Man spends a third of his life in sleep. The basis for a restful night’s sleep is a suitable mattress.

Which model is the best mattress for back pain depends on many factors, for example age, sex, weight, height and physique of the person. Health problems such as a slipped disc or hip problems also play a role.

The sleeping habits are also important: People who sleep predominantly on their back or stomach need a different mattress than side sleepers or people who often turn over at night.

Pocket spring mattress
Good pocket spring mattresses are already available from 140 euros.

• Advantages: They offer a high point elasticity. This means: The mattress only yields in those places where it is loaded. It also ensures good ventilation. This benefits people who sweat a lot while sleeping.
• Disadvantages: Pocket spring mattresses do not store heat as well. Therefore, they are unsuitable for people who freeze at night. Over time, they develop recumbent hollows.

As a result, heavy areas of the body such as the pelvis and shoulders sink further into the mattress than is necessary for a straight spine and for the recovery of the inter vertebral discs.

Pocket spring mattresses are therefore also rather unsuitable for overweight people.

Foam mattress
Good foam mattresses cost between 200 and 800 euros.

• Advantages: Foam mattresses are light, resilient and store heat better than other materials. Therefore, foam mattresses are well suited for people who are cold at night.

Foam mattresses usually provide good support for the spine. Heavy parts of the body sink in somewhat, lighter areas are well supported.

A good foam mattress should be softer in the shoulder area than in the hip area so that the shoulder can sink in well and the pelvis is supported at the same time.

• Disadvantages: After some time, low quality foam mattresses often develop recumbent hollows. This impairs the blood circulation of the muscles and the regeneration of the cartilages in joints and spine.

Box spring bed
A box spring bed can cost several thousand euros.

• Advantages: Box spring beds do not have a slatted frame, but a spring core block and above it at least one mattress with spring core or made of foam.

People who turn around a lot while sleeping benefit most from the comfort of lying down.

Through light movements, the intervertebral discs are well supplied with nutrients overnight. Box spring beds are relatively high: this makes getting in and out of bed particularly comfortable.

• Disadvantage: Good box spring beds are very expensive.

Latex mattress
Good latex mattresses cost between 150 and 750 euros. High-quality models are washed after the production of the mattress core to remove allergenic substances from the surface.

• Advantages: Many orthopaedic surgeons recommend a latex mattress because it ensures a balanced position of the spine as if standing.

For this purpose, the body should not sink in too much, as this would restrict movement during sleep.

• Disadvantage: Latex mattresses are relatively heavy. They can therefore only be turned with difficulty, for example for ventilation.

Lying down and reading test reports
Before buying a mattress, you should try it out – preferably together with your own pillow.

If you put on a checkered top when trying it out on its side, you will be able to judge better whether your spine is in a straight position. Trial lying is possible in good bed shops.

In the meantime, online retailers are also making mattresses available for testing in your own bedroom. Stiftung Warentest regularly tests mattresses and has found that good mattresses do not necessarily have to be expensive.

Air the mattress and turn it regularly
In order for a mattress to last as long as possible, you should turn it over regularly. This allows it to air out evenly on the top and bottom sides.

To ensure good air circulation, do not cover the mattress completely with a bedspread or down duvet when you get up, but let air into the mattress. As a rule, a mattress should be replaced after eight to ten years.