First, though, we should make two important things clear. Firstly, firmness is subjective and there's no universally 'perfect' level of firmness that will suit everyone; so it's very much about finding the right level for you personally. And secondly, even the best mattress won't cure your back pain all by itself. So if you haven't already, it's vital that you see a doctor or osteopath to get your problem examined properly.
As Lyndsay explains,"You want a mattress that supports your spine and doesn't feel as though you are folding in the middle. If you lie on your side, you want to feel the mattress support your whole body and not feel as though you are sinking in. There should be a light pressure under your body." In short, if you don't love your mattress, then it isn't the bedtime buddy you deserve. As James says:"Time to ditch that loser and move on!"Another rule of thumb is that if you're heaver than average, your body will need more support, so you'll probably be more comfortable on a firmer mattress. Conversely, people who are lighter than average will generally prefer a mattress that's on the softer side.
While mattresses at the premium end are getting increasingly sophisticated in their construction, at the value end of the market, it's still broadly a choice between springs and memory foam. So which of these is better for back pain sufferers? Again, then, some trial and error is usually going to be necessary. And you might find that a more expensive hybrid mattress, like theWhat other factors should you look for in a mattress?