Clinical Results on Back Pain
Many consumers and healthcare professionals realize that a mattress is an important part in back pain relief and remedying sleep disorders. Only recently have there been studies to indicate what kind of mattresses make a difference in back pain relief. Studies have shown that indeed the right mattress can give back pain relief and improves sleep for lower back pain sufferers.
Mattress Firmness – Very Firm Is Not Always Good
Many consumers and medical professionals believe that a firm mattress gives back pain relief, lower back pain in particular. It is commonly preferred compared to a medium firmness or soft mattress although there has been no research to support the idea that they help neck pain, back pain and lower back pain. In an article in The Lancet in 2003, by Francisco M Kovacs, et.al., on lower back pain, researchers found that a mattress of medium firmness improves pain and disability among patients with chronic non-specific lower back pain. A summary of the study is below or you can click here for the complete article
Tempur-Pedic Mattresses™ Reduce Lower Back Pain
A soon to be published study by the researchers at Bridgeport Hospital, part of Yale New Haven Health, comparing Tempur-Pedic Mattresses with an inner spring, found that mattress type does affect sleep architecture and that sleeping on the Tempur-Pedic improves sleep and gives back pain relief for those suffering back pain. Click here to see an early poster presentation of partial results.
SUMMARY: Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain: randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial.
Summary
Background
A firm mattress is commonly believed to be beneficial for low-back pain, although evidence supporting this recommendation is lacking. We assessed the effect of different firmness’ of mattresses on the clinical course of patients with chronic non-specific low-back pain.
Methods
In a randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial, we assessed 313 adults who had chronic non-specific low-back pain, but no referred pain, who complained of backache while lying in bed and on rising. Mattress firmness is rated on a scale developed by the European Committee for Standardization. The Hs scale starts at 1·0 (firmest) and stops at 10·0 (softest). We randomly assigned participants firm mattresses (Hs=2·3) or medium-firm mattresses (Hs=5·6). We did clinical assessments at baseline and at 90 days. Primary endpoints were improvements in pain while lying in bed, pain on rising, and disability.
Findings
At 90 days, patients with medium-firm mattresses had better outcomes for pain in bed (odds ratio 2·36 [95% CI 1·13–4·93]), pain on rising (1·93 [0·97–3·86]), and disability (2·10 [1·24–3·56]) than did patients with firm mattresses. Throughout the study period, patients with medium-firm mattresses also had less daytime low-back pain (p=0·059), pain while lying in bed (p=0·064), and pain on rising (p=0·008) than did patients with firm mattresses. Interpretation A mattress of medium firmness improves pain and disability among patients with chronic non-specific low-back pain.
Methods
In a randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial, we assessed 313 adults who had chronic non-specific low-back pain, but no referred pain, who complained of backache while lying in bed and on rising. Mattress firmness is rated on a scale developed by the European Committee for Standardization. The Hs scale starts at 1·0 (firmest) and stops at 10·0 (softest). We randomly assigned participants firm mattresses (Hs=2·3) or medium-firm mattresses (Hs=5·6). We did clinical assessments at baseline and at 90 days. Primary endpoints were improvements in pain while lying in bed, pain on rising, and disability.
Interpretation
A mattress of medium firmness improves pain and disability among patients with chronic non-specific lower back pain.
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