Choosing the Best Mattress for Hip Pain For Side Sleepers

If you’re a side-sleeper, you’re in good company — It’s the most popular sleeping position. But if you’re tossing and turning because of hip pain, you might be wondering if getting a new mattress can help. A good quality mattress is important for pain relief. The right mattress can improve hip pain for those who still want to sleep on their side. 

Here, we'll discuss the connection between your mattress and how it can affect your sleep. We’ll also offer practical advice on choosing a supportive and pressure-relieving mattress to get a better night’s sleep. 

Understanding the Connection: Sleep Posture, Mattresses, and Hip Pain

If you’re sleeping on your side without enough support, your body can twist your hips forward, putting pressure on your hip joint. You can wake up with aches and pains, and over time, these pains can get worse. 

The wrong mattress (one that isn’t supportive enough, sags in the middle, or doesn’t have enough pressure relief) can contribute to this worsening pain and pressure. Other factors that can contribute to hip pain include:

• Getting older
• Arthritis in your hip, which is pain and swelling in the joint
• Sciatica, which is nerve pain that travels down your buttocks and legs
• Bursitis, which is pain and swelling in the cushioning parts around your bones
• An injury or accident
• Muscle strains in the hip

Mattress Types and Materials for Hip Pain Relief

There are options available for mattress types and materials, but some are better than others for relieving hip pain. Memory foam and hybrid mattresses are popular choices for their excellent support and pressure-relieving properties.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is made of dense material, so it has a lot of contouring. This can help cradle pressure points like the hips when side-sleeping. But because it’s dense, it traps heat. Some foam mattresses, like the Plank Firm, have breathable materials to disperse this body heat. 

Latex

Latex doesn’t have springs, but it gets its bounce from a natural rubber material. Latex mattresses tend to be durable and naturally cooling, and are often made of sustainable materials. It doesn’t have contouring like memory foam, but it can offer excellent support and pressure relief for side sleepers. 

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses have a coiling system without a lot of cushioning and support. These mattresses aren’t made as much anymore. They aren’t often supportive or pressure-relieving enough for side sleepers with hip pain.  

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses have a coil core layer for support and either foam or latex as a comfort layer. These mattresses, such as the Plank Firm Luxe, offer support in your hips while the coiling system allows for better airflow, helping you sleep cooler.

Finding the Right Firmness

A mattress’s firmness level is how hard or soft the mattress feels to you. Your weight, body type, and the position you prefer to sleep in can determine how firm or soft a mattress feels. Firmness levels have a lot to do with a mattress’s materials. 

If you’re dealing with hip pain and sleep on your side, you can try sleeping on your back. That can take the pressure off your hips. But if you’re a dedicated side-sleeper, you need a mattress that won’t put a lot of pressure on your hip joint. A mattress that’s too soft can cause your hips to sink down too much, putting strain on your spine. 

Spinal Alignment: Key to Pain-Free Sleep

Spinal alignment is a term used often when talking about mattresses. When your spine is aligned, it means that the bones of your spine — the vertebrae — are lined up in a straight line. Your spine also needs to be curved in the areas they’re supposed to be, like the neck, chest, and low back. Having good spinal alignment helps to minimize or avoid pain in general, but it also can help reduce or avoid hip pain.  

Choosing a mattress with good support can help keep your spine in a neutral position, meaning the three curves of the spine are all in alignment. You also want to make sure that you have the right mattress type and firmness level based on your preferred sleeping position. 

Tips for Choosing the Right Mattress

It can feel overwhelming trying to choose the right mattress, especially if you’re dealing with any sort of pain, such as low back or hip pain. Here are some helpful tips on finding the best mattress for your hip pain.

Get Advice From Professionals

If you’re trying to sleep better with hip pain, don’t go at it alone. Talk with your healthcare provider about your pain and how it’s affecting your sleep. Other experts such as fitness trainers, chiropractors, and physical therapists can be a great resource for finding ways to get more comfortable and protect your spine and hips while sleeping. 

Research Mattress Reviews

Look at reviews on the internet of mattresses. Review user ratings for mattresses from well-known retailers. You can also read reviews on Amazon, Walmart, or other retailers for what people are saying about specific mattresses and general sleep information. 

Check Certifications

If you’ve checked out mattresses, you might notice a lot of certifications and abbreviations like CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX certified. The problem is, companies can make claims, but to get an unbiased review of materials and safety, it’s good to look at third-party testing. You don’t necessarily have to, but if factors like organic or sustainable materials are important to you, it’s something to keep in mind. 

Prioritizing Your Sleep Health

A good mattress for hip pain relief can make or break a good night’s sleep. Factors like mattress material, firmness level and supporting the spine are all things to take into consideration when choosing a new mattress. 

Prioritize your sleep health and address pain before it gets worse. Don’t hesitate to talk with your healthcare provider or a sleep expert if you need some extra help.