Sleeping on a mattress that is too firm can cause aches and pains on pressure points. A medium-firm mattress may be more comfortable because it allows the shoulder and hips to sink in slightly. Patients who want a firmer mattress for back support can get one with thicker padding for greater comfort.
The soft support of a plush mattress, such as those found on memory foam, hybrid, pillow top, and Euro top mattresses, provides contouring comfort that cradles the body in a healthy alignment, from the neck down to the hips.
To relieve hip pain, especially for side sleepers, a softer mattress surface will help tight muscles relax and relieve pressure. If you already have a good-quality mattress but it's too firm, and you're aware of uncomfortable hip pressure, consider adding a soft mattress topper.
Side sleepers with hip pain typically need a soft sleep surface, so most hybrids are off the table due to their medium firm or firm designs. The Softer Winkbed bucks this trend with a medium soft (4) feel and thick foam layers that contour closely to cradle the spine and reduce pressure.
If you sink into the mattress so that your hips are lower than your shoulders, your mattress may be too soft and could be contributing to back pain. Keep in mind that weight is a factor when it comes to mattress firmness. The heavier a person is, the more likely they are to sink into a too-soft mattress.
Sleep position
If you often wake up with hip pain, the cause may be the position you sleep in or a mattress that is too soft or too hard. If you sleep on your back, try sleeping on your side. If you sleep on one side, try sleeping on the other side and place a pillow between your legs to keep your hips aligned.
It's a good idea to have your mattress inspected every few years. If it has sagged more than 1-1.5 inches across an area, you may experience discomfort when sleeping because of the poor posture that occurs from lying in these types of positions throughout the night. This could lead to hip pain or even back problems!
If you have a heavier midsection, you'll want a firm mattress with a zoned support core to keep your spinal alignment neutral. If you're a lighter sleeper, you'll interact mostly with the top layers of your mattress, so may prefer a softer mattress that provides plenty of comfort. Remember: Firmness isn't Support.
The best solution? Sleep on your back. If changing your sleep position is hard, try putting a pillow between your knees or slightly behind your back to relieve pressure and keep your hips aligned. A mattress topper or more supportive mattress might also help.
Try sleeping on your back or, if you're a side sleeper, sleep on the side that doesn't hurt and put a pillow between your knees to keep your hips aligned. Around your hip bone and other joints are small sacs filled with fluid that cushion the joint when it moves.
Memory foam: Memory foam mattresses are great for hip pain, delivering exceptional pressure relief and adapting to your body. However, when choosing the best memory foam mattress, it's good to make sure it specializes in preventing unhealthy sinkage by evenly supporting your body weight.
The first reason is obvious: When you sleep on your side, you put a lot of direct pressure on the hip joint. Often, that's enough to cause hip pain, even if you don't have really noticeable symptoms during the day. But you can also have pain in the opposite hip — the one you're not lying on.
Overall comfort while sleeping on the mattress is equally important as sufficient back support. Sleeping on a mattress that is too firm can cause aches and pains on pressure points. A medium-firm mattress may be more comfortable because it allows the shoulder and hips to sink in slightly.
Side sleepers do best with a mattress that is a medium to medium firm feel, which is a 5-6 firmness on our scale. Lighter weight side sleepers may go as soft as a 4 firmness with ultra light weight side sleepers going as low as a 3. Heavier side sleepers may go as high as a 7 firmness, though not more than that.
The position you tend to sleep in will also affect your comfort on beds of various firmness levels. Back and stomach sleepers tend to prefer firmer mattresses, while side sleepers prefer a softer feel. These preferences are not universal, of course, but it's a good starting point to consider.
While a softer mattress is recommended for people who sleep on their stomach or side, older people actually need a firmer mattress. Softer mattresses are also harder for older adults to get up from, so it's recommended that older sleepers get at least a medium-firm mattress.
Tossing and turning or sleeping in an odd position can cause little aches and pains that fade quickly. If you're experiencing a more pronounced level of back, neck, or shoulder pain upon waking — especially if the pain occurs on a nightly basis — then it's a telltale sign that your mattress is too firm for your needs.
If you immediately suffer lower back pain or stiffness when you wake, the chances are high that your mattress needs to be replaced. Pay close attention to how your body feels minutes before you go to bed for the night compared to when you get up.
4. A super-firm mattress could play into joint pain. When you're releasing your full body weight onto a surface for hours, you need that surface to have the right amount of give. If your mattress is too firm, excess pressure on areas like your shoulders, hips, knees, side, and back can lead to aches and pains, Dr.
Too Firm or Too Soft
A too-firm bed may result in discomfort due to compression forces building up inside joints, while a soft one can leave you feeling like there's no support at all under your hips or shoulders when lying down.
Can Sciatica Be Caused by a Bad Mattress? While it's unlikely that a mattress is the root cause of sciatic nerve pain, a bad mattress can certainly exacerbate the problem. An unsupportive sleeping surface often contributes to the discomfort and may even make your symptoms worse.
Sleeping on your back distributes weight evenly across your spinal column, reducing strain and pressure on specific areas of your spine. Sleeping on your back is also the best position to relieve hip pain when sleeping, for the same reason - removing pressure on your hips.
Loosen the inside of your hips and reduce soreness in the low back with this stretch. Lying on your back, open your knees to the sides and bring your feet to touch, forming a triangle position with your legs. Relax your arms by your sides. Feel your hips and groin release, and open more with each breath.