Cherished beds can damage backs

Clinging on to a beloved bed can damage back health, according to figures released from the British Chiropractic Association (BCA).

Sleeping triggers back and neck pain for 30% of people, yet 21% admit to changing their mattress less than once a decade and 10% have never changed it at all.

While a mattress is a significant investment for most, other items of bedding that can make a big difference to back and neck health are also overlooked; 64% of people admit to not testing a pillow before buying it.

It is perhaps unsurprising then that a huge 83% of people feel stiff or ache when they wake up in the morning.

 “How often you should change a mattress depends on lots of factors including your weight and how well you have cared for your mattress,” says BCA chiropractor Tim Hutchful. “But as soon as a mattress stops supporting your back it’s vital you get a new one. A mistake that people often make when choosing a new mattress is thinking the firmer the better – this is not always true – one bed does not fit all.

“We spend a third of our lives in bed so it’s important to spend time choosing your new mattress and remember; if you’re planning on sharing your bed with your partner, take them with you to test it!”

 Five signs that it’s time to change your mattress:

1.    You wake up feeling stiff or aching

2.    You had a better night’s sleep somewhere else

3.    Your mattress is misshapen or sagging

4.    Your mattress creaks when you move

5.    You can feel individual springs

In terms of the best position to sleep in to avoid back and neck pain, the BCA advises you lie either on your back or side and avoid sleeping on your front.  If you lie on your side, ensure that the pillow and mattress allows your head, neck and spine to be parallel to the floor with no bowing or sagging.

For more information on how to maintain a healthy posture and avoid triggering neck and back pain whilst in bed, the BCA has developed a simple guide on choosing the right bed and getting a comfortable night’s sleep: http://bit.ly/posturebed.