Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain in 2023

Many of us have experienced shoulder pain at one time or another. Maybe you overexerted yourself or sat in a slumped position for too long. Sometimes, you might wake up with shoulder pain if you slept in an awkward position.

For many of us, shoulder pain is a temporary inconvenience. For others, it’s a permanent condition. If you’re unsure of the cause, a doctor’s visit can help you determine how severe your shoulder pain is.

No matter the cause, the pain can make it difficult to fall asleep at night. The right mattress can make all the difference and help you regain a good night’s rest.

That’s why we compiled a list of the best mattresses for shoulder pain. If your current mattress has gone bad, a new mattress might be all that’s needed to soothe a sore shoulder.

Best Mattresses for Shoulder Pain

Side sleepers who want a softer mattress for aching joints may find the perfect solution is an Amerisleep AS3 mattress. This bed is the company’s medium mattress and its most popular model. There are three layers of foam inside the AS3.

Under Amerisleep’s 20-year mattress warranty, you’re fully protected for the first 10 years. During the warranty’s second half, you will bear partial for any repairs or replacements.

Every Amerisleep mattress also includes free shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. and a 100-day sleep trial with free returns.

How Lying Down Feels

The AS3 is quick to gently give away as a sleeper stretches out, sinking slightly into the surface for a full-body cradling sensation. As a medium mattress, the AS3 strikes a fine balance between pressure-relieving cushion and support.

The zoned support the mattress has also ensures the shoulder area has more flexibility, meaning it’s quicker to wrap around the sensitive area and ease tension that can cause or worsen pain.

Inside the Mattress

The AS3 contains 3 inches of unique Bio-Pur® material, a plant-based foam. This foam molds to your curves for pressure relief, which helps you maintain a healthy sleeping posture. Bio-Pur® is bouncier and breathable than traditional memory foam.

Underneath the Bio-Pur® is 2 inches of Affinity layer with HIVE® Technology. HIVE® separates the foam into a head, shoulders, back, hips, and feet section through hexagonal cutouts.

The cutouts are further apart in the shoulder and hip areas for more pressure relief. In the head, backs, and feet sections, the cutouts are closer together to create uncompromising support.

The mattress’s third layer is 7 inches of Bio-Core® foam, a durable foam that promotes mattress longevity. Bio-Core® is resilient enough for Amerisleep to feel confident in offering a 20-year warranty with every mattress.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress for Joint Pain

The foams inside the Zoma Mattress are designed to promote recovery while you rest. The bed is marketed primarily toward athletes and other physically active people. However, anyone can benefit from a Zoma Mattress, no matter what their lifestyle is.

When you buy a Zoma Mattress, you will receive a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

Inside the Mattress

The construction of the Zoma Mattress focuses on soothing aches and pains and limiting sleep interruptions. The bed is a particularly good choice for sleepers with shoulder pain as the manufacturers added cutouts in the head of the mattress to increase contouring under the head, neck, and shoulders.

Inside the Mattress

The Zoma Mattress’s top layer is 2 inches of cooling gel memory foam, perfect for pressure and pain relief. The gels move body heat away from you, so you have less chance of waking up in the middle of the night sweating. This top layer has triangular cutouts in the shoulder and head area to increase pressure-soothing cushion. These cutouts form the bed’s Triangulex™ technology.

Underneath the gel foam is 2 inches of flexible Reactiv™ foam. Reactiv™ forms the bed’s transition layer, which keeps you from sinking so deep that you feel uncomfortable or even misalign your spine. The material’s bounce also saves you from feeling stuck when you move out of bed.

The base layer is 7 inches of Support+ foam. This sturdy poly-foam resists sagging and indentations. Support+ keeps the rest of the mattress in good shape, enabling you to sleep well at night.

SEE ALSO: Best Gel Memory Foam Mattress: Buyer’s Guide

The Vaya Mattress features 12 inches of pure comfort through its mix of bounce and support. It’s designed to accommodate all sleeping positions for better support and relaxation.

The Vaya company strives for affordability. A better night’s sleep should be accessible for everyone, after all. It’s our top recommendation for anyone on a tight budget.

A queen size mattress is $599, able to fit in most people’s budgets. You have 100 nights to try out your Vaya Mattress when it arrives, and a 10-year warranty should any defects arise.

Inside the Mattress

The mattress has a two-layer design, with a breathable cover encasing the mattress. Both foams are certified safe by CertiPUR-US®.

The top foam is 3 inches of Vaya Comfort Foam, an airy and cool material that gives full-body pressure relief. The material is lighter than traditional memory foam, yet it relieves pressure in your shoulders and other areas just as well.

A Vaya Mattress is supported by 9 inches of durable base foam. You’ll feel lifted and your spine will remain in its neutral alignment, regardless of whether you prefer to sleep on your side, back, or stomach. This also makes a Vaya Bed an excellent mattress for combination sleepers.

Many sleepers experience morning shoulder pain when their mattresses aren’t soft enough. If you’re a side sleeper with a too-firm mattress, you might want to upgrade to Amerisleep’s AS5 Hybrid mattress. It’s the softest mattress Amerisleep offers.

You have 100 days to try out the AS5 Hybrid, with a 20-year warranty backing its quality.

How Lying Down Feels

The AS5 Hybrid feels not unlike a hug from a loved one, as the surface is quick to enfold the body while maintaining a comfortable level of support. Consumer reviewers have consistently praised its plush feel and how comfortable it is, along with the AS5’s durable support.

Inside the Mattress

The 14-inch mattress has four layers wrapped in a soft, breathable cover. On top is 3 inches of responsive and breathable Bio-Pur® foam. You might wonder how Amerisleep creates a softer mattress by using the same amount of Bio-Pur® foam as in the AS3. Well, the secret is in the bed’s second layer.

The AS5 Hybrid has a transition layer that’s 2 inches of a unique material known as Active Flex. Active Flex is a springy material that keeps your bed from feeling so soft that it’s unresponsive.  You don’t have to worry about sinking too far in your mattress or finding it difficult to move across the surface. Active Flex accomplishes this without compromising the bed’s plush feel.

The bed’s support core is 8 inches of pocketed coils on a firm foam base. Amerisleep divides the coils into three zones. At the mattress’s head and foot, the coils feel soft, reducing pressure points. The coils in the midsection are firm for better back support. This firmness promotes neutral spine alignment.

SEE ALSO: Softest Mattress in a Box (2022)

Shoulder pain sufferers who want all-natural relief from their mattress should consider the Natural 11 by Nolah. This latex hybrid is perfect for sleepers who need a balance of support and cushioning. It’s also a great choice for active sleepers who like to change things up a few times throughout the night.

How Lying Down Feels

The Natural is one of the most responsive hybrids on the market, thanks to its combination of springy latex foam and bouncy coils. So if you’re an active sleeper who likes to toss and turn, you can do so to your heart’s content on this mattress.

This mattress is also extremely cooling. Latex is the most breathable mattress foam. So it can keep cool air flowing through it without the need for gel infusions or microbeads to alter its structure. Perfect for sleepers who want to get a naturally cool night’s sleep.

Inside the Mattress

The top layer of the Natural is a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton cover. Organic cotton fibers offer some of the purest sweat-wicking and cooling properties available.

Directly under the organic cotton cover lies a GOTS-certified wool fire barrier. This wool layer doesn’t just protect you from fire without the need for harsh chemicals. It also provides an extra layer of plush pressure relief, making it perfect for those whose shoulder pain is pressure-related.

A perforated Talalay latex foam comfort layer comes next. Talalay latex is lighter and more contouring than its counterpart, Dunlop. So you’ll get the same kind of pressure relief on the Natural that you would on most memory foam mattresses. The comfort layer is also supported by a transition layer of more durable Talalay latex for added buoyancy and lift.

Finally, the pocketed coils inside the support core adjust to your body’s unique shape to promote total spinal alignment. This is another feature that can help relieve shoulder pain caused by tension and misalignment.

SEE ALSO: Nolah Mattress Review

Back sleepers and those with lower back pain, in addition to their shoulder pain, should consider the GhostBed Flex. This supportive offering provides tons of lift without sacrificing contouring.

This mattress also doesn’t slack off when it comes to keeping things cool. It features GhostBed’s unique combination of cooling technologies that take temperature regulation to the max.

How Lying Down Feels

Lying on the Flex, the first thing you’ll notice probably won’t be its fantastic contouring but how cool it is to the touch. This mattress boasts tons of cooling technologies to keep even the hottest sleepers from overheating.

Not to say you won’t notice the Flex’s contouring once you spend a little time on it. This mattress features ultra-adaptable foams and coils, so it contours to your shape through and through.

Mattress Construction

The Flex starts off with a three-layer cover that features a layer of breathable quilting, a layer of cool burst fiber, and a layer of gel memory foam to create a cool-touch feel that won’t quit all night. This plush cover also offers an incredibly luxurious plush feel in addition to its pleasant chilliness.

Next, you’ll find a layer of gel memory foam perfectly proportioned to give you a balance between support and cushioning. This gel swirl foam also helps to pull your body heat away from you and deeper into the mattress.

Underneath, the Ghost Bounce layer helps increase the responsiveness of the mattress over coils alone. This layer springs back into shape just like latex, without all the potential for an allergic reaction!

Then, a layer of pocketed coils provides the perfect contouring for spinal alignment. And this coil layer has the added benefit of full edge support and total breathability thanks to the reinforced perimeter springs.

Finally, a layer of high-density base foam ensures this mattress will last at least 25 years – which is why it boasts GhostBed’s robust warranty.

The Saatva Loom & Leaf is a wonderful mattress for sleepers who have to deal with shoulder pain and allergies at once. Its contouring foam layers help relieve pressure. Its firmer feel options can stand up to your body weight. Best of all, its botanical treatments fight the microbes that can cause nighttime allergy symptoms.

How Lying Down Feels

Lying down on the Loom & Leaf, you’ll notice right away that it has a firmer feel than you might expect. Both its firmness options offer more support than cushioning. So this makes it a particularly excellent mattress for back sleepers and stomach sleepers whose shoulder pain stems from insufficient support.

Mattress Construction

The first layer of the Loom & Leaf is the quilted organic cotton cover. This plush cover is treated with GuardinTM botanical antimicrobial agents that prevent everything from mold to mildew to bacteria to dust mites from setting up shop in your mattress.

Next, you’ll find a layer of cooling gel memory foam meant to enhance support to the middle third of your body. This foam rests on top of the cooling and breathable gel memory foam comfort layer.

A high-density memory foam transition layer and a foam transitional loft pad come next. These two layers add additional support to the mattress and ensure you stay lifted onto the sleeping surface despite the plush memory foam layers above.

Finally, a durable base support layer ensures maximum spinal support. This layer offers lift and stability to the layers above. It also ensures the mattress will fight sagging and soft spot development for at least 15 years.

Like Zoma, Bear markets its mattresses toward people with an active lifestyle, its foams and features focused on recovery. See our Zoma vs Bear mattress review for an in-depth comparison of the two.

While there are two other Bear mattresses to consider, our top recommendation is the Bear Hybrid. It has a bounce that Bear’s memory foam mattresses can’t match, helping you maintain a good sleep posture.

The Bear Hybrid comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

Every Bear mattress has a medium to medium-firm feel, falling into what Bear calls the “sweet spot” of mattress firmnesses. According to Bear, most sleepers find mattresses in this range feel comfortable and supportive. The spine is kept aligned without placing pressure on your hips and shoulders.

Inside the Mattress

The Bear Hybrid has five layers that create a restorative sleep surface:

• A top layer of gel foam described as cooling and cloud-like
• A second layer of comfort foam that responds to your sleeping position and body type
• A breathable, pressure-relieving transition foam
• A bouncy coil layer
• A base of high-density foam for support and durability

All Bear Mattresses include a Celliant® mattress cover. Celliant® takes body heat and converts it into infrared energy, which your body then absorbs. When the infrared energy enters your body, it provides a temporary boost to local blood flow for quicker recovery.

SEE ALSO: Bear Mattress Review

What sets the original Purple Mattress apart from other beds is its alternative to a memory foam comfort layer. The Purple Mattress includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feel

The SoftFlex mattress cover and the grid-like comfort layer creates a responsive surface with a medium feel. This gives the surface a bouncy feel, as the material is quick to flex under the body and snap back into shape.

Inside the Mattress

Every Purple bed contains a top layer of Purple Grid™, a responsive material that is both soft and supportive to minimize pressure build-up. The Purple Grid™’s design has more than 1,800 air channels, guaranteeing a cool night’s rest.

When you lie down on the Purple Mattress, the grid yields to your hips and shoulders, cradling them for maximum pressure relief. The grid flexes less under your back to maintain support, ensuring a healthy spinal alignment. Two layers of poly-foam support the Purple Grid™, promoting a longer-lasting mattress.

SEE ALSO: Purple Mattress Reviews

Causes of Shoulder Pain

According to the Mayo Clinic, you may experience shoulder pain from any of the following:

• A broken arm or collarbone
• Heart attack
• Dislocated shoulder
• Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis. This is a condition where your shoulder joint grows stiff and painful.
• Osteoarthritis. This is when the cartilage cushioning your joints breaks down.
• Rheumatoid arthritis, which causes swelling and stiffness in joints.
• Bursitis. This is when a fluid-filled sack between your bones and muscles swells and causes joint pain.
• An injury to your rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is the muscles and tendons surrounding your shoulder joint. This injury usually manifests as a dull ache that worsens when you move your arm away from your body.

Shoulder and neck pain are closely related, and sometimes you might experience shoulder pain because of an issue with your neck or vice versa. Douglas Krebs, DC, FACO of Chicago Spine and Sports stated that a recent study showed that up to 47.6% of shoulder pain was actually a neck issue. One example is cervical radiculopathy, where a pinched nerve root in the neck can manifest as shoulder pain.

While shoulder pain is often temporary and the result of an injury, it’s also possible for you to develop chronic shoulder pain. Shoulder pain is considered chronic if it persists for more than six months, and potential causes include rotator cuff disorders, a frozen shoulder, or arthritis.

Pregnant women may also experience shoulder pain, along with lower and upper back pain. While it may just be a consequence of side sleeping, stomach issues, or unbalanced weight in the abdomen, shoulder pain can also be a symptom of ectopic pregnancy and may require immediate medical attention.

Sleeping Positions for Shoulder Pain

Your sleeping position can determine whether or not you’re waking up with sore shoulders. If too much pressure builds up in your shoulder or nearby areas such as your back or neck, you’ll feel in poor condition when you wake up.

Every sleep position also has a suitable firmness level. Lying on a too-firm or too-soft mattress can keep you from experiencing quality sleep.

Side Sleepers

Side sleeping is arguably the healthiest sleeping position. It promotes a healthy heart and may reduce your risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease. The position also reduces symptoms of snoring, sleep apnea, and acid reflux.

However, the position does increase the  risk of shoulder and hip pain. If these heavier parts of the body aren’t allowed room to sink in, side sleepers may experience morning pain. A mattress for side sleeping should have a medium to soft feel for optimal pressure relief.

Back Sleepers

Back sleeping can be a good position for easing shoulder pain. When you lie on your back, your posture is similar to what it is when you stand up straight. This promotes a healthy spine alignment and evenly distributing weight across your body.

A mattress for back sleeping should feel firm and keep the spine aligned yet be conforming enough to meet the back’s curves. A medium-firm mattress is the right firmness for most back sleepers. Some may prefer a firm mattress or a medium bed with targeted back support.

If you’ve just had shoulder surgery, you may even need to sleep at an incline on your back. Sleeping after a shoulder surgery in a recline position can minimize tension on the shoulder joint and its surrounding tissue.

Stomach Sleepers

While lying on your stomach may relieve any pain in your shoulder, we can’t recommend this position. Stomach sleepers often experience chronic back pain and neck pain from their position. Since stomach sleeping affects your spine alignment, you might even worsen shoulder pain.

When you lie on your stomach, gravity pushes your lower body into the mattress. This drags your spine out of neutral alignment. Stomach sleepers also have to twist their neck to the side for easier breathing. The unnatural angle leaves them with a sore neck in the morning.

If you’re a stomach sleeper who can’t fall asleep any other way, try a firm mattress to prevent sinkage.

Firmness Levels and Body Weight

Your sleeping position isn’t the only important factor when it comes to finding your perfect mattress firmness. Petite and heavy individuals need to consider their body weight when they shop, too. Mattresses often feel different when you weigh more or less than the average person.

Lightweight sleepers under 130 pounds should look for a softer mattress. When a petite sleeper lies down on a firmer mattress, it does not soften as it would for a person of average weight. If the mattress can’t soften up enough to conform to their bodies, then pressure on the body will turn into pain.

Heavy people usually benefit from sleeping on a firmer mattress. Firm mattresses are often better than soft beds at maintaining neutral spine alignment and enduring pressure. A soft mattress can be considered if it has added support features, like a responsive transition layer or targeted back support.

Best and Worst Mattress Types for Shoulder Pain

Many mattresses fall into one of four categories. There are memory foam, latex, innerspring, and hybrid mattresses.

There are other less common types, such as futons and waterbeds. However, we will focus on the four types you will likely consider when shopping for a mattress.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses are one of the top recommendations for anyone experiencing pain. The material reacts to heat and pressure. When you lie down memory foam molds to you for full-body support and pressure relief.

Traditional memory foam mattresses often retain too much body heat. Any overheating could cause a sleeper to wake up sweaty. However, many mattress companies add cooling materials to improve heat dispersion.

You can find memory foam mattresses at almost any price point.  The beds are also available in all firmnesses. With a little research, you can find a memory foam mattress for any sleep style.

Latex

Latex is another popular material when it comes to pain-relieving mattresses. This springy material contours to the body for support and pressure relief. However, it’s not quite as conforming as memory foam. Latex mattresses can feel firm, which is why many companies offer an optional pillow top.

A natural latex mattress is one of the more durable beds on the market, with some lasting more than 15 years. Natural latex is also a good choice if you’re shopping for an organic bed. Certified organic latex mattresses are subjected to rigorous standards. You can rest assured that your bed is not only durable but also free of harmful chemicals.

Innerspring

Traditional innerspring mattresses have been around for decades, and many sleepers still prefer them even as other mattress types become more prominent. The design creates an excellent cooling mattress, leaving room for air to freely circulate and wick away heat. Many innerspring mattresses are inexpensive, excellent for anyone shopping on a restricted budget.

However, we cannot recommend an innerspring mattress if you’re a shoulder pain sufferer or experience another type of chronic pain. Innerspring mattresses cannot distribute a person’s body weight as well as other types of mattresses, which allows pressure points to build up and cause pain. If you want a bouncy bed, a hybrid might be the better choice.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses are a fusion of innerspring and foam mattresses. On a hybrid, you can experience the benefits of a foam mattress yet enjoy the bounce of a classic innerspring. A true hybrid mattress has a coil support core with at least 2 to 3 inches of foam on top.

Some hybrid models have sleep technology for targeted support and pressure relief. These design features ensure a firmer feel under your back and softer feel under your shoulders and other sensitive areas.

However, many sleepers may be surprised by how much a quality hybrid can cost. Because their design contains a mix of high-quality materials, hybrid mattresses often have expensive prices. If you’re hunting for a quality mattress under $1000, you might have better luck finding a memory foam mattress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a mattress hurt your shoulder?

A mattress can hurt your shoulder if you’re a side sleeper lying on the wrong mattress firmness. Side sleepers need mattresses soft enough to conform around the shoulders and hips. When the mattress is too firm, pressure points build up, leading to pain.

How should you sleep if your shoulder hurts?

Try to avoid sleeping on a sore shoulder. Switch sides or sleep on your back, and consider sleeping with a firm body pillow so that you don’t roll over. If the pain is distracting, you might want to take an over-the-counter pain medication. Stay active during the day and stick to your normal sleep schedule for a quicker recovery.

How can I relieve my shoulder pain?

If you have a sore shoulder, you can treat it at home with a cold compress or a heating pad. You can also try a cold compression bandage or a shoulder wrap that’s snug without being too tight.

Shoulder stretches can keep your shoulders limber and healthy. Stretching may also help relieve shoulder pain. However, you should stop immediately if your shoulder pain only worsens.

How do I know if my shoulder pain is serious?

Minor shoulder injuries can usually be treated at home with rest and ice. If you can move your arm normally, it’s probably nothing serious. However, you should see a doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

• Intense pain
• Sudden swelling in your shoulder
• A weak or numb feeling in your hand or arm
• An inability to use your shoulder
• A deformed shoulder joint

Where do I put my arms when sleeping on my side?

You might want to try stretching out your arms as if you’re reaching for something. This is known as the yearner position. You may need a full size or larger mattress to feel comfortable sleeping this way. You can also try hugging a pillow as you drift off to sleep.

What do I do with my old mattress?

When you set up your new mattress, you might struggle with what you should do with your old bed. After all, it’s not as simple as throwing it out with the rest of your garbage.

If your old mattress is still in good condition, you might use it as a guest room mattress or donate it to a local charity. However, if it’s no longer fit for sleeping, you can try recycling it through a local program. If neither of these options is suitable, search for junk removal services in your area.

Conclusion

Shoulder pain can make it more difficult to sleep at night, whether it’s temporary or chronic. If you don’t get a good night’s sleep, your recovery may take longer and increase the pain you’re in. Finding the best mattress can make it easier to get a full night’s rest.