Best Mattresses for Back Pain in Canada
Yurii Brown
on
Sleep should help your body heal itself.
However, sometimes things go wrong and you wake up all aching and cranky. The most common reason for that is lower back pain.
And the best thing is, you can get rid of it, in most cases, by choosing the right mattress!
So, scroll down to find our recommendations for choosing the best mattress for back pain and check out the top-3 preferences from users with the same issue.
A Quick Preview
Best Overall - Editor’s Choice
Thickness: 10 inches
Firmness: medium
Layers: 3
Trial: 101 nights
Warranty: lifetime
Second Best Pick
Thickness: 12 inches
Firmness: medium-firm
Layers: 3
Trial: 101 nights
Warranty: 25 years
Best Adjustable Choice
Thickness: 11 inches
Layers: 3
Trial: 120 nights
Warranty: 15 years
Best for Value Seekers
Thickness: 12 inches
Firmness: medium-firm
Layers: 3
Trial: 101 nights
Warranty: 25 years
Best for Cool Sleep
Thickness: 10 inches
Firmness: medium-firm
Layers: 4
Trial: 120 nights
Warranty: 15 years
Highlights:
- a great pick for mixed sleepers with back pain;
- one of the best cradling effects on the market;
- made of materials that adapt to temperature changes to prevent you from overheating;
- washable cover made with certified textiles keeps your sleep allergy-free;
- blocks any movements, so you can sleep soundly.
Let’s start this list of the best mattresses for back pain with the Puffy mattress, which has your comfort at mind and at heart. Waking up with morning pain because you fell asleep in an awkward pose is pretty common. And the Puffy mattress easily addresses this issue. Its total-body hug and deep cushioning will make every position comfortable and spare you from hours of tossing and turning, which sounds like a reasonable argument to put this bed in our list of the best mattresses for back pain.
The Puffy has a medium to firm feel, which is proven to suit most sleepers with bad backs. The upper layer is the softest and features Cooling Cloud memory foam that hugs you like a literal cloud and alleviates pressure points in any position. Plus, the foam enhances your sleep by keeping you cool, so you can heal even more effectively.
Plus, the Puffy, thanks to the traditional memory foam, keeps your sleep shock-free, as it alleviates any motion disturbances. So, if you share a bed with an active sleeper, now you can make sure that you’ll get a peaceful sleep.
So, the Puffy totally corresponds with the definition of the great bed for those who have a bad back. It’s cozy, supportive, and will keep your sleep restorative and peaceful for years to come.
Pros | Cons |
Medium feel is compatible with back, side, and stomach sleeping | Might sleep a bit hot |
Great motion absorption keeps your sleep sound | Might fail to support sleepers with excess weight |
Easy to care for thanks to the washable cover | |
Relieves pressure and eliminates pain better than similar models | |
Made from local materials, which reduces the price |
Second Best Pick
GhostBed 3D Matrix
Highlights:
- proprietary 3D Matrix polymer layer to guarantee cooler sleep;
- reinforced edges to provide uniform support and extra legroom;
- extended warranty for unparalleled customer protection.
The silver medal among the best mattresses for back pain in Canada goes to the GhostBed 3D Matrix. Why? Because what this model can do to your back is amazing. The 3D Matrix by GhostBed combines resilient coils with multiple conforming layers. As a result, this mattress can achieve a perfect balance between pressure alleviation and proper support. Let me tell you this: I was testing the GhostBed 3D Matrix when recovering from a back strain (kudos to my personal trainer). Needless to say, I felt relief only after a couple of nights.
Next, I would also like to mention the cooling properties of this mattress. As a chronic hot sleeper, I found the 3D Matrix by GhostBed more than just satisfactory. Whether it’s the breathable coils of that gel polymer layer to thank, this mattress sleeps cool.
Pros | Cons |
Balanced feel to achieve optimal support and tension relief, great for back pain sufferers | Quite pricey and might not work for shoppers on a budget |
Sturdy edges, suited for couples who require more legroom | May allow for some motion transfer, which can be an issue for light sleepers who share their bed with a partner |
Sleeps cool | Might not be supportive enough for strict stomach sleepers |
Feels rather resilient and does not restrict movement, great for combo sleepers | |
Extra-long warranty |
Best Adjustable Choice
Novosbed
Highlights:
- three firmness levels: Soft, Medium, and Firm, and the Comfort+ kit to customize the mattress feel to your needs;
- washable Tencel cover draws out moisture and repels dust mites;
- made of open-cell foams from top to bottom and keeps your sleep cool;
- has solid edges and resistant to premature sagging;
- low motion transfer and excellent spinal support.
The next mattress on our list is the Novosbed mattress. It’s designed to relieve your back pain: you can choose the desired firmness according to your sleep style and even customize it afterwards with a Comfort+ kit.
Each of the three zones of the Novosbed does its job perfectly. The comfort layer hugs your body in any position you choose to adopt and keeps your sleep cool. The transition layer alleviates any possible pressure by distributing your weight and supporting your spine. Finally, the base absorbs every movement coming from the other side of the bed but doesn’t affect your own position shifting.
And, for the cherry on top, the Novosbed has pretty sturdy edges that can be compared to those in hybrid beds. Now you can be absolutely sure that you’ll get every inch of space you need to feel comfy, even if your partner loves to stretch out while sleeping.
Basically, the Novosbed combines everything to look for in a good pain-relieving mattress: some room for customization, a great hug that doesn’t interfere with your movements, and breathable design.
Pros | Cons |
Suitable for any sleeping style | Might feel a bit too bouncy |
Comfort+ kit leaves the room for customization | The cover might shrink a bit after wash |
Doesn’t interfere with your movements | |
Keeps your sleep cool and dry thanks to open-cell foams | |
Pretty good edge support |
Best for Value Seekers
The Douglas Mattress
Highlights:
- patented Elastex foam to create a safer sleeping environment while delivering responsive support;
- ecoLight gel foam for improved heat dissipation during sleep;
- balanced medium-firm feel to satisfy a wider variety of users.
Want to find the best mattress for back pain in Canada but feel like you’re not ready for a serious investment? Then you might want to consider a more affordable option. And the Douglas could be just the right pick, as this mattress does not sacrifice quality or comfort for a good price. This model delivers targeted support that can help redistribute one’s weight evenly and thus, aids pain alleviation. At the same time, you don’t have to pay a fortune for your comfort. To tell the truth, I was surprised to see that the Douglas was really helping me with my back pain given its attractive price tag.
I also appreciate how effectively this mattress absorbs shock from motion. My partner wakes up much earlier than I do, and usually, I can feel them getting out of bed. However, with the Douglas mattress, my sleep was not disturbed even once.
Pros | Cons |
Good quality and smart construction to aid back pain for a very reasonable price | May not seem firm enough to strict stomach sleepers |
Offers targeted pressure relief, good for side sleepers | Might not deliver enough support for heavier users (over 230 pounds) |
Sleeps cool | |
Great motion isolation, ideal for partnered sleep |
Best for Cool Sleep
Polysleep
Highlights:
- perforated comfort layer draws the heat away from your body;
- liquid-repellent cover with mesh sides allows the heat to escape and keeps your sleep cool;
- the antimicrobial foam prevents funky odours and increases the mattress lifespan;
- medium firmness is a good pick for any user with a bad back;
- superb motion absorption will guard your shuteye if your partner is an active sleeper.
And the last but not least option on this list of the best mattresses for lower back pain is the Polysleep. Why? Well, because it’s one of the few memory foam mattresses that offer you total body relaxation without making you drown in your sweat!
The upper layer of the Polysleep is made of the breathable hybrid foam, which is denser and more breathable than the traditional memory foam. It cradles your lower back and relieves the tension regardless of the sleeping position you choose. Plus, it has perforations that go all the way through and create a direct airflow that will keep you cool.
Cooling effects are further enhanced by mesh inserts on the cover that allow the heat to dissipate/ Plus, it has a liquid-resistant top that minimizes any chance of accidents and is completely washable, so you can keep your mattress fresh for longer.
The overall impression of the Polysleep mattress is rather positive. It’s the mattress that quickly adapts to your body shape, relieves tension, and has all the good things about memory foam plus the potent cooling effect.
Pros | Cons |
Sleeps cooler than similar models | Might lack edge support |
A great pick for active sleepers because of low motion transfer | Might feel a bit too soft for overweight sleepers |
Easy to care for thanks to the spill-resistant cover | |
Works for sleepers of any type | |
No off-gassing |
How Back Pain Impacts Mattress Choice?
Most causes of back pain can be divided into three categories:
- Mechanical — a result of slouching, sitting or sleeping in an uncomfortable position.
- Trauma — strains, injuries, or fractures.
- Chronic — caused by underlying medical conditions or ageing (1).
Each of these categories may require different treatments. So, in order to choose the best mattress for lower back pain, you need to know what features it should have to help you sleep soundly.
Pain makes you toss and turn more to find a position where the inflamed area isn’t triggered, so you can fall asleep. You can address this issue with a mattress with potent cradling effects, such as memory foam. Memory foam quickly adapts to your body contour and to the pressure that it applies, so it can support neutral spinal alignment regardless of the sleeping style you adopt. Thus, memory foam can actually shorten the time it takes for you to drift off and makes your sleep less painful.
Other mattress types suitable for individuals with bad backs are latex and hybrid. Latex mattresses offer instant contouring but don't have excess sinkage, which allows you to move freely. This can be useful for people who have limited mobility because of pain. Hybrid mattresses have similar properties because of the coil core that is more bouncy but they also are way cheaper than latex, so you can consider them as a budget-friendly alternative.
Other Things You Need to Know when choosing the mattress for back pain relief
Aside from choosing the right type and amount of cradling, you need to consider some other things that make the good mattress for a bad back.
Firmness
All mattresses can be divided into three firmness levels: soft, medium, and firm. Depending on the intensity and localization of your back pain, you might need different firmness. However, studies show that mattresses ranked as ‘medium-firm’ made of adaptive materials, such as memory foam, are best for pain alleviation and sleep quality improvement (2).
Now, the choice of the firmness level may also depend on one’s sleeping style. Here are the general recommendations:
- Back sleepers. This sleep position is considered optimal for proper spinal alignment and weight redistribution. Back sleepers require reliable support with a moderate hug for the heavier body parts - hips and buttocks. Therefore, medium and medium-firm mattresses are usually considered the most comfortable ones for this sleeping style.
- Side sleepers. Side sleepers can easily develop sharp or painful pressure points if their protruding body parts “dig” into the surface of the mattress. That’s why this sleeping style usually goes well with softer mattresses.
- Stomach sleepers. For stomach sleepers, it’s crucial to prevent unhealthy spine curvature during the night. Therefore, this sleeping style calls for sturdy, firm support. So, stomach sleepers are typically advised to choose firmer mattresses (and even extra-firm for heavier users).
- Combination sleepers. For combination sleepers, it can often be hard to find something in the middle that would work for multiple sleeping styles. Additionally, this sleep position usually requires a mattress that would not be likely to restrict movement. In most cases, combo sleepers feel the most comfortable when using medium or medium-firm mattresses.
Pressure Relief
An important characteristic that a mattress suitable for back pain should have is being able to relieve pressure. There are parts in the body that tend to feel more pressure when on the bed, such as the head, hips, and the shoulders. Some types of beds are suitable for relieving these parts. Memory foam is one of the materials that supports the body and adapts to the natural shape of the body. Plus, memory foam tends to distribute weight to all around a mattress, and pressure from the weight of the body doesn’t get concentrated on a specific part of the body. That is why memory foam and hybrid mattress with memory foam are great mattresses for this purpose.
Edge Support
Back pain often causes slight mobility issues. It can make it hard for sleepers to change positions during the night or get out of bed. However, the latter may be easier if the mattress’s edges are strong. In this case, they will provide enough response when the user pushes their hands into the mattress to get a little boost and get up. In this scenario, it’s better to consider a hybrid mattress, as this type typically offers reliable edge support. Innerspring models also have sturdy edges. However, this type might not work for all sleepers, as spring mattresses don’t excel at delivering effective pressure relief.
Cool Sleep
As we’re falling asleep, our body temperature drops, thus facilitating deeper and more stable shut-eye. Overheating, on the other hand, leads to less restorative sleep.
With that being said, look for a mattress with good cooling effects. Usually, it incorporates gel memory foam, natural latex, open-cell foam base or coil unit, and breathable fabrics.
However, in some cases, mattresses with slight heat retention can be more beneficial, as they increase the blood flow to the inflamed area and relax muscles, which can alleviate pain.
Motion Transfer
If you share a bed with an active sleeper, you know that sometimes it becomes pretty hard to drift off due to endless tossing and turning. Mattresses with high motion absorption, such as memory foam or hybrid beds with thick padding, can lock the impulses in and offer you both sound sleep. Plus, they usually are pretty cradling and can help you or your partner get comfy more quickly.
However, you may know that pain can also limit your mobility sometimes, and combined with a cushioning mattress, these limitations may become uncomfortable. In this case, choose mattresses with higher rebound, for example, those made of open-cell memory foam, polyfoam, or natural latex. These materials are pretty cradling too but they don’t interfere with your movements if you decide to shift positions or get out of bed.
Body Weight
The sleeper's weight is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a mattress for back pain. Heavier individuals will need a firmer mattress to provide adequate support, while lighter individuals may find a softer mattress more comfortable.
However, it is important to find a balance between firmness and comfort, as a mattress that's too soft will not provide enough support, and a too firm mattress will be uncomfortable.
In addition, bodyweight should be taken into account when considering the thickness of the mattress. Heavier individuals will need a thicker mattress to prevent them from bottoming out, while lighter individuals may find a thinner mattress more comfortable. Ultimately, the perfect mattress for back pain will vary depending on an individual's body weight.
It will be easier to find a mattress that provides both comfort and support by taking this factor into account.
Seek Professional Advice
A qualified professional can help identify the source of the pain and recommend the best type of mattress for your needs. They can also provide guidance on other important factors such as firmness and support. In addition, a professional can offer advice on prolonging the life of your mattress and keeping it in good condition. By seekings professional help, you can be sure that you are choosing the right mattress for your specific needs.
Budget
In general, higher-priced mattresses tend to offer better support and more comfortable materials, but there are plenty of options available at lower price points. Those on a tight budget need to do some research to find the best value for the money. Reading online reviews can be helpful and taking advantage of sales and special offers. Whatever route you decide to take, be sure to do your homework to ensure that you are getting the best mattress for your needs and your budget.
What Is the Best Mattress Type for Back Pain?
To find the best mattress for back pain in Canada, it’s crucial to understand how each mattress type works and feels. After all, the best mattress is always the one that suits one’s needs and preferences perfectly.
So, here are the most common mattress types and examples of who they would work for:
Memory foam
Feel: slow-moving, cradling, hugging. Fills in the body curves and redistributes the weight evenly.
Great for: users who have sensitive joints; those who prefer good motion absorption and zero to minimum bounce; sleepers who aren’t prone to overheating at night; those who enjoy being hugged by the mattress’s comfort layers; couples who want to reduce nighttime disturbances; those who want almost instant pressure relief.
Latex
Feel: contouring but responsive. Sleeps cool. Doesn’t restrict movement while adapting to the sleeper’s body and distributing the weight properly.
Great for: chronic hot sleepers; combination sleepers who don’t want to feel restricted; those who want effective tension alleviation without too much of a hug; fans of eco-friendly mattresses; shoppers who want an extra-durable mattress and don’t mind spending more.
Hybrid
Feel: balanced, with sturdy support and a decent amount of cradling. Depending on the thickness of the comfort layers, these mattresses can aid fast pressure relief while keeping the spine neutral.
Great for: those who want something in the middle - not too hugging, not overly responsive; partnered sleepers who require more space and sleep closer to the mattress’s edges; hot sleepers; those with slightly limited mobility who require sturdy edge support to get out of bed; users who don’t mind a bit of a bounce.
Innerspring
Feel: bouncy. Respond fast to applied pressure. Don’t offer much of a hug.
Great for: sleepers who don’t have tender joints or sharp pressure points; stomach or back sleepers who prefer firmer support; hot sleepers who need improved breathability during the night; shoppers on a budget.
F.A.Q.
What mattress firmness do I need if my lower back hurts?
A medium-firm mattress with a firmness level of 7 to 8 is usually ideal for lower back discomfort. These mattresses offer the right amount of spine support and pressure relief. A too firm or soft mattress can lead to more pain and pressure on your lower back.
What sleeping position is best for lower back pain?
You should sleep on your side with your knees partially bent as much as possible if you want to prevent and relieve back pain. While some people find back sleeping more comfortable, sleeping on your side is the best way to support your spine's natural curvature and avoid unnecessary pressure.
How do I know my mattress is causing back pain?
If you wake up in the morning with stiffness or pain, especially in your lower back, you may want to get a new mattress. Many mattresses tend to lose their shape, causing body pressure points. Also, if you often toss up and down, it may be a sign that your mattress isn't supportive enough and that heavier parts of your body aren't supported well.
Conclusion
As annoying as back pain can be, it’s still a manageable condition, and the mattress can become your ally in bringing good sleep back.
Check your bed of choice for the presence of good and soft padding above the core, materials with great colling effect and more pronounced rebound if you have mobility issues due to pain. Also, keep in mind that although the best firmness level for most users with bad backs is medium, you might need to score it up if you’re an overweight sleeper or prefer sleep on the stomach.
To recommend to you one of our favorite mattresses that really helps people with back pain, we should go with the Puffy mattress. This mattress, hands down, performs the best among its rivals when it comes to pressure relief. The quality of the materials they use are top notch, and helps you stay hygienic by washing its soft cover. It has zero disturbance to your partner because of its motion isolation power. All in all, this mattress makes you feel like you’re weightless and free. No more pain!
Have you considered changing the mattress to get rid of your back pain? And what features are you looking for in the first place? We’d love to read your answers below!
References
- Statistics Canada (2006, April 4). Back Pain.Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-619-m/2006003/4053542-eng.htm
- Ahmed Radwan, Philip Fess, Darcy James, John Murphy, Joseph Myers, Michelle Rooney, Jason Taylor, Alissa Torii. (2015, October 19). Effect of Different Mattress Designs on Promoting Sleep Quality, Pain Reduction, and Spinal Alignment in Adults With or Without Back Pain; A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29073401/
Yurii Brown
Yurii Brown is the Founder and Sleep Content Writer at SleepingNorth. Within his first year running the website, he has published over 50 articles that educate readers on sleep and help them find the most suitable sleep products. He pays more attention to analyzing each mattress construction, the different materials used within it, the feel each material contributes, and the best sleeping position they would work for. Having properly examined each product, he provides in-depth reviews that cut to the chase and provide readers with the value they need for more restorative sleep hygiene.