Best mattress topper for side sleepers with shoulder and hip pain

Foam or Latex: Which Material Is Better for Hip Pain?

Most of the modern toppers rarely use coils and are usually made of either natural latex or traditional foams. So, chances are that you’ll likely be choosing among these materials.

To help you here, there is a brief description about how each of the materials performs in terms of hip pain relief:

• Modern memory foams typically feature an open-cell structure, which means that they instantly cradle your body and may relieve the pressure points  


• Polyfoam. Polyfoam has a spongier feel than memory foam and typically is more resilient. It can still nicely cradle your body and relieve the pressure points in any position, though. A polyfoam topper can also be a good pick for individuals with chronic pain caused by a trauma or a bone disease, as it allows them to move around the bed more freely.


• Natural latex features great pressure-relieving properties, as it instantly adjusts to your body shape regardless of your sleeping style. Plus, natural latex is pretty durable, meaning that it can support you for a longer time.


• Latex blends The qualities of a latex blend will mainly depend on the additives, but generally, these blends tend to be softer and more similar to traditional foam in terms of the feel. They can work as a more affordable alternative to a latex pad Bottom line.

As you can see, each material has unique features that make it suitable for different scenarios.

Things to Consider when shopping for a Suitable Mattress Topper for Hip Pain Relief

Now, you should consider a few more details to get a clearer understanding of which mattress pad will work best for you. To do this, check the list of parameters listed for you below.

Your Sleep Position

Hip pain has many possible causes. And your preferred sleeping style can be one of them.
Those who sleep on the side tend to be more prone to hip pain because they press their body weight against the mattress and create a pressure point in the hip joint. To avoid this, choose softer mattress pads. They allow you to sink deeper and prevent pressure.

You might want to check out this guide on mattress toppers for side sleepers. Perhaps, you will find a suitable model there.

Back and stomach sleepers may also experience aggravated hip pain. This usually happens due to misalignment of the spine and the hips. In this scenario, tension can accumulate in the hips and cause the pain levels to grow.

To avoid that, back sleepers should choose medium or medium-firm mattress toppers. And stomach sleepers are advised to pick firm models. This way, in each of these sleep positions, users can experience a balanced combination of support and pressure redistribution. Consequently, this may help relieve the tension from their sore hips.

Firmness

Your mattress, in case it’s too soft or too firm, can be the cause of your sore hips. So, you may need a topper that can make your mattress more comfortable and suitable for you.

But how do you choose the right firmness when it’s so subjective? 

Here are the general guidelines for you:

• Small size sleepers will feel better on soft to medium mattress pads. Their body creates little resistance to the mattress, so they need to sink in deeper. 
• Average size sleepers can choose the medium level of firmness. They still need some sinkage but not as much as side sleepers do, as in the back-sleeping position, their body is initially aligned.
• Large size sleepers are advised to get a firmer mattress pad. A firmer topper can provide the right level of support and cradling for their hips without putting the spine into an awkward position.

Note that traditional memory foam is temperature-sensitive, which means that it tends to get softer as it gets hotter, e.g. when you’re lying on it and transfer a bit of your body heat.

Thermoregulation

Being hot while sleeping is a major disruptive factor for getting enough sleep. However, if you’re looking for a mattress topper for hip pain, a bit of heat retention could be good for you because warmth may help alleviate the pain. So, a solid foam slab may help you here.

But if you don’t like the idea of getting hot at night, opt for latex. It’s the most breathable material ever. 

However, for those who can’t stand sleeping hot (or experience hot flashes), there are cooling foams available on the modern market. Many manufacturers offer gel-infused or open-cell foam toppers. Gel particles work to draw the excess heat away from the body (and lock it inside). And open-cell foam toppers are simply more breathable, which allows them to sleep cooler.

Another cooling option is latex. Latex mattress toppers are temperature-neutral by nature. Therefore, they aren’t likely to retain heat during the night.

Gel-infused and egg-crate mattress toppers may work as an affordable alternative to latex in terms of cooling effects

Motion Response

Motion responsiveness  is an essential factor for those who might have limited mobility due to hip problems or pain. A topper with a quick motion response, such as those made of latex or polyfoam, will help you move around more easily and won’t feel like quicksand when you get up.

Motion response is also a crucial factor for partners. Often, hip pain causes sleepers to toss and turn trying to find that one position that causes the least pain. If the mattress topper is responsive, it can transfer shock from motion to the other side of the bed, disturbing the other sleeper.

In this case (and for users who don’t have mobility issues), it might be better to choose a slow-moving mattress topper. Memory foam performs the best in this scenario. Some latex toppers might also do the trick if they are soft and plushy.

Thickness

The thickness of the topper can determine how much it’s going to change the feel of one’s mattress. Generally, thicker toppers (3-4 inches) can have a more significant impact. They may also offer more of a hug, which might come in handy for tender, painful hips.

At the same time, a deeper hug could mean somewhat limited movement. So, shoppers need to make sure their hip pain isn’t making it hard for them to get out of bed. If it does, they may want to pick a slightly thinner topper (around 2 inches).

Grip

Last but not least, you need to think about how to secure your mattress topper in place. If you or your partner are active sleepers, the pad may move with you as you’re shifting positions, which can drastically reduce your comfort.

Some mattress toppers have elastic loops on the corners, while others feature a tenacious cover. If your mattress has a smooth and somewhat slippery cover, you may want to make sure the topper you are considering has one of these elements. Yet, if you happen to purchase a basic slab of foam, you can check out our recommendations on how to prevent it from sliding off your bed.

Quality of the Materials

It goes without saying that a low-quality mattress topper can affect one’s comfort. Additionally, such toppers usually wear out faster, which often means additional expenses for shoppers. Low-quality models also develop sags and body indentations sooner. When this happens, they can’t provide the needed support and pressure redistribution, which can lead to aggravated hip pain.

Now, a quality mattress topper for hip pain has to use denser foams or latex. And denser doesn’t always mean firmer. There are plenty of mattress toppers that use quality, dense materials but have a pleasant hugging feel.

For memory foam, anything from 3 PCF and higher should be pretty durable. For polyurethane foam, shoppers need to look for models that are rated 1.5 PCF and more. As for latex, 4 PCF and up should suffice.

Why do your hips hurt when you sleep on your side?

What type of mattress topper is best for shoulder pain?

Is a firm or soft mattress better for hip pain?

Is latex or memory foam better for hip pain?