While soft beds may initially seem to be the comfiest bedding solution, they can sometimes cause problems for chronic back pain sufferers. You may want to consider this before you purchase a soft mattress, especially if you are middle aged or older.
Back pain can be caused by a variety of factors, from incorrect lifting, to minor dislocations. However, one of the most common causes of back pains can in fact simply be sleeping on a soft bed.
The connection between a soft bed and back pain is not clear at a first glance, however sleeping in a soft bed can instigate several changes in your posture which will accumulate quickly in to first uncomfortable, and then severe back pain.
Soft beds can cause back pain in several ways, the most common of which is due to the body’s weight distribution. Since the lower part of your back carries a larger amount of weight when horizontal, it will sink lower in to a soft mattress. As the lower half of your body drops it will stretch your muscles, and put greater stress on your skeletal structure, cartilage, spinal discs and more.
Over time, sleeping in a soft bed can even alter your body’s natural shape, leaving your spine with a slight bend where it should be straight. This can easily lead to progressive back pain, which can be hard to reverse.
When you lay on a soft mattress your lower body will sink further than your upper body. This stress will cause muscular pain, and may cause issues with your spine. The pain may change depending on the way you sleep, since some people lay on their side and others on their front or back.
The only real way to relieve back pain which has been caused by a soft mattress is simply to purchase a medium or firm mattress. This will help support your body, and prevent further damage to your body’s structure, and help relieve the additional stress which will have been placed on your muscles.
While purchasing a firmer mattress is the best solution to back pain caused by a soft bed, it is not always an available solution, since a new mattress will not be cheap. To help relieve the stress caused by your lower body it can help if you regularly switch your position. This is often uncomfortable to begin with, since you will be sleeping in positions which you are simply not used to. After a few weeks however, you should see some noticeable improvements in both your levels of pain, and flexibility.
It is import to take care of your back, and if you begin to notice stiffness and back pain in the mornings, you should consider purchasing a firmer mattress, which will help support your body where a soft mattress will not. If the back pain is muscular, a good massage will also help relieve lower back pain temporarily.
If you think your soft bed and back pain are related, it is important to switch your mattress, and you may also want to consult a doctor to find else what else can be done to relieve your pain.
