Bad backs: they plague many of us! In fact they are one of the most common problems bothering people around the country – an estimated 61% of the population, at around 5.5 million people. So if you wake up each morning, not feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, but aching and sore, it’s safe to say that you’re not alone!

But what can you do about it? Of course, there are a number of factors which can cause a pain in the back or along the spine, so we’d always recommend that you visit your GP to get any issues checked out. 

If, however, you’re looking for an at-home fix – the Odd company is here to help. Though other factors of course contribute to a bad back – lifestyle, genetics, and job – there are ways you can ease the pain while asleep, by taking simple DIY steps to make sure your back is getting the support it needs. The most obvious candidate? Your mattress. 

Think about it for a moment: how long are you spending on your mattress each night? Each week? Each year? With an average of between 6-8 hours a night, it’s safe to say that your mattress is the most-used piece of furniture in your home – and for many it is the cause of their bad back. Let’s take a look at why: 

 

How Does My Mattress Affect My Health?

Mattresses impact your health in a huge range of surprising and varied ways. We’ve written about all the ways in which your mattress can impact your health in our Sleep & Wellbeing section, both good and bad, but let’s recap on some of the key points.

Sleep is hugely important for both the body and the mind. Recent studies and experts in the field have been gently letting us know for decades that it’s time to turn off the TV and put down the phone, because rest is essential. Just a few of the things that poor sleep can affect include increasing your risk of heart attack, cancer and stroke by 200%, as well as compromising your immune system.

Renowned industry expert Dr. Andrew Walker (of the industry-leading Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams) shares the significance of sleep, which he has uncovered throughout the course of his research. Many more examples pepper Walker’s research with sleep affecting blood sugar, weight gain, mental health, aggression, addiction, and many more. So how can sleep affect your back?

There are a number of ways in which your sleep can impact your back – and we’re sorry to say, it’s pretty much down to your mattress. 

 

How can mattresses cause back pain? 

As you might’ve guessed, an unsupportive mattress is the likely cause of most of your back troubles. If you rest for 6-8 hours a night on what we might think of as a ‘bad mattress’, your body will be exposed to uncomfortable sleeping conditions for this entire period. 

A ‘bad mattress’ might seem vague – but rest assured, you know it when you nap on it! Whether you feel obvious discomfort, or you wake up feeling achy or in pain, you’ll recognise that it’s not the one for you. Something that can often surprise people, however, is that a bad mattress might not immediately be obvious from touch or sight. 

You don’t need to have jagged springs sticking out or holes in a mattress for it to be unsupportive.  Mattresses sold at a discount at your local retail park or made from memory foam and shipped to you in a box, for instance, can appear ‘soft’, but provide nothing in the way of spinal support leading to back pain. So, what kind of mattress do you need? 

What Is The Best Mattress For A Bad Back?

As we’ve touched upon, you might think that what you really need is a soft, sumptuous surface to slump into – popularised through the advertisements of thick-cut ‘memory foam’ mattresses. In fact, the opposite is typically true – though your mattress can and should have deep and plump fillings as a comfort layer, what is really key is to ensure that your mattress is supporting the natural curve of your spine at rest. Our experts believe that this support can only be truly achieved by a fully sprung mattress. 

The benefit of having a fully-sprung mattress is that each small spring can mould to your body while you sleep, supporting your bodies natural curves and contours. Your body’s correct posture is therefore maintained whilst you sleep, with particular focus on the lumbar curve of your spine. 

If this level of support is achieved by your mattress, the muscles of your back and around your rib can relax, as they are now longer fighting throughout the night to attempt correct your posture. A fully sprung mattress therefore lets your spine – and adjoining muscles – rest at night, providing an unparalleled level of support so that you can get the rest you require. Our fully sprung mattresses can be made to both UK standard sizes or made-to-measure to fit an unusually shaped size or shaped bed frame.

 

A Fully Sprung Mattress From Odd 

Here at Odd, our fully sprung mattresses are handmade and always fully sprung to guarantee the most suitable level of support is provided to the sleeping body. To speak to our experts about obtaining your fully sprung mattress from Odd, don’t hesitate to get in touch. A member of our team would be more than happy to advise you on the best and most suitable mattress for your needs, whether that’s one of our standard sized luxury mattresses or a mattress made to a bespoke size.