Updated November 22, 2019 Scoliosis occurs when there is a sideways curvature of the spine. The condition typically occurs during the growth spurt just before puberty. It can also be rooted in conditions such as muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy, but the cause of most scoliosis cases is unknown. If you are a scoliosis sufferer, sleeping can be a challenge. Without the right mattress, you could find yourself waking up in pain every morning. You might also toss and turn throughout the night. Our guide will provide you options for the best mattress for scoliosis as well as tips for how to find the best bed for your sleep needs. Our Top Mattress Recommendation View on AmerisleepRead AS2 customer reviews AS2 Highlights 100-night sleep trial 20-Year Warranty Designed to reduce pain points Heat reducing mattress cover Comes in King, Queen, Twin, Full, and Splits Our Runner-Up View on ZomaRead Zoma customer reviews Zoma Highlights 100-night sleep trial 10-Year Warranty Designed for faster recovery Triangulex™ technology promotes healthy posture Comes in King, Queen, Twin, Full, and Splits Best Mattresses for Scoliosis MattressHighlightsPrice Amerisleep AS2Plant-based Bio-Pur® is five times more breathable than traditional memory foam.$1099 ZomaZoned comfort layer of Triangulex™ provides deeper compression in heavier sections of the body.$750 NovosbedComfort layer of memory foam uses open-cell technology for a breathable foam.$1099 My Green Mattress Natural EscapeNatural latex sleeps cool while conforming to the body for pressure point relief.$1299 Bear ProCopper-infused gel memory foam pulls heat away from the body and may improve blood circulation.$1090 1. Amerisleep AS2 People with scoliosis will find the multi-layered Amerisleep AS2 one of the most therapeutic options available. This supportive mattress is medium-firm and offers excellent support for those with scoliosis. The mattress is topped with a high-performance Celliant® cover. FDA-determined Celliant® technology contains threads with 13 thermoreactive minerals, which absorb heat and turn it into infrared energy. Your body then absorbs this energy, promoting an increase in blood flow and rejuvenating rest. This boost of blood circulation can loosen muscles and joints, which is especially helpful for scoliosis pain relief. The first layer contains 2 inches of Bio-Pur®— this unique, plant-based memory foam is five times more breathable than traditional memory foam. Its open-cell structure encourages air circulation while you sleep to keep you cool and comfortable. The Bio-Pur® layer is followed by 3 inches of Affinity foam featuring Harnessing Intelligent Ventilation & Energy (HIVE®) technology. HIVE® contains hundreds of hexagon-shaped cutouts grouped into five comfort zones— the head, shoulders, back, hips, and legs. The HIVE® layer has a cloud-like feel to provide pressure relief to problem areas for those with scoliosis. Lastly, the 7-inch Bio-Core® layer is a high-density poly-foam to enhance the longevity of the mattress and prevent sagging. Amerisleep offers a 20-year warranty with this mattress. The first 10 years fully protects against manufacturer defects. The second 10 years protect against defects at a prorated charge based on how long you’ve owned the mattress. Customers will also receive a 100-night sleep trial. If you’re not satisfied with your bed during this time, you can return it for free. The company recommends using the new mattress for at least 30 nights before determining whether you’d like to return it. 2. Zoma The Zoma is a medium-firm mattress designed for athletes and performance-focused individuals, but its design also works well for those with scoliosis. The first layer is a breathable polyester cover that wicks away moisture and heat, helping you stay cool throughout the night. The next layer is 2 inches of gel memory foam with Triangulex™ technology. This pain-relieving layer contains hundreds of triangular-shaped segments placed specifically into comfort support zones to reduce discomfort and promote spinal alignment. Below this is a dynamic response layer of Reactiv™ foam. The 2-inch Reactiv™ layer contours to your body, reducing motion transfer while providing continuous support. This adds “bounce” for greater comfort, but you won’t ever feel like you’re sinking too deeply. When you have scoliosis, you want to relieve pressure while keeping your back in alignment. Finally, a 7-inch high-density base of Support+ improves the durability of the mattress. It also provides even support and encourages healthy spinal alignment, ideal for those with scoliosis. Zoma offers a 100-night risk-free trial. The company allows you to return the bed at any point during the trial if you’re not satisfied. The mattress also comes with a 10-year warranty providing full replacement and repairs and protecting against structural defects and workmanship. 3. Novosbed The Novosbed is another excellent option for those with scoliosis thanks to its adjustable firmness settings. The foam bed is available in three different firmness settings — soft, medium, and firm. Novosbed starts with an ultra-soft washable Tencel® cover that draws moisture away from your body while sleeping, helping to keep you cool. Next is a 2-inch comfort layer of memory foam which also keeps you cool and comfortable. This layer has advanced air circulation to disperse heat. Below is a 2-inch transitional foam layer that provides motion isolation, body contouring, and pressure point relief. Lastly, the bottom layer is a 7-inch premium support foam to balance body weight. Those with curved spines may have uneven pressure points, but this support foam helps alleviate pressure for all sleeping positions. This base is also designed to improve the longevity of the bed. Novosbed offers a 120-night trial period. Novosbed suggests using the mattress for at least 60 days, but after 30 days, you can request a Comfort+ package to add softness or firmness to the sleep surface. Novosbed also includes a 15-year warranty on this bed. The first 10 years of the warranty provide complete coverage. The last five years offer prorated coverage. The warranty protects against manufacturer defects and sagging greater than 1 inch. 4. My Green Mattress Natural Escape My Green Mattress Natural Escape is a medium-firm hybrid mattress. The mattress cover features quilted GOTS certified cotton and GOTS certified natural wool. Beneath the quilted fabric is 3 inches of GOLS certified Dunlop latex foam. This natural latex sleeps cool and conforms to the body to relieve pressure points. The 8-inch support layer contains multi-gauge pocketed coils. Thicker gauge coils rest in the middle for enhanced lumbar support, while thinner gauges provide softer support, keeping the spine in alignment. This is critical for those diagnosed with scoliosis. There are also thicker coils along the edge of the mattress for optimal edge support. The My Green Mattress Natural Escape comes with a 100-night sleep trial. Customers can return the bed for a full refund if not satisfied. The company offers a 20-year warranty that protects against manufacturer defects. Because this is a bed in a box, My Green Mattress requires customers to open the bed within four weeks for the warranty to be valid. If you do not open the bed within four weeks, structural damage may occur. 5. Bear Pro The Bear Pro mattress has a medium-firm feel designed to relieve stress on the hips and shoulders and also support the spine. The mattress contains both copper poly-foam and gel memory foam to relieve pain for those with scoliosis. The mattress starts with a breathable, FDA-determined Celliant® cover to promote blood flow, which can help relieve pain. Beneath the cover is a 1-inch thick layer of copper-infused foam to help keep you cool and comfortable at night and reduce inflammation. A 1.5-inch layer of gel memory foam wicks away unwanted body heat. Beneath the gel memory foam is a 2.5-inch layer of responsive transitional foam to relieve pressure points with balanced support. Finally, there is a 7-inch layer of high-density support foam to improve the durability of the mattress. The Bear Pro mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial. If you’re not satisfied within this time, Bear will pick up the bed for free and provide you with a full refund. Bear offers a 10-year warranty to protect against indentations or sagging greater than 1 inch. The warranty also protects against any manufacturing flaws causing the foam to crack. What is Scoliosis? Scoliosis is the unnatural curvature of the spine, in either a “C” or “S” shape viewed from behind the body. A healthy spinal curve should look like an “S” from the side. If left untreated, scoliosis could lead to spinal deformities worsening with age. What Scoliosis Sufferers Should Look for in a Mattress Those with scoliosis experience pain in the lower back and neck, muscle spasms, and heat sensitivity, all of which affect sleep quality. The right type of mattress evenly supports the body, relieving pressure points and reducing inflammation of affected areas. Potential buyers should look at the mattress type, preferred sleep position, and cooling features before committing to a mattress. Mattress Type Each type of mattress offers sleepers its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks. While each contains a comfort layer and a support layer, some mattress types may help reduce symptoms of scoliosis better than others. Memory Foam Mattress Memory foam mattresses are one of the most popular mattress types on the market today. Memory foam, or viscoelastic foam, conforms to the body’s natural curves to relieve pressure points. Memory foam beds may run the risk of retaining heat, but this is easily fixed through cooling infusions, like gel memory foam, copper, or graphite. Some manufacturers take it a step further by developing plant-based or open-cell memory foam. A typical memory foam mattress contains a top layer of memory foam and a support layer of high-density foam. Innerspring Mattress Most likely, you grew up sleeping on an innerspring mattress. Innerspring mattresses lean towards the firm side with exceptional cooling due to the coiled support layer. The open structure allows for better air circulation within the mattress. An innerspring mattress contains a thin comfort layer— usually a topper of foam or fiberfill with a support layer of steel coils. Latex Mattress Latex foam is either created through a synthetic process or extracted from rubber trees. There are two types of natural latex— Dunlop and Talalay. Dunlop latex is denser and more durable, while Talalay latex is softer and includes a zoned support system from strategically-placed holes in the material. Generally, a latex mattress contains a comfort layer of latex and a support layer of either high-density foam or latex. Hybrid Mattress By combining memory foam and innerspring coils, manufacturers created the perfect mattress— the hybrid. Hybrid mattresses offer the body-contouring pressure relief of memory foam and the cooling and responsive bounce of innersprings. However, hybrids also come with the drawbacks of both materials, including the risk of overheating and less pressure point relief. A hybrid mattress contains a comfort layer— usually at least 2 inches thick of memory foam with a coiled support layer. Sleeping Position Now that you know about different mattress options, it’s time to focus on sleeping styles. This will help you choose the best mattress for scoliosis. Odds are, you know whether you sleep on your side, stomach, or back. What you may not know is your sleeping position should drive what type of mattress you buy. Manufacturers offer different firmness levels for different types of sleeping positions. Side Sleeping If you are a side sleeper, a soft to medium mattress is a good idea— it will give you the support you need as well as enough contouring to let gravity align your spine without sinking too much. If you have scoliosis and prefer side sleeping, use a pillow between your legs and a rolled-up towel under your ribs. The main goal is to keep your spine as supported and aligned as possible. Back Sleeping If you’re a back sleeper with scoliosis, using a thin pillow under your shoulder blades can reduce pressure and ease pain. Look for a medium to firm mattress to offer enough support to ensure you sleep with your spine in neutral alignment. Sleeping on a bed which is too soft can cause the hips to sink lower than the shoulders and feet. This could cause a host of back problems, including tightness and anterior pelvic tilt. Stomach Sleeping If you sleep on your stomach, you will want to consider changing sleep positions. This is especially critical if you have scoliosis, since stomach sleeping places more pressure on the spine. If you’re committed to sleeping on your stomach, make sure you have a medium-firm to firm mattress. A softer mattress can cause your hips to sag into the bed and throw the spine out of alignment, causing pain. Stomach sleepers can also place a flat pillow underneath the hips to align the spine. Cooling Features A cooler sleep environment is key to improving sleep quality. Ideal bedroom temperature for better sleep is 67 degrees, allowing for longer REM cycles and improving recovery. For those with scoliosis, a mattress with cooling features may reduce inflammation and pain. These features include: Plant-based foam Open-cell technology Gel memory foam Memory foam infused with copper or graphite Innerspring coils Other Things to Consider Can a Bad Mattress Cause Scoliosis? A bad mattress doesn’t cause scoliosis, but it can make symptoms worse. A cheap, unsupportive bed can cause pain and disrupt sleep. So while a bad mattress isn’t a direct cause of scoliosis, it can undoubtedly lead to worsening symptoms. How Should You Sleep If You Have Scoliosis? Generally speaking, the best way to sleep if you have scoliosis is on your back. This position helps with the natural alignment of the spine and distributes weight proportionally. You can also add extra cushioning to help relieve pain. For instance, if you have chronic shoulder pain from scoliosis, you can add thin towels beneath your shoulder blades and neck for support. If you have pain in the lumbar area, placing a rolled-up towel underneath your lower back can alleviate discomfort. Does Scoliosis Worsen With Age? Whether your scoliosis gets worse with age depends on your diagnosis. Typically, if you are diagnosed with scoliosis at an early age, there is a high chance the condition can be treated to prevent further curving. But if you are diagnosed as an adult, chances are it will not go away. It can still be managed though. The sharper the curve in your spine, the more likely it is to progress. Those with 50-degree curves can expect the curves to worsen by one or two degrees annually. Seeking treatment with a doctor is the best bet to reduce the progression of the curve. Conclusion If you are a scoliosis patient, you are likely always searching for ways to relieve your back pain. Your current mattress could be a significant contributor to your discomfort. This is especially true if it is unsupportive or not designed for your sleeping position. Consider this list when shopping for the best mattress for scoliosis. Take advantage of sleep trials to find a mattress to suit your sleeping position and specific needs. It is possible to have a good night’s sleep. Comments Cancel replyLeave a Comment Your email address will not be published. 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