Choose a mattress with soft to medium firmness to avoid shoulder and hip discomfort when side sleeping. A soft feel would be most suitable.
Body weight also has an impactful role in mattress firmness. Heavier people may press more deeply into materials like memory foam, so mattresses rated with similar firmness levels could feel differently to each individual.
Shoulder Pain
Side sleepers place greater strain on their shoulders than other sleeping positions, which can aggravate shoulder pain when sleeping on an unsupportive mattress. Opting for a mattress designed specifically to alleviate shoulder pain – like the GhostBed 3D Matrix – will ensure maximum body comfort throughout your restful nights of slumber. The GhostBed 3D Matrix was engineered specifically to relieve stress on hips, shoulders, spine, neck and lower back while supporting natural curvatures of spine preventing neck or lower back pain caused by sleeping position change. You can try it at home for 101 nights while financing it at 0% interest interest if necessary!
Height and thickness can also have a dramatic impact on shoulder pain. A mattress that’s too thin won’t provide adequate cushioning in key spots and wears out faster; memory foam mattresses with ultra-thick designs such as Nectar Premier Copper Mattress can offer plenty of cushioning and support in all the right spots for side sleepers.
This mattress boasts an innovative gel-like surface that promotes airflow and temperature regulation to help keep you cool during sleep. Plus, its durable construction resists sagging better than most mattresses; 100 days are available to test out this bed prior to its purchase and there’s also an easy setup option included with each delivery box.
If you weigh over 130 lbs and prefer firmer mattresses, hybrid mattress may be your answer. Helix Titan Plus mattress was engineered specifically to support heavier folks by featuring XL wrapped coils and layers of DuraDense foam for ultimate support and cooling with Tencel technology for increased airflow to keep you cool during sleep.
Hip Pain
Hip pain is a frequent complaint for side sleepers. Like shoulder pain, this discomfort may stem from pressure on key joints or misalignment in the spine; to provide adequate comfort and proper spinal alignment while sleeping on your side. A mattress with medium firm feel will provide support to these vital structures for maximum results and maximum relief of hip and back discomfort.
Firmness is an individual preference and finding your ideal firmness level may take some trial-and-error. Most side sleepers require a balance between soft cushioning for knees and shoulders and supportive services that align the spine properly; an affordable hybrid mattress with both comfort and support could be ideal.
For those suffering from hip pain, sleeping with a pillow between their knees may help. This will relieve stress on the hip flexor muscles which cause tightness and pain in your hips during the day; they won’t get an opportunity to rest while you slumber.
Though a new mattress may provide temporary relief from back and hip pain, for more severe conditions a medical professional may suggest physical therapy as a more permanent solution. Physical therapy will involve stretching exercises designed to alleviate your symptoms. If your mattress is contributing to hip or shoulder discomfort it could be time for an upgrade –
A quality mattress should cradle your body while aligning your spine, offering relief from back and neck pain as well as other health conditions like heartburn. If you aren’t sure if it is time for an upgrade, here are a few guidelines:
Mattresses typically last six to eight years before needing replacing. If it begins sag or you wake up achey, that is an indication that it’s time for a change. If this is beyond your budget, a mattress topper might provide additional comfort and support – typically made of memory foam or latex which excel at providing pressure relief.
Back Pain
If you suffer from back pain, finding a mattress that contours to your body’s contours and alleviates pressure points is key for finding relief. Sleeping on a memory foam mattress that offers contoured support and promotes spinal alignment can reduce discomfort for side sleepers.
An uncomfortable mattress that lacks adequate cushioning layers may force you to slouch and misalign your spine, leading to lower back pain – something commonly experienced by side sleepers.
Your ideal mattress should provide excellent edge support to ensure a safe transition in and out of bed, and if temperature regulation is an issue consider a hybrid mattress made up of both foam and coils for optimal cooling.
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress is an ideal solution for average weight side sleepers who require durable yet high-quality support. As a hybrid mattress featuring both foam and coil components, the Aurora offers both hard but bouncier support while remaining cushioned enough for comfortable restful sleeping.
This mattress boasts an innovative feature – copper infusion – to dissipate heat and promote airflow throughout the night, helping hot sleepers who frequently wake up feeling sweaty or sore sleep sounder. This can be particularly helpful for hot sleepers.
The Purple Plus mattress is another excellent choice for hot sleepers or side sleepers with hip or shoulder pain, featuring gel memory foam to cushion shoulders and hips and provide pressure point relief while simultaneously aligning spine. In addition, its top layer contains proprietary Hyper-Elastic material designed to promote airflow and manage body temperature more effectively.
If you’re on a tight budget and prefer an innerspring mattress, the Saatva Classic may be just what you’re looking for. Our tests showed it to perform exceptionally well in terms of durability, edge support and movement ease – perfect for side sleepers due to its soft feel and 100-night trial and 10-year warranty coverage – plus convenient delivery right to your door in a box!
Spinal Alignment
A mattress that supports the natural curve of the spine is essential to getting a restful night’s rest, and should ideally support its natural curvature for side sleeping. Too soft or too firm mattresses may disturb this alignment and lead to hip or shoulder pain among other issues; medium soft to medium firm mattresses typically offer adequate support.
If you prefer sleeping alone on your side, an all-foam mattress could be your perfect match. Foam models absorb weight more effectively while offering sink-in comfort, relieving tension in shoulders and hips while offering better heat diffusion and edge support than other options, which may prevent overheating during the night.
Hybrid mattresses can also make excellent choices for side sleepers. These models feature an innerspring base to provide adequate support to both back and hips as well as an outer foam layer designed to cushion shoulders and hips while still offering excellent edge support and offering plush surfaces that feel luxuriously plush for side sleeping.
The Nectar Premier mattress is an outstanding memory foam choice for side sleepers, offering sufficient support to hips, shoulders, and back. Furthermore, its cooling gel layer helps regulate temperature to prevent it from getting too warm at night – all factors which contribute to its great customer ratings and widespread popularity on the market.
Pillows are essential accessories for side sleepers, helping reduce neck and shoulder pain through providing proper support. A medium or high loft pillow should lift the head and neck enough to avoid placing additional strain on neck muscles, so take your time choosing a medium- or high loft pillow that meets your specific needs – retail stores offering trial periods are invaluable when finding just the right pillow! Using correct posture while sleeping can also aid spinal alignment as well as alleviate shoulder and hip pain; simply keeping upper body relaxed can reduce pressure from lower back/hip areas by placing tucking pillow between knees can reduce pressure on lower back/hips reducing pressure between knees which in turn reduce pressure on lower back/hips areas.
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