What Mattress Is Good for Back Problems?

Back pain is one of the most common health complaints in the UK, and the right mattress can make a significant difference in managing it. While a mattress alone won’t cure back issues, it plays a crucial role in providing proper spinal alignment, reducing pressure points and improving the quality of your sleep.

Understanding Back Pain and Sleep

Different kinds of back pain respond better to different mattress types.

• Lower back pain often benefits from a medium-firm mattress that supports the natural curve of the spine while providing enough cushioning for the hips and shoulders.
• Upper back or neck pain may be eased with a mattress that contours to the body, such as memory foam, which helps reduce strain on the shoulders.
• Chronic conditions such as arthritis or scoliosis can require a balance of pressure relief and support, making hybrid or high-quality pocket spring mattresses good options.

The most important factor is spinal alignment: your mattress should keep your spine in a neutral position, without sagging in the middle or forcing your back into unnatural curves.

Mattress Types for Back Problems

• Memory Foam: Great for contouring around the body and easing pressure points. Suited for those with upper back or joint pain. However, too soft a foam can lead to sagging, which worsens lower back pain.
• Latex: Naturally resilient and supportive, latex mattresses are excellent for spinal alignment. They also have a responsive, slightly springy feel, making them easier to move on than pure memory foam.
• Pocket Spring: High-quality sprung mattresses distribute weight evenly and support the natural shape of the spine. Look for models with many individual springs and firm tension for lower back issues.
• Hybrid: Combining springs with foam or latex layers, hybrids aim to provide the best of both worlds, solid support from springs plus pressure relief from foam. They suit a wide range of sleepers with mixed back complaints.

Product Examples from Sussex Beds

At Sussex Beds, you’ll find a carefully chosen range of mattresses designed to support spinal health and ease discomfort.

Gel Plush Ortho Mattress

The Gel Plush Ortho Mattress delivers firm, balanced support with cooling gel memory foam combined with over 1,000 pocket springs to contour to your body. Its non-turn design with a quilted, removable cover (featuring an Airtech border) ensures comfort and ease of care. At 28 cm depth, it offers a “Comfort 4 – Firm” feel, ideal for those needing stronger lumbar and spinal support.

Motion Comfort Mattress

The Motion Comfort Mattress combines a 1,000-pocket spring system with a micro-quilted top panel and Air Lite memory foam to deliver firmer support while still offering pressure relief. Designed to work with adjustable bases, it features foam-encapsulated edges, is non-turn (rotate occasionally), has a depth of around 25-26 cm, and comes with a 5-year warranty. Comfort level is “4 Firm,” making it ideal for those who need solid support but also value cushioning.

Duke Ortho Mattress

The Duke Ortho Mattress is a budget-friendly, foam-only option with no internal springs, offering firm support at a lower price. Made with high-density foam, it’s lightweight and shallow (14 cm deep), making it ideal for bunk beds, guest beds or children’s beds. The removable, hypoallergenic cover and non-turn construction (rotate occasionally) add to its ease of care, while its “Comfort 4 Firm” rating ensures good spinal support.

Orthopaedic Mattresses and Back Care

Orthopaedic mattresses are specifically designed to provide enhanced support for the spine, joints and overall posture. They are generally firmer than standard mattresses, helping to keep the back straight and evenly supported during sleep. This can be especially beneficial for people with chronic lower back pain, slipped discs, arthritis, or anyone advised by a healthcare professional to use a firmer sleeping surface.

However, “orthopaedic” is not a regulated medical term in the mattress industry. It usually indicates a mattress engineered with firmer tension and supportive construction, but not every orthopaedic mattress will suit every back problem. For example, someone with hip pain who sleeps on their side may find an extra-firm orthopaedic mattress too hard, causing pressure points instead of relief. The best approach is to try different firmness levels to find the right balance between spinal support and comfort.

At Sussex Beds, you can find several orthopaedic options designed with back health in mind. 

Rufford Ortho 7224 Mattress

The Rufford Ortho 7224 Mattress by Harrington & Abbott is an extra-firm, hand-crafted, pocket-sprung mattress designed for exceptional support and durability. It features 100% recyclable Cortec™ Quad pocket springs (7,224 in the 5’0″ size) paired with micro-pocket springs to give full-body reinforcement from head to toe. Natural fillings, including British wool, mohair, cotton, hemp and viscose, create a breathable sleeping surface. At 27 cm deep, it offers serious structural integrity, with edge support enhanced by hand side-stitching. The non-turn design means you only need to rotate occasionally. Comfort level is extra firm, ideal for those needing strong lumbar and spinal alignment, and it comes with a 10-year warranty.

Deluxe Ortho Mattress

The Deluxe Ortho Mattress delivers extra-firm support through 2,000 pocket springs (in the 5′0″/Double model), combined with man-made fillings to give a solid, consistent feel. It’s crafted with a luxury viscose damask cover, hand-tufted to lock fillings in place, and features turning handles for ease of rotation. At 27 cm depth, it’s rated Comfort 5 Extra Firm, making it especially suited to those needing strong spinal alignment and robust support.

Aura Ortho Mattress

The Aura Ortho Mattress combines 1,500 individually hand-nested orthopaedic pocket springs (in the king size) with luxurious natural fillings, wool, cotton, silk and cashmere, to deliver extra-firm, full-body support. A breathable woven damask cover and hand-tufted surface help keep everything even and ventilated, while side-stitched borders reinforce the edges. With a depth of 27 cm and a turnable design (rotate and flip regularly), it’s built to maintain shape and durability. Rated “Comfort 5 Extra Firm,” it’s especially suited for those seeking strong orthopaedic support with natural materials.

Orthopaedic mattresses can be an excellent choice if you’re looking for long-term back support, but always consider your body shape and sleeping position before committing to a very firm surface.

Choosing the Right Firmness

A common misconception is that a very firm mattress is always best for back pain. In reality, the right firmness depends on your body type and sleeping position:

• Side sleepers usually need a medium mattress to allow hips and shoulders to sink slightly and prevent spinal twisting.
• Back sleepers benefit from medium-firm support that holds the lumbar spine in place.
• Stomach sleepers often need a firmer surface to stop the lower back from arching.

The key is finding a mattress that feels supportive but not uncomfortably hard.

A mattress alone won’t solve every back problem, but pairing it with good habits can make a big difference. Replacing your mattress every seven to ten years is essential, especially if it shows signs of sagging or uneven wear. A supportive pillow that keeps your head and neck aligned with your spine can ease upper back and shoulder tension. Regularly rotating your mattress helps to distribute weight evenly and prevent dips from forming in the same area. If you’re not ready to invest in a new mattress, a quality topper can add an extra layer of comfort and support to your current bed, helping you manage discomfort in the short term.