Buying guide for Best mattresses for hip pain
There are few things worse than being kept awake every night by pain. Finding a comfortable position to sleep in can be incredibly difficult if you have a hip issue. Fortunately, you can find mattresses that offer support and pressure relief to help with hip pain and provide a good night’s sleep.
Mattresses for hip pain are constructed to offer both comfort and support. The right mattress cradles your hips so you can get into a comfortable sleeping position, and it provides support to keep your hips properly aligned so there isn’t too much pressure on them. The right firmness is also key since it’s usually recommended that you sleep on your back if you have hip pain, and a firmer mattress is the best bet for back sleeping.
There are plenty of mattresses for hip pain to choose from, which can make shopping more challenging. With our buying guide, you’ll be armed with all the information you need to find the best mattress for hip pain. We’ve also included several specific product recommendations if you want to start shopping right away.
Key considerations
Types of hip pain
Before buying a mattress for hip pain, it’s important to consider the type and cause of your hip pain. The right mattress can provide relief from certain types of hip pain, including the following:
Arthritis, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, often causes hip pain in older individuals. It causes the cartilage to wear down, which triggers inflammation in the hip joint. Symptoms of arthritis include hip stiffness and limited range of motion.
Sciatica involves a pain radiating down your leg when the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated. The pain typically occurs on just one side of the body and starts at the lower back and hips before traveling down the leg. Other compressed or pinched nerves near the hip can also cause pain in that area.
Bursitis is a type of chronic hip pain that usually occurs as the result of an injury. The joint becomes sore and stiff because the bursae — sacs filled with fluid that serve as padding for the bones and tendons — become inflamed. The pain typically goes away in a few weeks, though it’s common to have flare-ups from time to time.
Tendinitis is a condition in which the tendons around the hips become irritated. Tendons are the fibrous tissues that connect the bones and muscles. When they’re inflamed, it can cause pain, stiffness, reduced mobility, and weakness.
Muscle sprains and strains can occur in and around the hips as a result of overuse. These are usually temporary aches and pains.
Support
A supportive mattress offers a flat, level sleeping surface that keeps your spine properly aligned. One that’s too firm or too soft doesn’t provide the support your body needs, particularly if you’re already experiencing hip pain.
Support isn’t the same thing as firmness, however. Support involves structural features and materials, such as foam support layers or metal coils, to keep your body from sinking into the mattress. These ensure that your spine and hips remain properly aligned to keep pressure off them.
Pressure relief
Besides offering support, a mattress for hip pain should also take pressure off the hips and other areas, such as shoulders, lower back, and knees. The mattress usually relieves pressure by distributing your body weight more evenly, so your hips don’t bear the brunt of the pressure. Many mattresses that work well for those with chronic hip pain have foam comfort layers that reduce pressure on the lower back and hips while you sleep.
Avoid an extra-firm mattress if you have hip bursitis because it can put too much pressure on your hips.
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Features
Mattress type
The materials and construction style that a mattress features play a significant role in how well it relieves hip pain. Some mattress types that are effective for those with hip pain include the following:
Memory foam: These mattresses are made of polyurethane foam that provides a plush feel. They’re typically considered the best option for hip pain because the foam cradles the hips to offer both adequate support and pressure relief. These mattresses are available in various firmness levels, too. Memory foam mattresses are highly durable and are supportive even for people who weigh more than average.
The drawback to foam mattresses is that they can retain body heat and make you warmer while you sleep.
Latex: These mattresses usually feature foam made from natural materials, though some synthetic latex mattresses are also available. Latex offers significant support and can relieve pressure on the hips. Natural latex mattresses are hypoallergenic and sleep cooler than memory foam.
On the downside, latex is not quite as effective at pressure relief as memory foam. Latex is also bouncier than memory foam, so these mattresses have greater motion transfer from side to side.
Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses have an inner core of metal springs or coils and transitional foam layers for comfort. This allows them to offer a combination of support and pressure relief. They sleep cooler than memory foam and latex mattresses, too.
Individuals with hip pain should avoid innerspring mattresses because the springs may put added pressure on your hips and other joints.
Size
No matter what type of pain keeps you up at night, you want to choose the right size mattress for your comfort and the space available in your room. Standard mattress sizes include the following:
Twin mattresses measure 38 by 75 inches, and twin XL mattresses measure 38 by 80 inches. These work best for solo sleepers and are typically used by children and teens.
Full mattresses measure 53 by 75 inches. They work well for solo sleepers who want extra space or couples who don’t have much space in the bedroom.
Queen mattresses measure 60 by 80 inches. They’re ideal for solo sleepers who need plenty of space to move around or couples who don’t want to feel crowded in a full bed.
King mattresses measure 76 by 80 inches. They’re ideal for couples who want plenty of space.
California King mattresses measure 72 by 84 inches. They’re ideal for couples or very tall individuals.
Firmness
While most people with hip pain do best with a medium-firm mattress, the best firmness level depends on your preferred sleeping position: back, stomach, or side.
Back sleeping is usually the best position if you have hip pain because your weight is evenly distributed across your body. A medium-firm mattress is your best bet because it provides support without allowing you to sink down into the mattress.
Stomach sleeping can increase hip pain because it affects your spinal alignment. But if you can only sleep on your stomach, a medium-firm mattress is still the best option to prevent sinking down into the mattress.
Side sleeping isn’t recommended if you have hip pain because it puts pressure on your shoulders and hips. However, if you can only fall asleep on your side, choose a medium-soft mattress to maintain proper alignment, and not increase your hip pain.
Did You Know?
Memory foam mattresses offer excellent motion isolation, so you don’t have to worry about your partner jostling you and hurting your hip when they change position or get up in the night.
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Accessories
Orthopedic knee pillow: ComfiLife Orthopedic Knee Pillow
Side sleeping with an orthopedic pillow between your knees can help with proper hip alignment. This one from ComfiLife is a favorite because it’s made of breathable materials to keep you cool and has a removable cover for easy cleaning.
Cold therapy pack: TheraPAQ Reusable Gel Pack
A cold pack can help soothe inflammation when your hip pain acts up, so it often helps to lie down with a pack on your hip. We love this one from TheraPAQ because it can be used hot or cold and is large enough to cover the entire hip area.
Mattresses for hip pain prices
Mattresses for hip pain vary in price based on size, type, firmness, and other features. Most queen-size models cost between $249 and $2,000.
Inexpensive: The most affordable mattresses for hip pain are typically made of memory foam. They’re available in a variety of firmness levels that offer both support and pressure relief. These mattresses cost between $249 and $1,299.
Mid-range: These mattresses for hip pain are usually hybrid models. They offer a good range of firmness options and are an ideal middle ground between effective support and pressure relief. They typically cost between $349 and $1,650.
Expensive: The most expensive mattresses for hip pain are usually latex models. These are typically medium-firm to firm and offer more support than pressure relief. Latex mattresses are also hypoallergenic. They cost between $399 and $2,000.
A mattress typically lasts five to ten years. If you wake up with aching hips every morning or notice that your mattress is sagging, it’s time for a replacement.
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Tips
- Sleep on your back. Sleeping on your back is usually the ideal sleep position if you have chronic hip pain because it keeps the pressure off your hips.
- Sleep with a pillow between your knees. If you have chronic hip pain and must sleep on your side, it can help to place a pillow between your knees to keep your hips properly aligned.
- Exercise your hips. Performing low-impact exercises like walking or swimming and stretches designed to target the hips can help reduce hip pain that might keep you up at night.
- Check with your doctor. If your hip pain is frequently keeping you awake at night, you should consult your doctor to determine your specific issue for more effective treatment.
FAQ
Q. Can a mattress cause hip pain?
A. The wrong mattress can absolutely cause hip pain. If the mattress is too firm, it can put too much pressure on your hip and cause pain. However, if your mattress is too soft or worn out from years of use, it won’t provide enough support to keep your hips properly aligned, which can also cause pain.
Q. What should I do if both my hips hurt while sleeping?
A. If you experience pain in both of your hips, try to sleep on your back. You can get away with sleeping on your side if only one of your hips is sore. You won’t put pressure on the painful hip when you sleep on your good side, so you can usually have a pain-free night. If both hips hurt, though, you’ll be putting pressure on a sore joint no matter which side you sleep on.
Q. Can I return a mattress if it doesn’t help my hip pain?
A. You typically aren’t able to return a mattress just because it isn’t comfortable enough for you. However, some online mattress brands do offer sleep trials, so you’re able to sleep on the mattress for a specific period and return it if you aren’t happy with it. Most sleep trials are 60 to 120 days, but some brands offer as many as 300 days.
