Tossing and turning through the night, waking up with a lower back stiff as a board… sound familiar? If you’re nodding along, you may want to consider your daily lifestyle and night-time routine, and ask yourself the question, “Is my bed causing lower back pain?”
The curvature of the lower spine can be affected by numerous factors, some of which are more serious than others. So, although we’re excited to explore lifestyle triggers and telltale signs that your mattress might be one of the culprits to your lower back discomfort, please consult with a medical professional if you’re suffering from severe and persistent back pain.
5 Major Lifestyle Factors Contributing to Lower Back Pain
Before you jump to the question, “Is my bed causing lower back pain?”, it’s crucial to understand lifestyle factors that contribute to backache. It might be easier – and more cost-effective – to change a few daily habits and improve our overall health, than buying a whole new mattress.
Job-Related Factors
For those in the trenches of the workforce, certain occupations can be a literal pain in the… lower back. Whether you’re on your feet all day as a retailer or engaged in laborious tasks, required to do repetitive lifting, the constant demands can take a toll on your lower back. Even those who are deskbound may suffer the aches and pains of sitting all day long.
Just a few small changes can make a big difference! Invest in supportive and comfortable footwear, practice better lifting techniques, take regular breaks to stretch, and advocate for workplace adjustments to ease the strain on your spine.
Stress Levels
Let’s talk about stress! Although once called into question by science, the mind-body connection is now undisputed, and we know that stress can manifest physically. Ongoing stress leads to muscle tension, particularly in the back and neck area, as well as headaches associated with that tension. Research conducted by Nature Briefing shows that severe stress can almost triple the likelihood of developing chronic lower back pain.
Managing stress can be difficult, and there aren’t many one-size-fits-all solutions. Practising stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, active sports, or yoga can provide relief and prevent future flare-ups.
The Sedentary Lifestyle
Spending hours on end slouching at your desk, or lounging on the couch through Netflix marathons, might be comfy in the moment, but it’s not doing your back any favours. Lower back pain can signal that the core muscles that support your spine and posture are becoming weaker and taking strain.
Regular physical activity strengthens your lower back muscles, making them more resilient to everyday stressors. Find a form of exercise that focuses on core strength, like yoga or lifting weights, or sports like cycling, swimming, basketball or rowing.
Getting on in years
As we begin to approach our golden years, we gradually lose muscle mass, and our bones lose density. The result? The muscles and skeletal systems provide less support than what they were designed to, and you may start to feel some aches and pains in your lower back.
The best recommendations to keep ageing pains at bay are to strengthen your core through exercise and movement, eat a nutritious diet rich in vitamin D and calcium, and pay attention to your posture in general.
The Mattress Mismatch
Ah, those cosy havens where we spend a third of our lives… if your mattress isn’t up to snuff, it could be creating chaos on your lower back. If you wake up with discomfort, stiffness or pain, you might be asking yourself, is my bed causing lower back pain?
Signs Your Mattress Could Be Causing Lower Back Pain
Here’s a quick checklist of signs to identify if your mattress is causing your back pain.
- Age of Mattresses Matters
Unlike fine wine, mattresses don’t get better with age. If your mattress is over 7-8 years old, it may have lost its supportive qualities, leading to sagging and misalignment that can expose your lower back to pain and aches. - Morning Stiffness
Do you wake up feeling like you’ve been folded into a pretzel all night? A mattress that’s too firm or too soft will fail to properly contour to your body’s natural curves – this leads to muscle tension and stiffness, especially in the lower back area. - You get that sinking feeling
If you find yourself rolling down a hill into a crater-like abyss every night, your mattress might be past its prime. A sagging mattress fails to provide adequate support to your body, compromising your comfort and the alignment of your spine. - Uncomfortable Sleeping Positions
Do you toss and turn more lately? Constantly shifting positions in search of a comfortable sleeping position is a sign that your mattress may not be providing adequate support. Over and above the constant aches, discomfort leads to lack of sleep, which also accelerates the production of stress hormones… creating further back pain – a vicious no-sleep cycle.
Choosing The Right Mattress
Choosing the right mattress for your spine health can make a big difference, so it’s important to consider a few essential factors when you begin shopping around. Mattresses like the Harris Hotel Orthopedic BackZone are designed to provide support and comfort, even to those as sensitive as the Princess and the Pea. But what is an orthopeadic bed?
Ergonomic Design
Traditional Bonnell mattresses may provide good support, but they’re not designed to contour to the natural curve of the spine. The Orthopedic BackZone uses an ergonomically developed and internationally chiropractically endorsed pocket spring system, cushioned in high-density latex foam (30 density), to give you the superior all-night-long comfort that you need.
The middle third of the mattress uses a nested pocketed spring system, which is firmer than a linear system and provides enhanced lumbar support for typically heavier hip and thigh areas. Meanwhile, the head and foot regions of the mattress utilise linear pocket coils to provide marginally softer, more plush comfort. An additional advantage of the pocket spring system is that it limits the transfer of movement across the bed, which means that a restless sleeping partner won’t keep you up all night.
Deluxe Design
No luxury has been spared on the Orthopedic BackZone! The mattress is fully foam-enclosed. This not only provides maximum comfort but prolongs the lifespan of the mattress by keeping the edges and corners from collapsing.
This orthopedic mattress is also covered in cotton-based stretched knitted fabric, which works with the pocketed spring system for enhanced spinal comfort and support. Infused with aloe vera, this sumptuous mattress rejuvenates your skin while you sleep, boosts your body’s defence systems and keeps your bed free of dust-mites and bed bugs.
We’ve got your back – Get high-quality sleep from Fit for Bed
It’s time to stop asking yourself, “Is my bed causing lower back pain?” and invest in a chiropractically approved mattress that supports your efforts to back and spine health. Fit for Bed offers a range of quality mattresses, like the Orthopedic BackZone, to manage your comfort – day and night – and improve the quality of your sleep.
Got questions? We welcome your call and would love to show you around one of our stores!
