Chronic back pain can deprive you of sleep, and as a cyclical effect, it can affect your physical, emotional, and mental state the next day. The right mattress may be the key to a good night’s sleep if you are under treatment for back pain. The criteria based on which you choose the right mattress for your back are its firmness, the material, the contouring, and the ability to align your spine.

Though the right mattress that helps you sleep and wake up with little or no back pain is the right one for you, here are some pointers that can help you identify a good fit:

1. Firmness for lower back pain
The normal firmness levels for mattresses are extra soft, soft, medium soft, medium, medium-firm, firm, and extra firm. Lower back pain happens in the lower vertebrae. If you are a side sleeper, you should choose from medium-soft to medium-firm mattresses based. If you are a back or a stomach sleeper, opt for medium-firm to firm mattresses.

2. The firmness of middle and upper back pain
Poor posture or other health conditions may lead to pain in the upper and middle back pain. Before choosing a mattress, consult with a doctor and diagnose the cause. Look for pressure-relieving mattresses that are of medium-firm firmness. Choose a good quality that can support your neck and upper spine for good relief.

3. Sleeping position and back pain
The firmness of a mattress is also denoted in scales from 1 to 10, with 10 indicating the maximum firmness. The ideal mattress for side sleepers is a mattress with 5.5 to 6.5 on the firmness scale. For back sleepers, a medium mattress with a firmness scale of 6 to 7 provides the right spine alignment and supports the hips. If you are a stomach sleeper, a mattress on a scale of 6 to 7 on the firmness scale is best suited for you so that it doesn’t sink and can keep the spine elevated.

4. Components of the mattress are important
Pure innerspring or coil mattresses with a thin layer of foam or latex topping may not comfort the back. Doctors recommend memory foam and latex mattresses as best for back pain as they offer good contouring and support to the back. They also support the pressure points well and reduce pain. Hybrid mattresses with innerspring, coil, or airbases along with layers of memory foam or latex can support the spine and back well.

5. Thickness of mattress
A medium-firm mattress with a thinner layer is best suited as it will not sink. Mattresses that are 8” to 12” thick are ideal as they can provide comfort and support the spine.

6. Always check the mattress before buying
Ensure you visit multi-brand retail showrooms in your locality, lie down on the mattress for some time and check it out. If you cannot do that, choose brands that offer a 1 to 6 months trial period. You can return the mattress if you do not find relief from back pain. Check the conditions of trial and return before you buy one.