Best Mattresses for Bad Backs in Australia

Best Versatile Mattress for Bad Backs — The Koala Mattress

The Koala mattress offers a versatile sleeping surface that will be comfortable for most sleeping types. This bed is made up of two layers. The comfort layer is the top layer and is made from a Koala-exclusive foam and latex blend.

The second layer is a firmer foam construction and the mattress felt more supportive during my review. As a result, I felt that the mattress offered a medium firm feel and excellent back support. According to my review, the Koala’s firm side was 0.06 inches softer than the Peace Lily’s firm side, meaning the Koala can provide slightly better support for the spine. “Koala uses materials that increase the supportive qualities of the base. This means side sleepers have more than enough support for their hips,” explained the staff at Vogue. 

This bed has cooling vents that promote better ventilation and heat dispersion. In addition, the Zero Disturbance Technology limits motion transfer, which will benefit people with restless sleeping partners. 

From my tests, the Koala’s firm side didn’t react to compressions 5.5 inches further away than the Peace Lily mattress. That means the Koala has a much higher ability to absorb motion from a partner and keep you less disturbed at night.

Why You Should Trust Me

We have extensively tested many mattresses and spent countless hours researching the mattress industry and its latest technologies. As a result, we know what makes up the best types of beds and which sleepers they suit best. Regarding bad backs, a mattress with excellent support and pressure relief makes all the difference. That’s why during our reviews, we looked for these aspects specifically. You can learn more about how we test mattresses here.

What Makes a Good Mattress for Back Pain?

Back pain can be triggered by literally everything.

Everyday slouching at the office desk, having excess weight, being exposed to vibration, or simply training too actively at the gym can lead to sore back (1).

In fact, even your mattress might be the culprit of the bad back. Old beds (7 years and up) often have indentations and uneven surface that fails to properly support your spine and can lead to strains in deep muscles.

However, the mattress can also be the cure for your pain.

If you choose a suitable one, that is. But what makes a good mattress for a bad back? And how can such a simple bedroom “accessory” help you alleviate the pain?

Well, there are a couple of aspects that may play a huge role when it comes to back pain:

• Support. A mattress that can properly support you will make sure that your back doesn’t curve during the night. Instead, a supportive mattress should keep your spine aligned properly and in a neutral position, reducing the stress and aiding pain alleviation. It’s a high level of support, usually from a firmer feel, that marks some of the best mattresses in a box in Australia.

In my opinion, the ideal mattress support should be tailored to your sleeping position.

• Conforming. Close conforming means that the mattress material can fill in the natural curves of your body. This typically leads to pinpoint support and proper weight distribution. And when the weight of your body is evenly distributed, there’s less (or even no) pressure building up in certain parts during sleep. As a result, pressure relief often allows for less strain on sore parts of one’s back and pain alleviation.
• Cradling. If your back pain is accompanied by sore pressure points or tender joints, your ideal mattress for a bad back should be cradling enough. In this case, the top comfort layer will gently hug the tender body parts and won’t be likely to cause any more pain.
• Durability. This aspect is crucial not only because a new mattress can be a rather pricey purchase. Less durable models can develop premature sagging, body indentations, and an uneven sleeping surface. As a result, you won’t be able to receive proper support anymore, which may be responsible for a few unpleasant “side effects”. They can include back curvature during sleep, strain, pressure-build-up, stiffness, and of course, increased pain levels. Good mattress thickness, as well as reinforced coils or dense memory foam, can help combat a saggy mattress and increase durability.

On top of that, there’s a big chance of you starting to sleep better once you get a new mattress. And as your sleep quality improves, it may also positively affect your pain levels (since poor sleep is often associated with aggravated pain) (2).

Best and Worst Mattress Types for Bad Backs

A mattress type is the first factor people pay attention to, and there’s a reason for that:

The materials used for making the mattress will directly influence its qualities and durability.

So, how do the most common mattresses for bad backs in Australia work for pain relief?

Let’s see!

• Memory foam. Traditional viscoelastic foam invented by NASA is well-known for top-notch pressure relief. Memory foam mattresses are a great pick for a variety of back issues, as they can adapt to your body curves in any sleeping position. However, traditional memory foam is temperature-sensitive, which means it uses your body heat to soften, thus becoming prone to hot sleeping.

I think hot sleepers can enjoy the benefits of memory foam by using a bed with cooling features or a gel-infused topper.

• Foam. Polyfoam is a more modern alternative to viscoelastic foams. It has an open-cell structure and feels more like a sponge. You can meet polyfoam padding in the sofas or medical chairs, and its use in the mattresses has become pretty common in recent years. Polyfoam traps less heat than memory foam and offers roughly the same amount of cradling, so it can work for bad backs as well.
• Latex. Latex is basically a vulcanized rubber tree sap. It also has a foamy structure but the feel is very different from synthetic foams. Latex is denser and more springy, however, it can instantly adapt to your body shape and support the spine. Also, latex has an open-cell structure, so you can expect refreshing sleep. Latex materials are some of the best mattresses for hot sleepers due to their natural heat-dispersing qualities.
• Hybrids. Hybrids are the mattresses that combine coils and foams in different variations. Typically, hybrids have at least 2 comfort layers above the coil core, which contributes to good cradling and pressure relief. The core layer also perfectly distributes weight across the mattress surface, thus eliminating pressure points.
• Innerspring. Spring mattresses belong to the cheapest ones, and that can be explained by their simple construction. Most innerspring mattresses have a coil core and a comfort layer (typically quite thin) on top. Innerspring mattresses can deliver bouncy, responsive support and usually work great for hot sleepers thanks to their increased breathability. However, when it comes to back pain, spring mattresses might not work for everyone. Why? Because this type doesn’t offer that much cradling or cushioning, which might cause tender pressure points (especially in side sleepers). Due to that, a spring mattress may work the best for stomach or back sleepers who prefer firmer and resilient sleeping surfaces.

I think heavy sleepers weighing over 250 pounds will like the stability and support of innerspring mattresses

Bottom line:

Any mattress type can become your ally in relieving back pain, as long as you learn about its weak and strong points and know what to expect.

How to Choose a Mattress for Bad Backs?

We all have different sleeping preferences and the meaning of a perfect bed. Especially when the back pain messes with our slumber.

That’s why choosing a top-rated mattress for a bad back in Australia only by its type might work for some but others may need a more detailed approach.

So, here’s the list of important considerations that will ease your shopping.

Firmness

It’s no surprise that different back issues may require different mattress firmness. For example:

• People with degenerative disc disease are advised to sleep on their stomach and choose a firmer mattress.
• Those with osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis feel most comfortable on their side, so the mattress should have enough cushioning to cradle their hips and shoulders.
• People with herniated discs may choose between different sleeping positions, depending on which part of the disc is affected, so they may choose a mattress that feels good for mixed sleepers (3).

However, choosing the right model depends not only on your health problems — although it’s surely a priority — but also on your weight and preferred sleeping position.

Here are the general recommendations:

• Soft. These are models with the most cradling and moldability. Soft mattresses are perfect for lightweight sleepers, as they don’t create sore points. Side sleepers and small back sleepers with back pain may also benefit from a soft bed.
• Medium/medium-firm. These mattresses are the best pick for most users regardless of their weight and sleeping position (4). They’re firm enough to support your spine without making awkward curves and ensure a good hug and pressure relief for protruding parts of your body.
• Firm. Firm mattresses have a rather floating feel with little to no cradling. These mattresses are typically made of denser foams or thicker coil layers, which means that they can withstand the larger weight and make a great pick for heavy users. Also, a firmer mattress can support the natural curve in your lumbar area if you sleep on your stomach.

Thermoregulation

You already know that heat removal during sleep is the guarantee of restorative sleep. So, if you need a truly cooling mattress, here are the features to pay attention to:

• Breathable core. Pocketed coils, natural latex, or open-cell polyfoam are a good choice. These materials allow some air inside the mattress and wick away body heat.
• Infused foams. Opt for comfort layers made of the same natural latex, gel-infused foams, or memory foam with copper or graphite particles. Comfort layers with convoluted design may also work for you.
• Natural or semi-natural fabrics. Natural cotton, Tencel lyocell made of eucalyptus leaves, or bamboo rayon are highly breathable and can absorb high amounts of moisture without feeling wet. Also, look for removable covers that make it easier to maintain a fresh look of your mattress.

Now, allow me to explain why getting a temperature-neutral mattress is important. First of all, sleeping with pain is super uncomfortable, to say the least. But if you add night sweats to the equation, you can probably forget about normal sleep for a while. Additionally, certain health conditions (that are often accompanied by back pain) can actually worsen when the temperature is uncomfortably warm (5), which also refers to your sleeping environment.

Edge Support

When sleeping with back pain, it can be hard to find a comfortable position. A mattress with strong edges can give you more chances of finding a suitable position (as you get more sleeping space and extra legroom). Plus, it may come in handy if you share your bed with a partner, especially if they enjoy playing starfish in bed. Typically, mattresses with coils have more pronounced edge support than all-foam beds but you can always find a model with a denser core or pair your chosen mattress with a sturdy bed base. Latex mattresses are also a good choice, assuming you don’t have a strict budget.

Motion Absorption

Another essential quality for couples or overly active sleepers is low motion transfer. Because you don’t want to wake up every time your bedmate decides to shift their position.

Foam mattresses, especially those made of closed-cell memory foam, block unwanted disturbances pretty successfully, so you may want to consider them an option. 

Natural latex is a bit more responsive and springy, so it can make a great pick for those who need just a bit of motion absorption. Finally, coil mattresses might be not the best pick for active sleepers, however, their bounce makes a perfect sex-friendly bed, so the final decision is up to you.