Best Mattress for Hip Pain

When hip pain keeps you up all night, sleep deprivation can follow closely along with increased pain sensitivity. Getting good sleep is critical to tissue repair and reduced inflammation. Unsupportive mattresses can contribute to hip conditions just as a supportive bed can help alleviate the symptoms of hip pain.

In this article, we’ll discuss six pain-relieving beds and how to shop for a good mattress of your own. We’ll learn about the major hip pain diseases and conditions and how a good mattress can promote pain-free sleep.

Our Top Mattress Recommendation

View on Amerisleep

AS3 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 Zoma

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 Hip Pain

Mattress	Brand	Highlight	Price (Queen)
	Amerisleep AS3	HIVE® technology eliminates pressure in the hips to ease discomfort and prevent future pains.	$1399
	Zoma Mattress	Reactiv™ layer contours to the body and minimizes motion transfer.	$699
	Vaya Mattress	Budget-friendly option suitable for all sleep needs.	$595
	Nolah 10"	CertiPUR-US® certified foam decreases pressure in the back and offers a cool sleep environment.	$894
	Tuft & Needle	Fosters a pain-free, versatile sleep surface for every sleeping position.	$595
	Original Purple®	Eliminates pressure points with moisture-wicking foam technology.	$1099

The 12-inch thick Amerisleep AS3 has a balanced medium feel loved by countless sleepers. It’s a notably versatile mattress because it supports all sleeping styles by blending support and conformability to achieve pressure and pain relief, and for that reason, it’s also our vote for the best mattress of 2021.

The soft, breathable cover works to promote air circulation throughout the mattress. This airflow keeps you cool and comfortable throughout the night.

The top layer of the AS3 is 3 inches of plant-based Bio-Pur®, a layer meant to relieve pressure and conform closely to the body. This breathable comfort layer wicks away moisture and heat to provide a good night’s sleep.

Beneath the Bio-Pur®, Amerisleep’s HIVE® technology in the transition layer decreases pressure points, which increases the chance of waking up without sore hip joints.

The last layer, Bio-Core®, absorbs motion and increases the lifespan of the foam layers above. However, if you prefer a coil bed for a little more bounce, support, or breathability, the AS3 Hybrid has the same pressure-relieving qualities as the AS3 without the all-foam construction.

The Amerisleep collection has different firmness models and comes in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, and split king sizes.

A memory foam mattress for athletes, the Zoma Mattress is backed by years of research, design, and testing. The bed was created specifically for those who lead an active lifestyle, but really anybody can enjoy the motion isolation and pressure relief of this bed. Lots of customers have noted how the Zoma Mattress has helped with not just their hip pain, but chronic pain overall.

The comfort layer is made from gel memory foam with Triangulex™ technology. The layer has hundreds of triangular cutouts to alleviate back pain through firm hip support. This resilient foam cushions the joints and prevents misalignment. The transitional Reactiv™ layer contours and minimizes motion transfer, while the high-density Support+ core gives consistent pressure relief and promotes spinal alignment.

Next to the Zoma Mattress, Zoma offers two other beds: the Zoma Hybrid and Zoma Start. The Zoma Start has a medium-firm feel, which may be uncomfortable for those with hip pain, but the Zoma Hybrid has a similar feel and firmness to the Zoma Mattress, so it may also help your pain.

Zoma comes in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, and split king sizes but only comes with one firmness option: medium firmness.

If you’re looking to avoid hip pain but don’t have a lot of money to spend, you can get better sleep by switching to the Vaya Mattress. We recommend this bed because it contains pressure-relieving, breathable foams designed to resist sinkage, so they’ll always hold you in a neutral position and prevent the hips from dipping out of alignment.

The Vaya Mattress is a medium in firmness and is best suited for side, back, and combination sleepers. Stomach sleepers avoiding hip pain will need a firmer mattress to keep the torso lifted. With two layers, the Vaya stands 12 inches tall.

The first layer of the Vaya Mattress is 3 inches of contouring Vaya Comfort Foam to deliver immediate cushion and evenly distribute body weight. Like memory foam, Vaya Foam offers incredible pressure relief to ease aches and pains. However, unlike memory foam, Vaya Foam is porous and breathable. Instead of causing night sweats, Vaya Foam keeps you cool so you can sleep comfortably without waking up overheated.

The second and last layer of the Vaya is 9 inches of sturdy core foam to resist sags and damage. You won’t have to worry about the Vaya growing lumpy or uncomfortable. Plus, Vaya backs their bed with 10 years of warranty coverage.

The Vaya Mattress is one of two mattresses Vaya Sleep currently offers. Their other bed is the Vaya Hybrid, which contains the same Vaya Comfort Foam. But instead of a foam base, it features a pocketed coil support layer and a thin layer of foam beneath that.

Vaya Sleep sells their products online only and offers free shipping with every purchase. Of course, you also receive a 100-night sleep trial with every Vaya Mattress, so you have ample time to try it out and decide if it’s the sleep solution for you.

Nolah’s CertiPUR-US® certified Nolah Original 10” scores 4.7 out of 5 stars from customers citing their better sleep and reduced pain since making the switch. The relieves pressure around the hips, shoulder, and back while maintaining a temperature-neutral sleep environment.

Nolah currently sells three mattress models, but the Nolah Original 10” was their first ever model and stays their most popular throughout the years.

The mattress’s cover is made from Tencel™, an eco-friendly fabric designed to stay cool and breathable, yet still soft and comforting. The first layer, 2 inches of AirFoam™, fosters pressure relief, isolates motion transfer, and increases airflow through the mattress.

The transitional layer is bouncy like latex, which helps when changing sleep positions. The 7-inch high-density support base reinforces the top layers and guarantees the mattress’s longevity.

The Nolah mattress only comes in a medium feel but comes in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king sizes.

Tuft & Needle’s two-layer original mattress is not only their flagship model but also their most popular. The T&N Original provides pressure relief, support, cooling technology, and versatility all in one bed.

The company maintains an impressive 95% satisfaction rate and their original mattress is known to offer pain-free relief no matter your sleeping position. Customers score the T&N Original 4.6 out of 5 stars, stating how the bed immensely improved their sleep quality and comfort. Some customers didn’t even realize how poorly they slept until they switched to the T&N Original!

The first layer of the mattress contains Adaptive® foam, a graphite and ceramic gel memory foam designed to wick away heat and moisture, preventing night sweats. Adaptive® foam holds the spine in alignment, while the core layer enhances the mattress’s durability and aids in motion absorption.

The T&N Original mattress comes in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king sizes and can pair with most foundations. It includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Tuft & Needle Mattress Reviews

Purple’s original mattress provides nearly motion isolation, excellent pressure relief, and has a temperature-neutral design. Customers describe the Purple Mattress as being bouncy, cooling, and great for relieving pain.

The Purple Mattress is the most basic, yet popular mattress affordable Purple offers. For more advanced or luxurious beds, consider the Purple Hybrid or Purple Hybrid Premier.

With the unique Purple Grid™ comfort layer, sleepers receive pressure-relieving materials and optimal support to the body’s curves. The grid layer also allows air to circulate through the mattress so you don’t have to worry about feeling hot and uncomfortable all night.

Below the smart grid, 3 inches of poly-foam buffers the sleeper so they don’t sink into the dense 4-inch base layer, which gives structure and shape.

The original Purple Mattress comes in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, and split king sizes but only offers one firmness.

SEE ALSO: Purple Mattress Reviews

What Causes Hip Pain?

Too much pressure on the hips or lower back from disease or poor posture can lead to significant tissue damage, resulting in pain. Built-up and untreated pressure points can lead to achy hips, easily broken bones, degenerative diseases, and further injury or inflammation, hindering your sleep.

Lumbar Spine

According to Dr. Douglas Krebs, a certified chiropractor and owner of Chicago Spine and Sports, “a 2020 study published to The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy revealed that the majority of hip pain has an origin in the lumbar spine, roughly 60%. Therefore a supportive mattress is crucial.”

Bursitis

Bursa inflammation, or bursitis, is the inflammation of fluid around the joints such as the hips, knees, shoulders, and elbows. This disease is often characterized by sharp pains radiating outwards from the affected area. The pain can be worse lying down.

Sciatica

Caused by improper posture, sciatica is characterized by painful tingling in the inner hip or leg when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed. The sciatic nerve is located at the spine’s base and runs through the hip’s obturator foramen to the feet. It’s the human body’s largest and longest nerve.

Sciatica is very painful and can severely decrease someone’s quality of life. This condition is treatable, although serious cases require surgery.

Tendinitis

The elasticity in our tendons becomes rigid with age, which decreases our ability to cushion shock to the joints. High impact physical activities can cause the tendons to become irritated, cultivating an irritating joint ache.

Rest, heat and ice treatments, therapy, and a supportive mattress can reduce symptoms of tendinitis.

Arthritis

There are over 100 types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Generally known as joint stiffness and weakening from inflammation, the disease is an immune response, attacking healthy tissue.

The elderly, with failing immune systems, and children, with underdeveloped immune systems, can contract the disease easily.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, the disintegration of cartilage, is closely associated with the elderly or men as a result of a neglected injury or infection. This disease can cause greater pain and stiffness in the hips, knees, and hands than other forms of arthritis.

The Importance of Pain-free Sleep

The John Hopkins University School of Medicine states pain interferes with sleep just as much as unrestful sleep encourages pain to intensify. Feelings of pain will keep your sleep shallow and prevent NREM sleep, which your body needs to repair cells. Since a pain-riddled body is unable to stay in NREM sleep for long, the body only performs minimal tissue repair, resulting in increased pain sensitivity.

Patients with osteoarthritis often experience daytime sleepiness, and frequently shift between sleep stages, resulting in even more sleep deprivation.

Sleep is as important to our health as food and exercise. Yet, it is often treated as an afterthought, leading to sleep deprivation in 70 million American adults. In fact, $2.1 million in productivity is lost every year as a result of tired workers. 100,000 traffic accidents, 76,000 injuries, and 1,500 deaths per year could drop if drivers got enough sleep.

Maintaining a regular bedtime schedule can foster restful sleep and help you make wise and safe decisions throughout your day.

How Sleep Position Affects Hip Pain

Lousy mattresses may place pressure on your hips, limiting circulation and increasing joint swelling. Meanwhile, a pressure-alleviating mattress can evenly distribute weight and increase quality of life.

No matter your sleep position, your hips and shoulder exert the most pressure on the mattress. Zoned material technology varies support given to heavier and lighter areas of the body to alleviate pressure.

A back sleeper’s weight is distributed more evenly across the mattress; however, this may not prevent the lower back and behind from sinking into the bed. If your hips angle into the material, you’ll wake up with irritated joints and tendons.

Side sleepers cultivate intense pressure on the side of their shoulder and hip, causing joint displacement and an unnaturally curved spine. Eventually, pressure will damage the spinal cord and joints, and may lead to sciatica.

Stomach sleepers have potential for the worst joint and spinal pain. Stomach sleeping places strain on the spine, pressing out the natural spinal curvature. Putting too much stress on the spine can cause the gelatinous disks to burst and the vertebrae to rub together, among other intense medical issues.

Mattress Considerations for Sleepers with Hip Pain

Quality mattresses can eliminate pressure points to avoid hip pain, and foster rejuvenating sleep. Consider a mattress’s support, firmness, durability, conformability, and pressure-relieving qualities you’ll want to consider before making a purchase.

Support

A mattress’s supportiveness refers to the bed’s ability to lay flat even while withstanding pressure. Depending on your preferred sleep style, the support you need from your mattress may change.

Side sleepers generally need a much softer bed to accommodate the pressure accumulating on their side. A plush surface allows the sleeper to sink into the mattress, relieving pressure points and helping the sleeper balance without straining back muscles.

Stomach sleepers force their spines into a straight line, placing strain on the muscular and skeletal systems. As a result, stomach sleepers need very firm mattresses to prevent their spines from curving or bowing.

Back sleepers need medium-firm mattresses since they don’t need as much pressure relief as side sleepers. A medium-firm mattress allows the sleeper to sink enough to contour deeply and relieve pressure points.

For those who have sagging or indented mattresses, consider getting a new mattress. A ½ inch deep indentation can greatly affect sleep quality and cause significant pain.

We understand not everyone can get a new mattress. Mattress toppers and pads can enhance the support and comfort levels of your mattress, although this is only a temporary solution.

Pressure Relief

Pressure relief is waking without aches and pains in the knees, hips, shoulders, and back, and, instead, waking with a clear mind—  the result of sleeping on a supportive mattress. Pressure-relieving mattresses prevent stiff backs and sore joints by dispersing body weight and allowing the muscles, tendons, and ligaments to recover from the previous day.

For those with fibromyalgia, recovering surgery patients, or those with limited mobility and pressure sensitivities, pressure relief can prevent cellular death. Too firm a mattress won’t accommodate pressure points, which will cause the sleeper to restlessly turn during the night.

Conformability

Conformability refers to how well a mattress contours to the body’s curves. A good conforming mattress enhances the comfort and support around sensitive spinal regions.

Conforming material like memory foam isolates motion well because it absorbs movement; this is a great feature if you sleep with a partner.

Firmness

Correct mattress firmness depends entirely on your sleeping position, weight, and body type. Even though mattress firmness is rated on a 1 to 10 scale, the perception of the firmness is dependent on the user. Mattresses are generally rated based on average individuals; in other words, if you’re a petite or larger person, the mattress will feel differently. For those who have a small frame, a medium mattress (5 on the firmness scale) may seem too hard, while a heavy individual may find it too soft.

Durability

The durability of a mattress refers to the mattress’s lifespan.  Durability depends largely on the bed’s material and construction.

Pocketed coil innerspring and hybrid mattresses give the best support as the springs have thick gauges (the coil thickness) and react individually instead of as one big system. Unfortunately, this mattress type only last six years. If the mattress is properly taken care of, it may last longer.

Foam mattresses have thick, dense cores that absorb motion and alleviate pressure through contouring. Memory foam mattresses generally last seven years. Proper maintenance may extend the longevity of the bed.

A latex mattress, made from rubber tree sap, is bouncy and pressure-relieving with enough contouring and support to rival memory foam. This type of mattress can last between seven to eight years.

Airbeds have plastic chambers filled with air. Because air cannot deteriorate, the bed can last between eight to nine years.

Cheap mattresses, or beds made with low-quality materials and workmanship, have smaller lifespans: two to three years. They’re known to sag around the midsection, leading to pain and pressure in sensitive areas. Mattresses with long lifespans typically offer greater support and have longer lifespans.

Mattress Types

Mattresses use different types of materials that can affect the bed’s overall effectiveness in reducing pain.

Memory foam mattresses are very conforming. They alleviate pressure seamlessly and isolate motion at the point of impact. The contouring qualities of a foam bed can relieve pain and promote restful nights.

Latex beds are just as conforming as memory foam beds. They are known to give a lot of support; however, they are much more firm than most people would like. The firmness interferes with the mattress’s ability to alleviate pressure. Latex is a completely green material as well as hypoallergenic.

Innerspring mattresses are very supportive and have the ability to contour to their sleeper’s curves, although not as deeply as memory foam and latex beds. The bed’s materials are breeding grounds for pollen, dust, dust mites, bed bugs, and other allergens, meaning those with allergies will not get restful sleep on these beds.

Hybrid mattresses are made with an innerspring core and foam transitional and comfort layers. They have the support of a coil mattress and the contouring and pressure-relieving qualities of a memory foam bed. However, hybrids collect allergens as well as innerspring mattresses.

Airbeds are the longest-lasting(nine to ten years and the user can adjust their airbed to their preferred firmness. Some airbeds are advanced enough to adjust the firmness in real-time and evaluate sleep quality.

Sleep Strategies

Some products and stretches can improve sleep quality. Pillows and toppers can improve your sleeping environment and help you achieve spinal alignment. Additionally, stretching can help relieve your muscles of the day’s stress and may reduce morning soreness.

Pillow Selections

Knee pillows, neck pillows, body pillows, and traditional pillows can alleviate sleep discomforts and cradle your body into alignment.

Knee pillows are placed between the thighs, ankles, or knees to align the hips and deter hip and lower back pain.

Neck pillows, or bolsters, can align the neck and spine to prevent chronic pain. These pillows can also raise traditional or memory foam pillows to a preferred angle.

Body pillows can replace multiple pillows by cradling the body and reducing restless sleeping. These pillows are for patients recovering from surgery, athletes, and pregnant women. Many people use body pillows to switch from stomach to side sleeping.

Mattress Toppers

Mattress toppers can temporarily prevent pain caused by a sagging mattress. They’re great for changing mattress firmness as well. Toppers come in latex, poly-foam, feather, and wool materials, which makes it possible to switch the firmness from soft to firm and hard to plush.

Improving Your Sleep Routine

Everyone has a bedtime ritual such as watching TV or drinking tea. For those with chronic pain issues, stretching is a helpful ritual that reduces pain.

Simple stretches before and after bed will relax your muscles and alleviate joint stiffness. Ask a physician for pain-relieving stretching exercises; until then, the old toe-touch routine will help.

Warranties and Sleep Trials

Sleep trials and warranties protect the customer from bad purchases.

Sleep trials are often given to increase a customer’s confidence in a luxury product. If a company includes a sleep trial with their mattress, the customer can purchase the bed with no risk, knowing they can return it during the sleep trial for no extra cost.

A sleep trial lasting at least 100 nights gives the customer enough time to try the mattress and return it if they need to.

Warranties can indicate the mattress’s durability and workmanship. Unfortunately, even a good company will still have defective mattresses. To protect you against faulty products, companies offer warranties, ensuring a free mattress repair or replacement in case of a defective product.

There are some warranties that make the customer responsible for any transportation or handling fees when getting a repair or replacement— avoid these types of warranties if you can. At the very least, a warranty should ensure the mattress’s material and workmanship for ten years and should claim responsibility for defective materials and workmanship.

FAQs

What is recommended if both hips hurt while sleeping?

Do some light stretches every day, and of course, follow the advice of your doctor. Using a contoured memory foam pillow can provide superior pressure relief to alleviate pain.

What type of mattress is best for side sleepers with hip pain?

An all-foam mattress is soft enough to relieve pressure and conform to the side sleeper’s side. We suggest a 4.5 firmness as it will give enough pressure relief while offering support and mobility.

What mattress is best for a back sleeper with hip pain?

If you struggle with hip pain as a back sleeper, make sure to get a supportive mattress with light cushioning to prevent your hips from sinking in bed. If your hips or lower back sink at night, it’ll only worsen your hip and make it harder to sleep. Several high-quality mattresses for back sleepers with back include the Zoma Mattress, Nolah Original 10”, and Original Purple®.

Is a firm or soft mattress better for hip pain?

Those with chronic pain may think a soft mattress would help, but it can cause too much sinkage, leading to even more pain. Similarly, a too-firm mattress can cause pressure to build up in the hips. We recommend a medium mattress for a perfect blend of softness and support.

How do I know if my mattress is causing my hip pain?

If you consistently wake up with hip pain and it seems to worsen instead of get better after a full night of sleep, your mattress may be to blame. Additionally, if your mattress is close to 10 years old, it may have lost support. An aging mattress eventually develops sags, which lead to feeling “stuck” and inconsistent support.

Conclusion

Hip pain can affect everyday life— especially if it hinders recuperative sleep. Sleeping with a misaligned spine increases risk of bursitis, sciatica, tendonitis, and arthritis. A supportive mattress with proper firmness, pressure relief, and conformability will promote comfortable, pain-free sleep.