This is recommended for lower back pain! Comparing high-resilience and low-resilience mattresses

If someone with back pain chooses the wrong mattress, there is a very high chance that their back pain will worsen.

but,

• "Which is better for lower back pain: high-resilience or low-resilience mattress?"
• How to choose the best mattress for lower back pain relief?

If you are worried about this, don't worry.

We have compiled the information necessary for people with back pain to choose a mattress, so you can choose the mattress that is best for you.

On this page, we will introduce the differences between low-resilience and high-resilience mattresses, their advantages and disadvantages, which one is more suitable for people with lower back pain, and how to choose the best mattress for those with lower back pain.

If you are thinking, "I want to choose a mattress that will have at least some positive effect on my current back pain," then please read to the end.

[Author introduction]

Senior Sleep Health Instructor (No. 733). An expert on mattresses and sleep. Purchases and tries out over 50 mattresses a year. Helps many people choose bedding and mattresses from the perspective of sleep quality and QOL. →Good Sleep Hacks

You may have heard of it before, but there are two types of mattresses: "low resilience" and "high resilience," and both are made from a sponge-like material called "urethane foam."

"Resilience" refers to the bounce back power of the mattress. The higher the resilience (elasticity), the more support the body receives. In addition, whether the mattress is low-resilience or high-resilience has a major impact on the fit to the body, breathability, and other aspects.

The resilience is quantified according to the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and is classified as low resilience or high resilience. If the resilience is weak, it is called "low resilience," and if it is strong, it is called "high resilience."

(Detailed definitions are provided in the final chapter of this page.)

From here, we will explain in detail how memory foam mattresses and high-resilience mattresses differ. We will also explain the effects on sleep, so please use this as a reference when choosing a mattress.

Generally, memory foam mattresses are "soft" and high-resilience mattresses are "firm." Memory foam mattresses allow your body to sink in just enough, making you feel as if you're being wrapped up in them. However, some people who are heavier may find it difficult to turn over in bed and find them uncomfortable.

It depends on your preference, but for petite women and those weighing less than 55 kg, we recommend a low-resilience, soft mattress. High-resilience mattresses may not provide a snug fit, leaving gaps between your body and the mattress, which can make you feel cold.

On the other hand, if you are a large person weighing over 70 kg, we recommend a high-resilience mattress. Your body will not sink too much into the bed, so you will be able to turn over smoothly.

"Resilience" is also expressed as elasticity. Unlike firmness, it refers to the "rebounding power of the mattress" and has a significant impact on getting up and turning over in bed. A high-resilience mattress makes it easier to get up and turn over in bed.

On the other hand, memory foam mattresses have no resilience, so you will need enough muscle strength to be able to get up without the support of the mattress.

Memory foam mattresses have a better fit than high-resilience mattresses. They sink into your body and feel like they're sticking to it. If you're heavier, you may find that your body sinks too much, so be careful.

On the other hand, high-resilience mattresses provide a comfortable fit, but their high resilience prevents the body from sinking too much. For those with a thin build, a high-resilience mattress may not provide much of a fit, and your hips may even float up.

High-resilience mattresses are generally more durable than high-resilience mattresses. Because they have a high resilience, they are less likely to deform under weight, allowing them to be used for a longer period of time.

The drawback of memory foam mattresses is that they are soft and therefore prone to deformation. The lower back, in particular, which bears the most weight, tends to sink in during sleep, causing it to wear out easily.

The durability will vary depending on the care method, quality, and density of the material, but the general guideline is that low-resilience mattresses last 3 to 5 years, and high-resilience mattresses last 5 to 8 years.

Generally, high-resilience mattresses have high breathability. Because low-resilience mattresses fit tightly to the body, many people find them "steamy." This can be particularly uncomfortable to sleep on in the summer or when humidity is high.

Also, high-resilience mattresses are often processed to improve breathability, such as by using wave-cuts, but memory foam mattresses are not well suited to such processing due to the nature of the material. As a result, very few memory foam mattresses are processed, and in terms of breathability, they are generally inferior to high-resilience mattresses.

The average price for a memory foam mattress is around 10,000 to 50,000 yen. There are some cheap products that can be purchased for around 3,000 yen, but it is best to avoid them as many are of poor quality. They are also not very durable, so you will have to replace them every few years, which ends up being poor value for money.

The average price for a high-resilience mattress is around 30,000 to 80,000 yen, which is higher than a low-resilience mattress. Some can even cost over 200,000 yen. However, there are cases where they can be used for more than 10 years, so you should make your decision based on a comprehensive perspective, not just price, but also durability and comfort.

Here we will explain the advantages and disadvantages of low-resilience and high-resilience mattresses.

GreenTea Luxe Mattress, Urethane Foam, Low-Rebound, Green Tea, Activated Carbon, 20cm

• merit

1. Easy to fit to the body's waves
2. It's a comfortable, enveloping feeling that gives you a sense of security.
3. Relatively cheap to purchase

• Disadvantages

1. Turning over requires effort
2. Easy to wear out
3. Easy to get sweaty

Memory foam mattresses are popular with people who like soft mattresses because they provide a cocooning feeling. However, they tend to sink easily, so they are not recommended for people who are heavy or sensitive to heat.

High-resilience urethane foam mattress, tri-fold, cushion sofa, 9cm

• merit

1. Reduces strain on the lower back when turning over in bed
2. High durability
3. Easy to maintain correct sleeping posture

• Disadvantages

1. It takes time for the body to get used to it
2. Many mattresses are not comfortable to sleep on
3. Side sleeping can easily cause stiff shoulders

High-resilience mattresses are recommended for those who prefer a firm sleeping experience. Because they have high resilience and support when turning over and getting up, they are also suitable for those who toss and turn a lot.

Also, since your body does not sink too much, even heavy people can sleep comfortably. On the other hand, high-resilience mattresses are not suitable for people with a slim body type.

For those who suffer from back pain, a high-resilience mattress is recommended.

It provides firm support for your lower back, allowing you to maintain an ideal sleeping posture. Its high resilience means that you need less effort to turn over or get up, which also means you are less likely to experience lower back pain.

Also, if you find the high-resilience mattress too hard after trying it out, you can adjust the comfort with a topper. If you put a topper on top of a memory foam mattress, it will be unnaturally hard, so you may not feel the effects of it in relieving back pain.

However, high-resilience mattresses are not necessarily suitable for all people with lower back pain. Low-resilience mattresses conform to the contours of the body, so they also conform to wavy lower backs. For people who tend to have a swaying lower back, a low-resilience mattress may be less likely to cause lower back pain.

The detailed selection method will be explained later.

When choosing the best mattress for back pain, keep the following points in mind:

1. Choose the right firmness for your weight
2. If you want to reduce the strain of getting up, we recommend a thick mattress.
3. It's better to have some resilience
4. Considering a hybrid structure of low and high resilience
5. A mattress that is firm only in the lower back area makes it easy to turn over in bed
6. Try it out in store and experience the feeling of your hips not floating

From here on, we will explain each point in detail.

The appropriate firmness varies depending on the weight of the user. Choose a mattress that provides the same or similar pressure on the hips and lower back when lying down.

The firmness of a urethane mattress is expressed in units called " N (Newton)." There is no clear definition, but the approximate firmness for each is as follows:

Mattresses under 75N are "soft" and recommended for people weighing less than 50kg . Mattresses with a normal firmness of 75N to 110N are just the right firmness for people with slim to average builds.

A mattress with a firmness of 110N or more is considered "firm" and is ideal for people weighing over 60kg . For people weighing over 100kg , we recommend choosing a mattress with a firmness of around 200N . Choosing a mattress with the appropriate firmness for your weight can help prevent worsening back pain.

Trying to get up from a low position puts a lot of strain on the lower back, so if you suffer from lower back pain, a thicker mattress can provide height and reduce the strain on your lower back.

Furthermore, using a bed frame will give you more height, making it easier on your lower back and making it easier to get up. Incidentally, we recommend using a bed frame not only to prevent lower back pain, but also to improve ventilation.

If you are unsure about which mattress to choose between similar firmness, we recommend choosing one with a higher resilience. This will prevent your lower back from sinking too much and will support you as you turn over in bed.

If you are unable to turn over in bed and your lower back remains sunken, blood flow may be reduced and your lower back pain may worsen.

If the mattress has a firmness appropriate for your weight, it is better if it has some resilience. There are almost no disadvantages to having a resilient mattress, so try to choose one with as much resilience as possible.

For people with back pain, a mattress that is too soft or too hard is not good. If it is too soft, your lower back will sink in, and if it is too hard, you will end up in an unnatural sleeping position, which can lead to back pain.

A "hybrid structure" mattress incorporates the benefits of both low-resilience and high-resilience mattresses. Hybrid structure mattresses have a multi-layer structure with a low-resilience upper layer and a high-resilience lower layer. Many hybrid mattresses have a thin memory foam layer, which means they can easily conform to your body while still receiving the elasticity of the high-resilience mattress.

Therefore, there is no need to forcefully decide between high-resilience and low-resilience mattresses. Although the mattress price is higher, this structure is highly recommended for those who are on a budget or who prioritize functionality.

The firmness of the mattress varies depending on the area, and a structure that is made firmer only in the lower back area is called a "center hard structure." This has the advantage that the lower back is well supported, making it easy to turn over in bed, and the shoulder area is soft, making it easy to fit.

It helps you maintain a good sleeping posture by keeping your spine straight even when sleeping on your side. Your lower back doesn't sink too much, which helps prevent lower back pain. The fit around your shoulders also has a positive effect on shoulder stiffness.

It's difficult to know whether your hips are floating or not without actually comparing several mattresses. Therefore, try lying down on a variety of mattresses in the store and get a feel for the sensation of your hips not floating.

Even if you can see that the mattress is not floating, or you cannot reach your lower back when lying down, it may not actually be supporting your lower back properly. To get a feel for whether your lower back is being supported, be sure to consciously lie down on the mattress.

Recently, there are mattresses that are only available online, making it difficult to actually try them out in stores. However, even in the case of mattress brands that only sell online, you can improve the accuracy of your mattress selection by asking the store staff about the firmness (Newton value) of other mattresses available in the store.

It is very difficult to distinguish between low-resilience and high-resilience mattresses. From here, we will explain how to distinguish between low-resilience and high-resilience mattresses.

Many people judge whether a mattress is low-resilience or high-resilience based on its firmness. It's true that high-resilience mattresses tend to be thought of as hard. However, firmness and resilience are not the same thing.

"Firmness" refers to the ability to withstand the weight of your body, while "resilience" refers to the strength of the mattress' ability to bounce back. There are mattresses that are slightly softer but have a strong resilience, so don't mix them.

"Rebound elasticity" is the rebound force of a urethane foam mattress quantified according to the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). Rebound elasticity is calculated by dropping a steel ball onto the mattress under certain conditions and determining the position to which it rebounds.

Please refer to the table below for the rebound elasticity of low-resilience and high-resilience urethane.

The regulations for this classification of rebound resilience were just changed in 2021. Therefore, even if a mattress currently on the market is labeled as "high rebound," be aware that most are actually made of standard urethane.

The resilience of a mattress can be difficult to distinguish because there is confusion regarding the labels, but in most cases, if the product information says "low resilience," it is definitely a low resilience mattress.

When choosing a high-resilience mattress, be sure to choose one that has "high resilience" or "rebound elasticity rate of 50% or more" written on the product page or quality tag. Be careful, as anything that says "high resilience" without these words is likely not an official high-resilience mattress.

The above method will almost certainly allow you to distinguish between low-resilience and high-resilience mattresses, so please use it as a reference when choosing a mattress.

We've explained the mattresses we recommend for people with lower back pain. Waking up with a sore lower back can make you feel unwell and leave you feeling down in the morning. Choosing a mattress that's gentle on your lower back can improve the quality of your sleep and your quality of life.

There are low-resilience and high-resilience mattresses, but for those with lower back pain, high-resilience mattresses are recommended. However, depending on the type of lower back pain and your physique, some people may find low-resilience mattresses more suitable. Try out different mattress firmness and resilience to find the mattress that's right for you.