Yahoo Lifestyle These Mattress Toppers Help Relieve Back Pain, According to Experts
- 1/13
These Mattress Toppers Help Relieve Back Pain, According to Experts
If back pain is preventing you from getting quality shut-eye every night, your bedding might be to blame. But what if you’re not ready to spend on the best mattresses for back pain quite yet? Thankfully, the best mattress toppers for back pain can be a convenient solution to alleviate your back stiffness—and ultimately help you sleep more comfortably.
“Mattress toppers are a good option for anyone who finds that their current mattress is uncomfortable or causing them discomfort while sleeping, but doesn’t want to purchase a new mattress,” says Shelby Harris, M.D., director of sleep health at Sleepopolis. As an extra layer that rests on top of your mattress, a topper alters the firmness level and cushioning to provide better support and pressure relief—helping to alleviate back pain throughout the night. “A new mattress topper can provide support for the low back and help maintain proper alignment throughout the night by conforming to the natural curvature of the spine,” explains Troy Wood, M.D., a specialist in pain medicine, physical medicine, and rehabilitation at the Atlantic Health System.
When it comes to shopping for the best mattress toppers, though, it can be challenging to find the right one for your needs—which is why we’ve rounded up all of the best available.
Meet the Experts: Shelby Harris, M.D., director of sleep health at Sleepopolis; Troy Wood, M.D., a specialist in pain medicine, physical medicine, and rehabilitation at the Atlantic Health System; Karen Litzy, P.T., D.P.T., a physical therapist in New York City.
Whether you’re looking for memory foam or latex, a cooling mattress topper, or one that’s best for side sleepers, all of these expert-approved and top-rated picks should help you sleep more comfortably all night long.
Nolah, Viscosoft - 2/13
1) Mattress Topper
Nolah
nolahmattress.com
$299.00
“The Nolah Mattress Topper is made with AirFoam that is cooling, supportive, and great for those who need extra pressure relief,” says Dr. Harris. “It also has two different firmness options so you can pick the one that is most comfortable to you.”
In fact, the brand claims that their AirFoam material offers four times better pressure relief and 300% more durability than regular memory foam. Reviewers say it delivers, too, giving it an impressive 4.9 star rating. “It’s the perfect combination of cushiony comfort and support,” raves one shopper. “It gives me the pressure point relief I need, it’s comfortable AND supportive, I sleep well, and I don’t wake up in pain anymore!”
Nola - 3/13
2) 3 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper
ViscoSoft
amazon.com
$169.95
If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, this popular Amazon pick boasts over 8,000 five-star ratings, with reviewers loving that it provides just the right amount of firmness and support. It’s made from gel-infused memory foam that’s designed to prevent you from “sinking,” and is also designed to reduce body heat and optimize airflow. Plus, it’s available in three different thickness options.
“I used to have back pain constantly throughout the night, every night, due to my old mattress,” writes one reviewer. “On the first night, my lower back pain was almost completely alleviated. I was truly amazed. It is soft but supportive.”
ViscoSoft - 4/13
3) Mattress Topper
Saatva
saatva.com
$565.00
Dr. Harris recommends this top-rated pick from popular mattress band Saatva for its three inches of pressure-relieving memory foam as well as its cooling abilities from graphite. “This mattress topper also has an organic cover that is washable and elastic straps that help keep the topper in place,” she adds.
With a nearly perfect rating, this topper also has reviewers raving about its comfort. “No more back or neck pain! For the first time in years I’m able to sleep 8 hours,” writes one shopper. “Love it! Who knew a mattress topper could be life changing.”
Saatva - 5/13
4) TEMPUR-Adapt® Topper
Tempur-Pedic
tempurpedic.com
$335.20
Made with Tempur-Pedic’s one-of-a-kind foam material that instantly molds to your weight and shape, this three-inch topper truly provides the support you need. Although it comes with a breathable, stretchy knit cover with moisture-wicking properties, you also have the option to add cooling technology to the topper for an additional $60.
Plus, this pick boasts over 5,000 five-star ratings, with one shopper raving: “The three-inch mattress topper really does cradle your back and feels like you are getting customized support at certain pressure points...Overall a great product which helps give you a supportive and comfortable night’s sleep. I no longer wake up with a stiff back or back pain.”
Tempur-Pedic - 6/13
5) Organic Latex Mattress Topper
Avocado
avocadogreenmattress.com
$349.00
Avocado’s mattress topper is made with 100% GOLS organic certified latex, as well as a layer of GOTS-certified organic wool that helps regulate temperature and wick away moisture to help keep you cool. Not to mention, you can also choose between two firmness levels—plush or firm—to match what you need.
“I absolutely love my topper! I have been sleeping on it for a little over a year and love it more each day,” writes one reviewer. “Before the topper I woke up with aches and pains and after the topper—no more aches and pains! It was cool all summer and warm in the winter.”
Avocado - 7/13
6) 100% Natural Latex Mattress Topper
Plush Beds
plushbeds.com
$334.00
Available in a wide range of firmness options, this highly-rated topper is made from high-quality, GOLS-certified natural latex that’s perfectly elastic, cushiony, and optimized for pressure point relief. Plus, the open-cell design helps not only provides airflow and heat distribution, it helps absorb the shock of movement.
One reviewer who notes she was waking up with back pain from a mattress said that this topper was a “game changer,” writing, “The first night I slept on this topper, I couldn’t believe how deeply I slept... no tossing and turning whatsoever. And, the most important thing was that I didn’t wake up with back or shoulder pain.”
Plush Beds - 8/13
7) Dual Layer 4 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Sleep Innovations
amazon.com
$139.99
This top-rated mattress topper from Sleep Innovations features a four-inch dual layer for extra enhanced support: two inches of cooling gel memory foam on the bottom, and two inches of a soft quilted pillow top cover. And with a whopping 20,000 ratings on Amazon, it’s a clear favorite among customers, with reviewers raving that it’s a “game changer.”
“I have a horrible back that keeps me tossing and turning all night long...I no longer dread it when it is time to go to bed,” writes one reviewer. “This will be one of the best investments you have ever bought. Do yourself a favor and purchase this item.”
Sleep Innovations - 9/13
8) Foam Mattress Topper
Tuft & Needle
amazon.com
$250.00
Thanks to its soft, responsive foam that relieves pressure points on the hips and shoulders, this two-inch foam topper is great for side sleepers who are looking for pain relief. The open-cell design also helps ensure the material is breathable and cooling.
“This thing is AWESOME! I recently bought a new mattress and I am a side sleeper and it was just too firm for me. I was having serious upper back pain,” writes one reviewer. “I woke up feeling like a new woman. It was such a gentle, soft, cradle for my whole body.”
Tuft & Needle - 10/13
9) Memory Foam Topper
Layla
laylasleep.com
$259.00
If you’re a hot sleeper, this mattress topper can help keep you cool throughout the night—all while helping relieve your back pain. It’s made with memory foam that’s infused with copper gel beads, which help to absorb body heat and is also naturally antimicrobial. Reviewers also say that the plush foam layer “really feels like sleeping on a puffy cloud.”
“I have tried all types of toppers. None compare to the Layla as far as the perfect amount of sink...It removes all pressure points but supports perfectly so no more lower back ache or sore hips upon waking,” writes one customer. “Does it really help keep you cool? YES! It has made a huge difference for me.”
Layla - 11/13
10) 2.5-lb. Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper
Brooklyn Bedding
mattresstopper.com
$74.25
If you’re looking for a good mattress topper that won’t break the bank, this affordable pick comes in at under $100—without skimping on quality. It features a plush layer of memory foam that provides pressure point relief, complete with a gel swirl that offers a cooling effect.
“I didn’t think it would do much, but within just two weeks the back pain I’ve been experiencing for months has disappeared,” writes one reviewer. “I would highly recommend this to anyone who has a bad back as a result of a terrible bed. Good price and great results.”
Mattress Topper By Brooklyn Bedding - 12/13
11) Pure Green Natural Latex Mattress Topper
Sleep On Latex
amazon.com
$365.00
This highly-rated topper is made with organic latex, and also comes with an organic cotton cover that’s removable and machine washable (there’s also an option to buy it without the cover, too). Reviewers say the it offers the perfect amount of support if you’re looking to add firmness to your bed.
“My soft, horrible mattress is now as comfortable as a cloud, my lower back doesn’t ache and my hips aren’t sinking in anymore,” writes one reviewer. “The firm is not hard, but the ideal firmness for support and comfort. It’s got a night springy feel that cradles your pressure points instead of letting them sink in and misalign.”
Sleep On Latex - 13/13
12) Plush Organic Mattress Topper
Birch Living
birchliving.com
$287.20
If your mattress is too firm and causing back pain, this topper is a great fix. With two inches of GOTS-certified organic materials including cotton, wool, and latex, reviewers rave that it adds the perfect amount of plush support without being too soft.
“This is one of the best investments in sleep quality that I have made,” raves one shopper. “Having a bad back I sleep on a firm mattress which lacked support in some key areas. The topper added that support and softened the overall balance just right. Quality of sleep improved dramatically.”
Birch
