Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain
5 Top-Ranked Beds with Supportive Contouring for Shoulder Aches & Inflammation [2024]
In This Article
As you get older, you experience more mysterious aches and pains, but what if some of your pain is caused by the wrong mattress? You might be surprised how much an adequately designed mattress could help ease some of those aches.
If you aren’t sure what type of mattress you might need for your shoulder pain, don’t worry. We’ve put together a list of our top picks for mattresses designed to ease your shoulder pain and help you get a better night’s sleep.
Before we get to them, let’s take a look at some of the reasons you might be struggling.
What is The Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain?
Rank | Brand | Price (Queen) | Rating |
Overall Winner |
| Under $1500 $200 OFF CODE SLEEPGUIDE |
A+
|
Second Best |
| Under $1,000 $250 OFF CODE SLEEPGUIDE |
A
|
Best for Heavy |
| Under $1,500 |
A+
|
Most Affordable |
| Under $700 |
A
|
Best Dual Firmness |
| Under $1500 |
A
|
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
The shoulder is one of the most flexible and active joints in the body. It provides a wide range of motion for your arm. The rotator cuff is surrounded by soft tissue that degenerates with age or with repetitive motion and stress.
Shoulder pain is caused by many things including inflammation, arthritis, consistent pressure, and a few other issues. If your mattress doesn’t accommodate your shoulder during the night, the pressure only gets worse.
Sometimes, sleeping on your shoulder during the night compresses it so that the area is inflamed when you wake up. That inflammation gets progressively worse as you sleep on the wrong type of mattress.
If your mattress is too soft and you sleep on your stomach, it can overextend your shoulder and cause your rotator cuff a lot if inflammation. Those night time pains only get worse as you toss and turn or if your mattress has poor edge support and you have to overcompensate.
Why Do I Need To Upgrade My Mattress?
Old styles of mattresses didn’t do a good job of contouring to your body. Instead, they forced your body to conform to the surface of the mattress. If you’re a side sleeper, that means your shoulder compresses underneath you and your spine curves into an unnatural position.
Modern mattresses consider how the body sleeps naturally. They use contouring and supporting materials to help accommodate your natural curves. The contouring materials gently remove pressure and allow you to fall into a better position, one that doesn’t make your existing pain worse.
If you’ve suffered an injury or know the source of your pain, you may have a treatment plan already. However, if you’ve started waking up in the morning with shoulder pain, the source may be more mysterious. Many sleep experts recommend upgrading your mattress to relieve pain and to make sure that you aren’t making your pain worse.
What Kind Of Mattress Do I Need?
Shoulder pain requires a few things from your mattress, depending on your sleep position. Sleeping on your side causes your rotator cuff and its surrounding tendons to rub against each other all night. A mattress for shoulder pain needs to decompress this area and allow the shoulder to heal.
Side sleepers should look for a mattress that’s slightly softer so that you get more sink with the contouring materials, but it should still have a dense support layer underneath to keep your spine aligned.
Back sleepers should have a slightly firmer mattress that contours to the hips and back. Filling in gaps around the lower lumbar region may help your whole body decompress and your shoulders to relax, relieving pain.
Stomach sleepers should have a very firm mattress (and a flat pillow). Their most important concern is keeping the spine straight and preventing the shoulders and arms from overextending.
Combination sleepers, or those trying to change their primary sleep positions, should go for a medium mattress so that it provides comfort regardless of position. You may also consider one that rebounds quickly from your pressure so that it follows you as you move around. It’s preferable not to change positions throughout the night, but if you do often change positions, a medium mattress can support you.
Stomach sleepers and side sleepers will also need edge support so that the sides of the mattress remain fully supportive. If you’re fighting for balance when you’re on the edge of the mattress, it may cause your shoulder pain to worsen.
If you sleep with a partner, you may want a mattress with good motion isolation. If your partner jostles the mattress and moves you around every time he or she changes positions, it might make your shoulder worse. A bed that reduces that motion transfer might give you some relief. Also, motion isolation can prevent a dip in the mattress underneath the heavier partner, giving you a flat surface to sleep on.
A Note For Heavier Than Average People:
If you sleep on your side and that contributes to your shoulder pain, you may want to look into a bed made especially for your weight specifications. Mattresses that don’t consider the extra weight may still be too firm to accommodate side sleeping. Too firm and your shoulder pain can’t decompress.
A mattress made for heavier people offers denser support and deeper layers of contouring. They don’t break down under the extra weight, so you don’t lose the benefits of the contouring layers. With the proper support and contouring, your shoulder pain should see some relief.
The Best Mattress For Shoulder Pain
And now our list of top picks for mattresses to help relieve your shoulder pain and prevent any new pain from forming. Let’s take a look.
Rank | Brand | Price (Queen) | Rating |
Overall Winner |
| Under $1500 $200 OFF CODE SLEEPGUIDE |
A+
|
Second Best |
| Under $1,000 $250 OFF CODE SLEEPGUIDE |
A
|
Best for Heavy |
| Under $1,500 |
A+
|
Most Affordable |
| Under $700 |
A
|
Best Dual Firmness |
| Under $1500 |
A
|
DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress – Best Overall
DreamCloud is a remarkable mattress. It uses eight layers that provide both contouring and support for your shoulder.
The first layers are memory foam, one gel infused and one quilted. The gel pulls heat away from your body while you sleep, so you don’t overheat. The quilted layer gives you a pillow top feeling that might satisfy preferences for a super soft mattress but won’t leave you without support.
The next layers are transitional layers that help ease your body to the actual support layer. One is latex which provides some response. The other is a supportive memory foam that adjusts to your position all night. If you frequently change positions, this layer gives you either the support or the contouring you need.
The true support layer is individually pocketed micro-coils that provide a solid layer of pushback against your body. The coils are excellent at delivering bounce and response as you move throughout the night. They’re sandwiched between two layers of dense memory foam to reduce motion transfer and to increase the structural integrity of the mattress.
The cover materials are made of a cashmere blend that’s ultra-breathable and comfortable. It should provide consistent airflow around your body, so you don’t get too hot during the night.
Edge support is excellent, so you can use the sides to get comfortable and don’t have to worry about the mattress collapsing at the edges. Overall, it’s an attractive option for a variety of sleep positions but should help decompress your shoulder and spine, so you relieve some pain.
DreamCloud has a year-long sleep trial, so you have plenty of time to decide if the mattress is the right one. We recommend that you sleep on your new mattress for at least 30 nights before deciding if it’s the right one. The mattress needs to break in a little, and you need time to adjust.
The Everlong warranty also protects you throughout the life of the mattress against defects. Make sure your mattress is fully supported so that you don’t accidentally void the warranty.
Puffy – Runner-Up
Puffy is a mattress designed for athletes. If you’re feeling some pain from current or old athletic injuries. It’s made of a layer of contouring foam that disperses heat away from your body by conduction. The gel infused foam helps to pull heat as well and provides more airflow than standard memory foam.
The second layer is a dense support foam that pushes back against your body. It provides structural integrity to the mattress so that the edges don’t compress. It’s very durable and gives you a lot of support so that your spine stays aligned.
It’s a medium firm mattress, so if you sleep on your back or are a combination sleeper, you would still have plenty of support. It’s suitable for shoulder pain sufferers who don’t have a particular sleep position or may be changing their positioning to their backs.
It offers a 101-night sleep trial, so you have plenty of time to try the mattress out before officially deciding. Your body needs time to adjust so that your old aches and pains fall away. This should give you a few weeks to give the mattress time to work and to break in before deciding if it’s the right one for you.
You’re covered by a lifetime warranty against mattress defects. Make sure your mattress is adequately supported and that you’re using it for its intended purpose so that you don’t accidentally void the warranty. Otherwise, you’re covered for a few different issues that don’t fall in the realm of natural wear and tear.
We do have a few recommendations for specific situations. If you fall into one of these categories, one of these might suit you better.
Winkbeds Plus – Best For Heavy People
Winkbeds Plus is made explicitly for heavier people. It’s rated for people who are much larger than average, so it might feel too firm for someone who is average weight. However, the contouring layers are better suited to handle extra pounds without compressing too much. You’ll still have proper contouring to keep your spine aligned and to allow your broader parts to sink further into the mattress.
The first is a layer of foam that provides contouring and breathable air around your body. It’s a pillow top so if you sleep on your side, it should give you plenty of loft. The support layer is a layer of individually pocketed coils to reduce motion transfer and keep the mattress firm enough to support you.
It also has a back-relief system with zoned support to help alleviate other types of back pains as well. If some of your shoulder pain is caused by other pressure points such as around your neck or middle back, this structure can decompress those areas as well.
The cover is Tencel which is better at moving air through it a conducting heat away from the body than regular cotton. The foams are “impression proof” so you shouldn’t see any sagging or unnatural wear and tear as long as your mattress is appropriately supported.
It comes with a 120-night sleep trial, so you have plenty of time to try the mattress out. You need plenty of time for the mattress to break in and to get used to it. Pain can take some time to subside, especially if you’ve been sleeping on a poorly supported mattress for a while. Sleep on the Winkbeds for at least 30 nights so that you can make the best decision.
You have a lifetime warranty against mattress defects. Make sure your mattress is properly supported on a foundation or the floor so that you don’t experience any sagging. If there is unnatural sagging even though your mattress is supported, you’re covered with a full replacement warranty.
Nectar – Best Budget
If you need to switch up your mattress, but you don’t have a huge budget, you might feel better with a mattress like Nectar. It offers excellent combination support for your back, neck, and shoulders.
It uses several contouring layers of gel foam, one quilted and one gel. These two layers work together to wick heat away from your body while cradling your curves. It helps to decompress pressure points throughout your body so that you can find a comfortable position to sleep and stay there.
The next foam layer is an adaptive foam that responds as you move around. It gives you rebound, so as you change positions you aren’t waiting for the foam to catch up. It compresses where you need it to and fills in gaps around your lumbar section and neck. It also supports your legs.
The base layer is a dense support foam that gives the mattress structural integrity and edge support. It’s a stable foundation that further encourages airflow and temperature regulation. The entire mattress is cool and comfortable.
You can get a king size for just under $930, and all other sizes are comparably cheaper. That’s a savings of several hundred dollars over the standard price of our top picks.
Nectar gives you a full year to try out the mattress. You need at least a month to sleep on any new mattress so that you can get used to it, old pain can dissipate, and the mattress can break into its full supportiveness. If you decide not to keep it, they’ll refund your money and pick the bed up at no cost to you.
You’re also covered by a lifetime warranty against mattress defects. If the mattress is supported appropriately, you should be able to enjoy it for a long time. If you notice sagging that seems unnatural, you’re covered by their warranty for a new mattress during the first ten years and a new or repaired mattress after ten years.
Zenhaven – Best Dual Sized Option
If you aren’t sure what’s causing your pain, or if you’re attempting to change your sleep position, the dual sized Zenhaven might be a good choice. It’s an all-natural, latex foam that’s breathable and doesn’t produce any harmful off-gassing.
The cover materials are organic cotton and wool, which is comfortable and very breathable. The top layer of the plush side is a five-zone support layer that gently cradles your shoulders and allows them to sink further into the mattress. The next layer is a dense support layer that pushes back against your body to provide support and keep your spine aligned.
If you decide you want a firmer mattress, you can flip it over for the side that puts your body closer to the dense support layer. The plush side is between a four and five on the ten point firmness scale. The gentle firm side is between a seven and an eight.
You have control over the course of your sleep and the way your mattress supports your needs. Zenhaven is a little more expensive than some of the other mattresses on our list, but it does come with a 120-night sleep trial so that you can try out your mattress before deciding. Sleep on it for 30 days. Sleep on the other side for 30 days. You’re still only halfway through the sleep trial.
It has a 20-year warranty for mattress defects, and it arrives fully inflated with a delivery person who can help you set it up. If your shoulder pain is severe, this is the right option.
Conclusion
Shoulder pain can have a variety of sources, but upgrading your mattress can really help you sort those out. Your mattress should support you regardless of your sleep position and prevent further inflammation and ache.
The DreamCloud is a fantastic combination support mattress that should allow you to sleep in multiple positions to avoid hurting your shoulder further. It can help you get into a comfortable position and stay there, so you aren’t tossing and turning. We think you’ll be thrilled with the DreamCloud’s decompression of not only your shoulder but other pressure points that might be contributing to your pain as well.
How did your shoulder pain start? Was it an injury or did it appear one morning? Let us know in the comments below.