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Waking up with a sore back morning after morning can not only be painful but also demoralizing.

And, while a new mattress might not magically deal with the issue, it might ease it.

A tester sits on the edge of the bet fiberglass-free mattress, the Saatva Classic

The layers of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress with additional pillow top.

They do this through cushioning foam and (depending on the mattress punch in) robust, adaptive springs.

So, how does a pillow-top mattress fare?

What makes a mattress good for back pain?

What types of mattresses are covered by Medicare, featuring an older woman holding her back whilst sitting on her bed

The layers of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress with additional pillow top.

This means that you should probably avoid one part of your body sinking too far into a mattress.

Your bed should neither sag nor be so firm that it creates pressure points," he adds.

So, how do you find this?

We feel the fiberglass-free Saatva Classic mattress

The ideal firmness depends on the person’s size and preferred sleeping position, says Dr. Lees.

Stomach sleepers are likely to benefit from firm beds for a similar reason.

But that isn’t strictly true.

Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress

Lets take a closer look.

Can pillow-top mattresses help a bad back?

A pillow top can add additional cushion to the feel of the mattress.

An older woman lying on her back on a new mattress, smiling and stretching in the sun

And, from a physical therapy point of view, Rapposelli agrees.

He says pillow-top mattresses can ‘fill in’ the natural curves of our spine when lying down.

This can be particularly useful for those with very arched spines.

An exploded diagram of the layers of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress

The layers of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress with additional pillow top.

Pressure points can be painful and lead to tossing and turning throughout the night.

In fact, some of thebest mattresses for side sleepersare pillow-top beds.

However, if youre a stomach sleeper, this could have the opposite effect.

A woman with long dark hair holds her back which is sore after sleeping on a mattress that�s too firm for her

The elderly often prefer the softness of a pillow top… Dr. Lees explains.

As people age, their muscle mass can diminish, and their spines can become less flexible.

This can lead to pressure points over their spine and hips.

Brooklyn Bedding 3" Latex Mattress Topper on a bed

This extra layer of soft material can provide a comfortable barrier between the sleeper and the mattress.

A pillow top may help fill those gaps, he explains.

What should sleepers with back pain look for in a pillow-top mattress?

A man sat on the edge of his memory foam bed after waking up with back pain, holding his back

For one, check the materials used.

The material should be breathable if the person is sensitive to sleeping too hot, Dr. Lees advises.

Rapposelli says simply, The thicker, the better.

Our lead tester sleeps on her stomach on the Helix Sunset Luxe mattress

Thicker pillow-tops will usually indicate a higher quality of mattress, making it more effective in cushioning your body.

Man sitting on the edge of his bed holding his back in pain

A woman feeling the side and top of a mattress as she shops

A split image featuring the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress on the left and the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid on the right, leading into the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid vs Nectar Classic showdown

The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom, a man and his young sun sitting on top of it, smiling. A Tom�s Guide price drop deals graphic (right)

Bed bugs

The Saatva Murphy Bed Mattress on a Murphy bed frame lying flat, in a bedroom

The image shows the Casper Hybrid with Snow Technology pillow on the left and the Coop Cool+ pillow on the right in a side by side comparison

A child lying on their side covering their eyes in bed

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