A good mattress is the basis for a restful sleep. But the variety of mattress options on the market is enormous and makes choosing more difficult than ever. And one of the most important decisions when buying a mattress concerns the mattress firmness level. Which is better for your back: a hard or a soft mattress? Both variants have their advantages and disadvantages, which we would like to clarify below. Here are some tips to help you make your decision.
The optimal mattress for a healthy spine
Individual bed with the box spring bed configurator
Off-the-shelf furniture is no longer popular when it comes to bedroom furnishings. Instead, individual box spring beds are preferred, which are adapted to your personal needs down to the last detail. An online configurator creates countless possible variations.
In addition to personal preferences, spinal health is an important factor when choosing a suitable mattress. The spine has three natural curves that need support even when lying horizontally. A good model keeps the body in a neutral position, meaning the head, shoulders, back, bottom and heels should form a straight line. This is how they canmuscles during sleeprelax properly. Over time, the right mattress can promote better sleep and even improve posture. The wrong mattress model can cause back pain, especially in the spine area, and affect sleep.
Hard or soft mattress – what’s the difference?
The obvious difference between a hard and a soft mattress is the feeling of lying on it. A hard one has little or no give, while a soft one sinks into it. This guideexplains the term “mattress hardness level” in an easy-to-understand manner. The degree of hardness can vary between H1 and H5. H1 is the softest and H5 is the hardest option in terms of lying comfort. It is important to note that the hardness information is not uniform or standardized nationwide and therefore the feeling of lying can be subjective.
The strength or softness also depends on the material and its density. A topper or padding can also affect perceived firmness. A memory foam topper, for example, can give a superficial feeling of firmness but doesn't actually have the properties of a truly hard mattress.
The benefits of a hard mattress
For those who don't have annoying back pain, a firm mattress will usually be more comfortable. This way the bones take most of the stress, meaning the muscles, veins and arteries can relax. This also improves blood circulation. Hard mattresses provide stable support for the back and are generally better suited for back and stomach sleepers.
Disadvantages of a hard mattress
Changing from a softer to a harder model can be very uncomfortable at first. This usually becomes less noticeable over time. However, for specific back problems such as arthritis and scoliosis, a hard sleeping mattress can actually make back pain worse.
The benefits of a soft mattress
Soft mattresses are recommended for lighter people with a body weight of up to 70 kg and those who have back pain on a medium-firm mattress. A soft mattress can better accommodate the contours of the spine and is therefore particularly suitable for side sleepers as it offers better support for the shoulders and hips.
Disadvantages of a soft mattress
Although they seem more comfortable and luxurious, soft mattresses can cause back problems for back and stomach sleepers as well as people with higher body weight. A soft mattress can be a problem for two bed users with different weights. That's why many people choose two mattresses with two different degrees of hardness.
Hard, medium or soft for back pain?
The advice that is often given is to buy a hard mattress to combat back pain. But the ideal level of hardness for back problems is somewhere in the medium-firm range. The perfect mattress should be neither too soft nor too hard, and should offer a good balance between comfort and healthy posture.
Which mattress hardness level is optimal for you?
The two most important factors in your decision are whether youBack painsuffer or not, and which onessleeping positionyou prefer. Stomach and back sleepers need a firmer mattress that provides good support and prevents sagging in the middle area of the body. Side sleepers or those with back problems sleep better on a soft mattress. Another factor that should be taken into account is thatBody weight. For example, a heavy person may find a firm mattress deceptively soft.
Another important factor that should not be overlooked arepersonal preferences. Regardless of the firmness level that suits your weight, if it doesn't give you the comfort you need, you probably won't sleep well. Remember that the voting decision is not black and white, but has many facets. There are different ways to adapt the bed mattress to your needs. A mattress that is too hard can be made softer with a topper, for example. The best way to test a mattress is to test it thoroughly.
