Quick Answer: What Kind of Bed Helps Arthritis?
A medium to medium-firm mattress that cushions your joints while keeping your spine aligned. Arthritis sufferers need pressure relief at hips, shoulders, and knees without sinking so deep that the spine curves. Memory foam and hybrid mattresses tend to work well. An adjustable base can help by letting you elevate your legs or upper body to reduce joint strain. Edge support matters too, since getting in and out of bed is often the hardest part.
Why Your Bed Matters When You Have Arthritis
Arthritis causes joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation. When you lie down, how your body is positioned affects how much strain those joints experience overnight.
The wrong mattress does two things wrong:
First, it creates pressure points. If the surface is too firm, your joints bear concentrated weight. Hip arthritis gets worse when your hip bone presses against a hard surface for eight hours.
Second, it misaligns your spine. If the surface is too soft, your body sinks unevenly. Your spine curves. The muscles around your joints work all night to stabilize an awkward position. You wake up stiff and sore.
The right mattress cushions the joints while supporting the spine. That balance is what makes the difference.
The Arthritis Sleep Problem
The Arthritis Foundation reports that up to 80% of people with arthritis have trouble sleeping. The pain and stiffness make it hard to find a comfortable position. Then poor sleep increases inflammation, which makes the arthritis worse. It becomes a cycle. Breaking that cycle often starts with the sleep surface.
What to Look for in a Mattress
Pressure Relief
Your joints need cushioning. Memory foam and latex contour to your body shape, spreading weight over a larger area instead of concentrating it on bony prominences. If you have hip arthritis, your hip bone should sink into the mattress slightly rather than pressing against a firm surface.
Support
Cushioning without support makes things worse. Your spine needs to stay relatively straight, whether you sleep on your back or side. A mattress that lets you sink too deep creates spinal misalignment, which strains muscles and joints.
The support usually comes from the core of the mattress, either high-density foam or a coil system. The comfort layers cushion; the core supports.
Firmness Level
Medium to medium-firm works for most arthritis sufferers. On a 1-10 scale (10 being firmest), look for something in the 5-7 range.
Your body weight affects this. Heavier individuals may need firmer support to prevent sinking. Lighter individuals may do better with softer surfaces that still provide enough give for pressure relief.
Edge Support
Getting in and out of bed is often the hardest part of the day for arthritis sufferers. If the edge of your mattress collapses when you sit on it, you have to push yourself up from a sunken position. That strains joints.
Good edge support means the mattress stays firm near the edges. You can sit on the side of the bed without sinking, making it easier to stand up.
Easy Movement
If your mattress makes it hard to change positions, you stay stuck in one position longer than you should. Some memory foam mattresses have a "quicksand" feel that makes rolling over difficult. Latex and hybrid mattresses tend to be more responsive, making position changes easier.
Mattress Types for Arthritis
- Memory foam: Excellent pressure relief, contours to joints. Can be hard to move on. May sleep hot.
- Latex: Good pressure relief with more responsiveness. Easier to change positions. Sleeps cooler.
- Hybrid: Combines foam comfort layers with coil support. Good balance of cushioning and ease of movement.
- Innerspring: More responsive but less pressure relief. Works if firmness is right and you add a soft topper.
The Adjustable Base Question
Adjustable bases let you raise your head, feet, or both. For arthritis, this can help in specific ways:
When It Helps
- Lower back arthritis: Slightly elevating your legs takes pressure off the lumbar spine
- Hip arthritis: A bent-knee position can reduce hip joint strain
- Getting in and out of bed: Raising the head helps you sit up without straining
- Acid reflux: Common alongside arthritis, helped by head elevation
When It Does Not Help
- If your arthritis is primarily in hands, knees, or other joints not affected by lying position
- If you prefer sleeping flat and find elevation uncomfortable
- If your current bed works fine and you just need a better mattress
An adjustable base is a tool for specific problems. It is not necessary for everyone with arthritis. Try elevating with pillows first to see if it helps before investing in an adjustable base.
The Pillow Test
Before buying an adjustable base, try this: put a pillow under your knees when sleeping on your back, or between your knees when sleeping on your side. If this reduces your morning stiffness, an adjustable base might help. If it makes no difference, an adjustable base probably will not either. Save your money for a better mattress instead.
Sleep Position and Arthritis
Back Sleeping
Distributes weight evenly and keeps the spine neutral. Good for arthritis in most joints. A pillow under your knees adds support and reduces lower back strain. Your mattress should be firm enough to support your spine without being so firm it creates pressure at your heels, tailbone, and shoulder blades.
Side Sleeping
Good for some types of arthritis, but requires proper support. Your mattress needs to cushion your hip and shoulder while keeping your spine straight. A pillow between your knees keeps your hips aligned. Side sleeping on a too-firm mattress is hard on arthritic hips.
Stomach Sleeping
Generally not recommended for arthritis. It puts strain on the spine and neck. If you cannot sleep any other way, use a very thin pillow or none at all, and consider a firmer mattress to prevent your pelvis from sinking.
Beyond the Mattress
Pillows
Your pillow affects neck and shoulder positioning. If you have arthritis in your neck or shoulders, the wrong pillow makes it worse. Side sleepers need a thicker pillow to fill the gap between ear and shoulder. Back sleepers need a thinner pillow that does not push the head forward.
Bed Height
Getting out of a low bed is harder on arthritic knees and hips. If your bed is too low, consider a bed frame that raises the height, or add bed risers. The ideal height lets your feet touch the floor when sitting on the edge, with knees at roughly 90 degrees.
Heating Pads and Heated Mattress Pads
Heat helps arthritis symptoms. A heated mattress pad can warm your bed and relax stiff joints before you even get in. Some people find this helps more than any mattress upgrade.
Arthritis Is Personal
Everyone's arthritis is different. What helps one person might not help another. We have had customers with hip arthritis who needed soft mattresses and customers with the same condition who needed firm. The only way to know is to try. Come lie down on a few options. Tell us where your pain is and how you sleep. We will help you narrow down what might work, and we will not rush you.
Red Flags: When to See a Doctor First
A new mattress helps manage arthritis sleep, but it does not treat the arthritis itself. See a doctor if:
- Your joint pain is getting significantly worse
- You have new swelling, redness, or warmth in joints
- Morning stiffness lasts more than an hour
- You have not had your arthritis evaluated or treated
- Pain medications are not controlling your symptoms
A good mattress supports your treatment plan. It does not replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a firm or soft mattress better for arthritis?
Medium to medium-firm works best for most people with arthritis. A mattress that is too firm creates pressure points that aggravate joints. A mattress that is too soft lets you sink in, misaligning your spine and straining muscles. The goal is enough cushioning to relieve pressure on joints while maintaining enough support to keep your spine aligned.
Does memory foam help arthritis?
Memory foam can help because it contours to your body and relieves pressure at joints. However, some memory foam mattresses are hard to move on, which can be a problem if position changes are difficult. Memory foam also retains heat, which some arthritis sufferers find uncomfortable. A hybrid mattress with memory foam comfort layers over a coil support core often provides the benefits without the drawbacks.
Should I get an adjustable bed for arthritis?
An adjustable base helps specific situations: lower back arthritis (leg elevation reduces strain), hip arthritis (bent-knee position), and difficulty getting in and out of bed (raising the head helps you sit up). If your arthritis affects other joints or you sleep fine flat, an adjustable base may not add much benefit. Try elevating with pillows first to see if it helps before investing.
What is the best sleeping position for arthritis?
Back sleeping distributes weight evenly and keeps the spine neutral, making it good for most types of arthritis. Side sleeping works well with proper support but requires a mattress that cushions hips and shoulders. Stomach sleeping is generally not recommended because it strains the spine and neck. Whatever position you choose, pillows can help maintain alignment and reduce joint strain.
How do I get in and out of bed with arthritis?
A mattress with strong edge support helps because it does not sink when you sit on the side. The bed should be at a height where your feet touch the floor with knees at 90 degrees. To get up: roll to your side, push up with your arms while swinging your legs over the edge, then stand. Bed rails or a grab bar can provide stability. An adjustable base that raises the head section makes sitting up easier.
Living with Arthritis?
We understand that every person's arthritis is different. Come tell us where it hurts and how you sleep. We will help you find something that supports your body without aggravating your joints. Take your time lying on different options. There is no rush and no pressure. We just want to help you sleep better.
Mattress Miracle
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
519-770-0001
Family owned since 1987