In an ideal world your spine should be kept in a neutral position throughout the night. You want to avoid holding an uncomfortable position for too long.

If you have larger hips and shoulders then you may need a slightly softer mattress to achieve this position.

ÔÇó If your mattress is too firm your lower back will have to sag to reach the mattress.
ÔÇó If you have a mattress that is too soft then you will sink into it and your lower back will have to accommodate by shifting the other way ÔÇô equally uncomfortable.

Experiment:

Firming it up

If you feel you need a firmer bed try making sure the mattress is on a solid base i.e. put a board between a softer divan base and the mattress or drag the mattress onto the floor for a few nights.

Softening it up

If you feel you need softer bed you can put a duvet over the mattress or try a memory foam mattress topper which can soften the bed up a bit.

CanÔÇÖt remember the last time you replaced it? Your back may be in trouble. A good mattress lasts 9 to 10 years, but you may want to consider changing it between 5 and 7 years, especially if you suffer with back pain.

A good night’s sleep is very important to overall health and well being so make sure you make the most of your rest time.┬á At our Sport Injury Clinic we can also help alleviate back pain or a sport injury with a tailor made programme to suit you and your lifestyle and we can help restore you to peak performance in no time.┬á So if you are looking for fast, effective pain relief,┬ácontact our Sport Injury Clinic today.