring support for the mattress.
The innerspring layer for the Natural Escape mattress has three zones to provide better cervical as well as lumbar support. Arrangement of these coils and better contouring by the latex foam help this mattress work very well for relieving back pain.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great support for lumbar and cervical regions can help with back and neck pain. | Slightly higher price point when compared to its competition |
| Body conforming and targeted support | Off-gassing can last for several days |
5. Sealy Adaptive Comfort Layers Mattress
Coming straight from one of the most popular brands, the Sealy Adaptive Comfort Layers mattress is also your budget choice in this list of the best mattress for back and neck pain. The mattress is rated medium-firm and includes two-inches of memory foam over 6-inches of conventional foam. It’s a pretty basic construction, but the use of high value and high-quality foam make the Sealy Adaptive Comfort Mattress a good choice for dealing with pain.
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent price point and budget option | Thin comfort layer may not be suited for heavy and side-sleepers |
| Well-built and comfortable to sleep in | Very poor edge support |
Best Mattress For Back And Neck Pain — Conclusion
Sleeping on a mattress that does not provide adequate support, or one that puts your spine at an awkward angle is a bad health choice. Choosing the best mattress for back and neck pain is all about keeping your spine aligned and relieving pressure points on your body for greater comfort. A good mattress for your upper back and neck pain can give your quality of sleep a big boost.