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Arthritis is a common medical condition that affects one or more joints in a person’s body. While there are many different forms of arthritis, they all share some similar symptoms, including joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and tenderness. These symptoms can make it more difficult for a person to get the quality sleep they need. The right mattress may help ease arthritis pain, while the wrong mattress could exacerbate it.
Mattress comfort can be affected by several factors, including a person’s weight and preferred sleep position. However, some mattresses may be more accommodating for arthritis sufferers than others. In this guide, we’ll share our picks for the best mattresses for arthritis and joint pain sufferers. We’ll also explain what to look for when shopping for a mattress, examine the effects of sleep position on joint pain, and detail how the mattress type may affect arthritis sufferers.
Best Overall
The Saatva Mattress is a hybrid model that has strong pressure relief and three firmness options, which may make it a good choice for arthritis sufferers from all weight groups.
Three firmness options and two height options are available for the Saatva Mattress. Sleepers can select between Plush Soft (3), Luxury Firm (6), and Firm (8). They can also select between an 11.5-inch thick mattress and a 14.5-inch thick option.
The Saatva’s hybrid design combines a Euro pillow-top and two layers of coils. The Euro pillow-top contains polyfoam, .75 inches of fiber fill, and 1 ounce of Dacron. To adjust the feel of each mattress, the thickness and firmness of the polyfoam vary between models. The Plush Soft and Luxury Firm options have 1.25 inches of soft foam in their Euro pillow-tops, and the Firm version uses 1.5 inches of firmer foam.
A .625-inch layer of polyfoam rests under the Euro pillow-top. The lumbar region is supported by a .375-inch layer of memory foam. This layer adds to the pressure relief while promoting proper spinal alignment. A layer of 14.5-gauge wrapped coils measures 4 inches thick, adding bounce, breathability, and support.
The base layer consists of 13-gauge hourglass coils, which add durability and cooling airflow. This layer is 4 inches thick in the 11.5-inch version of the Saatva and 7 inches thick in the 14.5-inch version. Final base pads support the core. A layer of foam wraps around the edge of the mattress to reduce sagging.
Compared to other hybrid models, the Saatva is quite affordable. It also excels in temperature neutrality, pressure relief, and ease of movement. Its three firmness options can accommodate most sleep positions and weight groups, but not all firmness options will be ideal for all individuals. Sleepers who weigh under 130 pounds may favor the Plush Soft version, while sleepers who weigh over 230 pounds might prefer the Firm version. Most sleepers from all weight groups are likely to find the Luxury Firm version comfortable.
The Saatva comes with free White Glove delivery. Customers can try the mattress at home during the 180-night trial. A 15-year warranty protects against defects in materials and workmanship.
Best Value
The DreamCloud is a luxury hybrid with a very approachable price-point compared to similarly constructed competitors. The mattress begins with a pillow-top containing plush polyfoam, followed by a comfort layer of gel-infused memory foam and a transitional layer of dense polyfoam. These materials conform evenly to distribute your weight and alleviate pressure points, but the mattress has a medium firm (6) feel and won’t sink too much for people who weigh up to 230 pounds.
The DreamCloud’s support core consists of pocketed coils and a base layer of high-density polyfoam. These components provide excellent overall stability and reinforce the edges against excessive sinkage when you get in and out of bed. Temperature neutrality is another perk of this mattress. The coils promote steady airflow to help the mattress core stay cool, and the cover is made from a breathable cashmere blend.
Side and back sleepers with arthritis should find the DreamCloud particularly comfortable. The foam layers offer ample cushioning for the shoulders and hips, ensuring even alignment and less pressure for side sleepers, but the mattress is also firm enough to keep back sleepers on an even plane and prevent them from sinking too much around the midsection.
In addition to its low price-point, the DreamCloud also qualifies for free ground shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. All customers receive a sleep trial that allows them to test out the mattress for an entire year, and those who choose to keep the bed will receive a lifetime warranty against structural defects.
Best for Back Pain
Many people with arthritis and joint pain also experience discomfort in the lower back and hips. For these sleepers, a mattress that cushions the spine and provides strong overall support is essential to waking up without aches and pains. The WinkBed is a luxury hybrid mattress designed to keep your body on an even plane no matter how much you weigh. Four firmness levels are available, allowing you to choose a mattress that best meets your needs.
The standard WinkBed is available in medium soft (4), medium firm (6), or firm (7) feels. These models feature two comfort layers of adaptive polyfoam over a transitional layer of foam-encased pocketed minicoils. These components cushion and contour to the body without sinking too much, though you should choose your firmness based on factors like body type and preferred sleep position.
The WinkBed Plus – a firm (8) model specifically designed for people who weigh more than 230 pounds – features a thick latex layer in place of the minicoils for extra support. This model is particularly well suited to back and stomach sleepers in this weight group, as these individuals tend to notice uncomfortable sinkage on softer mattresses.
All versions of the WinkBed also include a support core of pocketed coils. This layer is zoned with thicker coils along the perimeter to prevent deep sinkage when you get in and out of bed, and thinner coils beneath your body for more comfortable cradling. The coils also circulate air throughout the interior, which helps the WinkBed stay cool.
WinkBeds provides free ground shipping for all customers in the contiguous U.S. Your order includes a sleep trial that allows you to test out the WinkBed for up to 120 nights, along with a lifetime warranty that covers structural defects for as long as you own the mattress.
Best for Pressure Relief
Amerisleep is a bed-in-a-box brand that offers a line of memory foam mattresses, each one designed with a different sleeper type in mind. The AS3 is the mid-level model in this collection. Measuring 12 inches thick with a medium (5) feel, the AS3 is optimal for people who prefer a combination of body-contouring and sturdy support.
The comfort layer is composed of medium-density memory foam that is quite durable and shouldn’t develop indentations or impressions too quickly. The foam also absorbs movement very well, resulting in excellent motion isolation and potentially fewer sleep disturbances for couples. Transitional and base layers of denser polyfoam stabilize the entire mattress.
The AS3 is best suited to sleepers who weigh 230 pounds or less. Side sleepers in this weight category enjoy plush padding for the shoulders and hips, which can improve spinal alignment and reduce pressure points along the spine. Back sleepers should also receive enough support to prevent uncomfortable sagging around the midsection – a common issue associated with this sleep position.
Amerisleep provides free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. In addition to a sleep trial that allows you to test out the AS3 for 100 nights, your purchase also includes a warranty that covers structural defects for up to 20 years.
Most Comfortable
Thanks to its reversible design, the Layla Hybrid is a good option for people with arthritis whose firmness preferences vary from night to night. One side of the mattress is medium soft (4) and contours quite closely, making it best suited to side sleepers who weigh up to 230 pounds and other sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds. The other side is firm (7) and feels much more supportive, ensuring adequate support for back and stomach sleepers who weigh 130 pounds or more.
Both sides are constructed with memory foam comfort layers. The foam is infused with copper, which has natural cooling properties and also offers antimicrobial protection to keep your mattress looking and smelling fresh. The shared support core contains individually pocketed coils that provide excellent stability and responsiveness without generating too much motion transfer. The coils are zoned to prevent deep sinkage along the edges, which makes getting on and off of the bed easier for people with mobility issues.
For a flippable mattress, the Layla Hybrid is very reasonably priced. Ground delivery is also free for anyone in the lower 48 states. Your purchase includes a 120-night sleep trial with free shipping on all returns, as well as a 10-year warranty that covers structural defects.
Best for Side Sleepers
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The Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress is a good option for people with arthritis who experience pain or pressure points in their shoulders, lower back, or hips. This mattress is constructed with a comfort layer of adaptive polyfoam that contours closely and reduces discomfort much like memory foam, but without the telltale “body hug” associated with that material. The polyfoam also has an open-cell composition and won’t retain much body heat, allowing you to stay cool and comfortable all night long.
A second layer of adaptive polyfoam reinforces the comfort layer to prevent excessive sinkage, while a base layer of high-density polyfoam stabilizes the entire mattress for added support. The Mint Mattress has a medium firm feel (6) that is best suited to people who weigh 230 pounds or less – especially side and back sleepers.
Couples should experience fewer sleep disruptions on the Mint Mattress. The foam layers absorb movement and prevent motion from transferring across the surface when your co-sleeper changes positions or gets in and out of bed, and the mattress itself is completely silent when in use.
The Mint Mattress has a sticker price that is in line with the average all-foam model, and Tuft & Needle provides free ground delivery anywhere in the contiguous U.S. You’ll receive a 100-night sleep trial with your purchase, along with a 10-year warranty that protects against structural defects.
Best Organic
The PlushBeds Botanical Bliss is an all-latex mattress with several design options. Shoppers can choose between a 9-inch, 10-inch, or 12-inch profile. The mattress is also available with a medium (5) or firm (7) feel that can later be adjusted by swapping the order of the top two layers. This versatile construction makes the Botanical Bliss a good fit for a wide range of shoppers across different weight and sleep position groups.
The mattress should also appeal to consumers who prefer to purchase organic products. The latex layers have earned certification from the Global Organic Latex Standard, while the cotton cover and wool batting top layer are each certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard. These components are also quite breathable, allowing the Botanical Bliss to sleep cool for hot sleepers and those who live in warm or humid climates.
Longevity is another strength of this mattress. Latex resists sagging and indentations better than foam, so the Botanical Bliss should perform for at least eight years before a replacement mattress is needed. Latex is also naturally responsive, making the mattress somewhat bouncy and easy to move across for most people.
PlushBeds provides free ground delivery anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Your order includes a sleep trial that spans 100 nights in length and a warranty that covers structural defects in the mattress for up to 25 years.
Best Chiropractor Endorsed
Thanks to its all-foam construction and three-zone design, the Level Sleep Mattress has strong pressure-relieving properties that may appeal to sleepers with arthritis.
The Level Sleep Mattress is constructed of three layers of foam. A 1-inch layer of polyfoam serves as the comfort layer. This material is engineered to distribute the sleeper’s weight more evenly to reduce pressure buildup near their shoulders and hips.
A 3-inch transition layer uses Energex polyfoam, which strikes a balance between contouring and responsiveness. The head end of the bed uses soft Energex foam, the midsection uses firm Energex foam, and the leg area uses medium foam. This zoning aims to promote proper spinal alignment through targeted support and softness. A 7-inch support layer of polyfoam reinforces the mattress surface. The mattress cover is removable and washable.
The Level Sleep Mattress has a medium (5) feel. This is on the softer end of the average firmness range for mattresses, contributing to a plusher feel and extra pressure relief. For most sleepers, pressure relief is likely to be the Level Sleep Mattress’s biggest strength. While the mattress may be particularly comfortable for side sleepers, its midsection may not be firm enough to support the hips of back and stomach sleepers who weigh over 130 pounds.
A 365-night in-home trial gives sleepers an opportunity to try the Level Sleep Mattress. It also comes with a lifetime limited warranty.
While comfort preferences may vary between individuals, some factors tend to come into play in determining a mattress’s overall performance. It may help to consider these categories when selecting the best mattress for you.
As with any condition that causes pain or discomfort, arthritis could make it harder to get restful, quality sleep. Aches and pains may make it harder to fall asleep or could lead to tossing and turning during the night. The position someone sleeps could either reduce or contribute to pain. Depending on an individual’s pains, they may prefer any sleep position. However, most experts usually recommend back or side sleeping. If you continue to suffer from arthritis and/or joint pain that interrupts your sleep, we recommend talking to your doctor.
According to Johns Hopkins, back sleeping can have both pros and cons for pain sufferers. Neck pain could be aggravated by sleeping face up. However, some people find sleeping on their backs alleviates their lower-back pain. Others may experience more back pain in this position, but the Cleveland Clinic suggests that placing a pillow under the knees could help.
The right mattress can help support a back sleeper’s natural spinal alignment. If the mattress sags excessively near the midsection, the sleeper could experience strain in their lower backs. If the mattress is too firm, they might have some pressure buildup around their hips. Since sagging tends to be the most common problem for back sleepers, many people who prefer this sleep position select a firmer-than-average mattress to get the support they need.
People tend to be wider near their shoulders and hips, so these body parts usually put more force on the mattress when a person sleeps on their side. This can contribute to pressure points.
Without the right mattress, a side sleeper’s spinal alignment could also suffer. Too soft of a mattress may allow the shoulders and hips to sink in excessively, while too firm of a mattress may not allow them to sink in enough. Either of these options could put a strain on a side sleeper’s lower back.
Side sleepers could also experience knee and hip pain from their legs resting on each other. Some side sleepers place a pillow between their knees for added relief for their hips and knees.
Most experts do not recommend stomach sleeping, but some people prefer it.
People tend to carry extra weight near their midsections, which could pull their hips too far into the mattress and put a strain on their lower backs. Since stomach sleepers often turn their heads to the side, they may also strain the neck. Some stomach sleepers prefer to use a thin pillow or no pillow to keep their neck in a more neutral position. Thicker pillows may force the neck to extend backward, contributing to additional strain.
If you want to transition away from sleeping on your stomach, using a body pillow may help.
Combination sleeping can bring together the potential benefits and drawbacks of multiple sleep positions. Switching positions during the night can shift the location of strain and/or pressure. Depending on which sleep positions the person prefers, they may still experience pressure buildup in their hips and shoulders, lower back strain, and/or neck strain. However, switching positions may make these aches and pains less pronounced.
Hybrid, innerspring, latex, airbed, and foam mattresses are the major types of mattresses currently sold. Each mattress model may have some variations from other mattresses that use similar constructions due to differences in materials, quality, and construction techniques. However, there are some common similarities between mattresses in each category.
Definition: Hybrid models pair comfort layers of memory foam, polyfoam, latex, wool, microcoils, and/or other materials with a coil support system. This combination usually gives some of the benefits of innerspring and foam or latex mattresses with fewer drawbacks.
Highlight: Balanced Support and Contouring. Joint pain sufferers may enjoy cushioning, contouring, and pressure relief from a hybrid mattress’s comfort system. The coil core tends to give more even support, which could be beneficial for spinal alignment.
Definition: Innerspring models are generally seen as the most traditional type of mattress. They consist primarily of springs. While they may have a comfort layer for cushioning, this layer is usually thin.
Highlight: Stable Support. High-quality innerspring mattresses do not permit much sinkage and usually have a relatively even plane. Joint pain sufferers who want support without a lot of contouring may like innerspring models.
Definition: Natural latex is made from the sap of the rubber tree. Latex mattresses may include natural latex, synthetic latex, or a blend. Dunlop latex is generally denser, while Talalay latex has a bouncier feel.
Highlight: Pressure Relief Without Hug. Latex has low point elasticity, which means that rather than compressing exclusively directly under the sleeper’s weight, it spreads the compression over a wider area. This lends to pressure relief without the hug often associated with memory foam, so joint pain sufferers with mobility issues may find a latex mattress easier to move on.
Definition: The support system of an airbed consists of fillable air chambers. These chambers can usually be filled or emptied using either a crank, a remote control, or an app. Airbeds may also contain comfort layers for added cushioning, though these comfort layers are usually relatively thin.
Highlight: Adjustable Firmness. The firmness of an airbed can be adjusted by filling or emptying the air chambers. Arthritis and joint pain sufferers may appreciate the flexibility of being able to change the firmness of their mattress to adjust their current preferences. Additionally, many airbeds have separate air chambers on each side of the bed, allowing partners to select different firmness settings.
Definition: Foam mattresses are constructed of multiple layers of foam. These may include memory foam, polyfoam, or a combination of both. Most foam mattresses use softer, closer conforming foam in their comfort layers and firm polyfoam in their support cores.
Highlight: Close Conforming. All-foam models often conform more closely than other types of mattresses. Joint pain sufferers looking for a pressure-relieving hug may enjoy this close conforming.
Purchasing a mattress is a big decision, and you may still have some lingering questions or concerns. We’ll answer some of the top questions customers have when buying a new mattress.
While there are budget-friendly mattresses on the market that could be good options for arthritis sufferers, pillows and mattress toppers may also prove effective. A good pillow can help support your natural spinal alignment. Some arthritis sufferers may also like a wedge pillow to support their knees or upper bodies. If your existing mattress is in good condition but you’re looking for more pressure relief, a quality mattress topper can add plushness and contouring without the expense of replacing the whole mattress.
Budget-friendly mattresses may cost just a few hundred dollars. These models often offer strong pressure relief and good support, but some may be more prone to forming impressions over time. Higher-priced models may seem like a big investment, but quality materials and construction can help the mattress last longer, which may make it a better value in the long run.
A company’s policies may play a role in your purchasing decision. The shipping, trial period, and warranty may be particularly important to consider.
Customers who suffer from joint pain may find it more challenging to set up their mattresses. If you need assistance, you may want to consider whether the company offers White Glove delivery. Most online mattress companies offer trial periods that give customers a chance to try the mattress at home. Arthritis sufferers may use this window to determine whether the mattress provides any relief. Finally, the mattress’s warranty can provide customers with additional protection for their purchase.
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