Is Back Pain Keeping You Up at Night? Here Are 8 of the Best Mattress Toppers That Can Help

TEMPUR-Pedic is beloved for its patented TEMPUR-Material, which was originally developed by NASA in the 1960s to help absorb the G-forces exerted on astronauts — but it can also help relieve pressure on the body and keep it in a neutral position while you sleep.

And this particular TEMPUR-Adapt topper does just that, easing the burden of nighttime gravity on the areas that take the brunt of pressure while you sleep, such as your hips and shoulders. By reducing that pressure to these areas, the spine remains in a more neutral position, which could reduce your back pain.

Just be aware: TEMPUR material may retain heat, making it not a great choice for people who tend to run hot while they sleep. Still, as someone who has slept on TEMPUR-Material for over 10 years (I actually have a TEMPUR-Pedic mattress), I can say that without a doubt, for me it has been worth the investment.

Over the years, I’ve suffered from a variety of back and overall musculoskeletal issues, such as sciatica and frozen shoulder, but the material has lessened that pain. (I can definitely tell too because when I’m traveling and not in my bed, those issues reemerge.) So, I am a firm believer in TEMPUR-Material in any form.

That’s why we love the Sleepy’s 3-Inch Gel Memory Foam topper. It pulls body heat away and disburses it throughout the topper to keep you cooler. This results in more restful and deeper sleep, an essential element of reducing back pain and improving overall health. The gel foam is also built to help neutralize pressure on the hips, thereby improving spinal alignment and allowing you a more comfortable night’s sleep.

If you suffer from degenerative disc disease, taking pressure off your discs is crucial to keeping pain at bay — and a firmer mattress topper can help you do just that, so that you can get more comfortable sleep. Enter: The Turmerry Organic Latex Mattress Topper (Firm), which targets seven comfort zones, including:

• Head area offers firmer support for head and neck alignment
• Shoulder zone has softer cushioning to reduce pressure
• Upper back area has extra medium-firm support for alignment
• Lower back area provides firm lumbar support
• Hip area is medium-firm to help with alignment
• Thigh zone provides softer cushion to assist with circulation
• Feet and ankles are padded with firm support

Turmerry offers a variety of comfort levels and foam thicknesses for its latex topper, which is unique among the companies we evaluated.

There are also soft and medium versions for those who like to sink into the foam more while still maintaining support. On the other side of the scale is extra firm, targeted at those who either shouldn’t sink into the foam or don’t want to.

Just keep in mind: Latex tends to trap the body’s heat during sleep rather than disbursing it, so sleeping hot is a factor to consider.

The first time I slept on an egg crate topper, I was on a cruise ship. I thought it odd when I saw the shape of it under the sheet, and I was, admittedly, a little reserved about sleeping on it. However, the next morning when I woke up fully rested and ready to go on a day of adventure, I couldn’t help but wonder if that egg crate cover had anything to do with it.

It turns out it did. The unique shape of the Turmerry Egg Crate Mattress Topper ergonomically distributes body weight more easily and helps keep your joints free of the typical pressures some other beds might exert. People with arthritis in particular can benefit from an egg crate topper, as the affected joints can be less compacted.

This topper is also made of organic material and comes in two thicknesses and two comfort fits. It is also the least expensive option on our list. The perforated latex means it shouldn’t heat up while you sleep. However, because it does not have straps to grip the bed, it can slide around under the sheet.

The Saatva High-Density Foam Mattress Topper is an excellent choice if you’re dealing with ankylosing spondylitis. The medium firmness of the foam can provide pressure relief to vital joints and organs by offering overnight support and buoyancy. Plus, if you are prone to back sleeping, this topper is one of the better choices, thanks to its medium-firm feel. There’s really only one downside to this topper: Some people do find it difficult to get out of bed with this one, due to the high-density foam in the topper.

This 100 percent organic latex topper comes in four comfort levels:

• Soft: This is better for side and back sleepers who prefer to sink into the material.
• Medium: Side sleepers may find this provides a good balance of support and comfort.
• Medium-firm: This provides extra support for back and stomach sleepers.
• Extra-firm: This is best people over 250 pounds or anyone who prefers sleeping on a firm mattress.

While the soft topper is better for those who like sinking into a plush or pillow-top bed, it won’t trap sleepers and make it hard to get up. Since it is latex, it also allows sleepers to move about and get out of bed easier than memory foam. While the topper material has holes to help airflow and offset the heat-trapping tendencies of latex, we found some complaints that people still slept warmer than they would like.

If you’ve ever woken up with a stiff or achy neck, your mattress may be the cause. According to Smith, neck pain is one of the most common complaints she hears in her office. The proper sleeping support paired with the right pillow can make all the difference and alleviate neck pain. The Viscosoft Select High-Density Mattress Topper might be just what you need to put an end to overnight neck pain.

The high-density foam in this Viscosoft topper, coupled with the proper pillow, can alleviate the poor spinal alignment that is common with neck pain. “The goal is to have the head and neck in a neutral position,” Smith says. “If on your back, the pillow should cradle your head and neck. The chin should be level and not be pointing up to the ceiling nor tipping down to the chest.”

While researching the Viscosoft topper, we noted that some buyers complained that it was too soft and didn’t offer them the support they needed, though most were satisfied with its density and the support it offers.

Lower back pain is a common issue for many of us. It can be situational, like after lifting something the wrong way, or due to a chronic condition. Either way, getting sleep can be hindered by the constant discomfort in the lumbar region. A less rigid topper, such as the Nolah Mattress Topper might be the solution.

Nolah has created its own patented AirFoam that is pressure relieving and doesn’t trap heat. It also has a little more spring with movement than typical memory foam, making it a good choice for side sleepers who want to reduce pressure on their shoulders and hips. When asked about sleep positions, Smith said that side sleeping is acceptable in most cases. Nolah purports that its AirFoam provides up to four times better pressure relief and is 300 percent more durable than similar toppers.