Can a memory foam mattress help a bad back?

I have soar back and have not been getting very good sleep. Will a memory foam mattress help? Is memory foam bedding really as good as they say it is? Is it worth the expense?

Back problems and back pain have a lot of different causes as you know. A mattress won’t get rid of the underlying cause, but yes, they can help by relieving pressure points and keeping your spine in proper alignment while you sleep.

Memory foam mattresses do a very good job of relieving pressure points. They do this by contouring to your body, applying a more even pressure across its surface. Compared to a traditional innerspring mattress, the pressure on your hips and shoulders will be less and the support for your lower back and neck will be greater. Because a memory foam mattress is so flexible, it allows your spine to relax in its neutral position with a gentle upward curve for your neck and lower back.

Everyone benefits from a soft and supportive memory foam mattress and yet some people do not like them. The main complaints are 1) too warm or 2) spring back too slowly (especially when cold), making it difficult to move around in bed. Both of these problems are common to lower quality foam beds with inferior material and construction.

All foam beds will be warmer than innerspring beds, but a simple mattress pad or wool mattress pad will help draw heat away from the body. Mattresses that are hard to move around in have a top layer of memory foam with an insufficient “support factor.” That simply means that it does not bounce back fast enough.

I sleep on a memory foam mattress. All my family sleeps on them. And I personally experienced great relief from back pain and restored sleep from my first memory foam mattress over 3 years ago. I was so inspired that I started a company. So I’m biased, but with good reason. Regarding expense, yes a high quality memory foam bed is undoubtedly worth it. It will perform better and last years longer than an innerspring bed and you sleep better the whole time.

Here are several articles about foam beds that may be helpful.