Changes in Back Pain, Sleep Quality, and Perceived Stress After Introduction of New Bedding Systems
Study by Bert H. Jacobson, Ali Boolani and Doug B. Smith
Before-and-After Study · Journal of Chiropractic Medicine (Vol. 8, Issue 1, pp. 1-8) · DOI: 10.1016/j.jcm.2008.09.002
Key Takeaway
People Reported Less Back Pain and Better Sleep After Replacing Old Beds
What was tested: 59 adults rated their sleep and back pain on their own beds, which averaged 9.5 years old, for 28 days. They then rated them again for 28 days on a new medium-firm bed (Jacobson et al., 2009).
What the numbers showed: On the new beds, reported back pain fell by about 48% and sleep quality rose by about 55%. Two stress scores fell by 19.5% and 21.5%.
What this means for you: The results fit the idea that an old mattress can make back pain and sleep worse. But there was no control group, and the study was paid for by the Better Sleep Council, a mattress industry group. Treat it as a hint, not proof.
Key Numbers
How the Study Was Done
This was a before-and-after study. Each of the 59 adults (30 women and 29 men) acted as their own comparison. For 28 days they slept on their own beds, which averaged 9.5 years old, and rated their back pain, sleep quality and stress. They then slept on a new medium-firm bed for 28 days and gave the same ratings again (Jacobson et al., 2009).
The new bed was a medium-firm innerspring set: a foam-encased Bonnell coil unit with a fiber pad, soft foam and a damask cover, on a foundation. There was no control group of people who kept their old beds. The authors note that they could not rule out that simply taking part in a study, or expecting a new bed to help, changed how people rated their symptoms.
What the Study Compared
New Medium-Firm Bed (28 Days)
Reported back pain about 48% lower and sleep quality about 55% higher than on the old bed.
Own Bed, Average 9.5 Years Old (28 Days)
The starting point. Each person's ratings on their old bed were compared with their ratings on the new one.
What the Study Found
After switching to the new beds, people reported that their back pain dropped by about 48% and their sleep quality rose by about 55%. Two stress scores also improved: one for felt symptoms fell by 19.5%, and one for physical symptoms fell by 21.5%. The study did not report a separate figure for morning stiffness (Jacobson et al., 2009).
The paper states: "Funding for this study was provided by the Better Sleep Council." The Better Sleep Council describes itself as the consumer-education arm of the International Sleep Products Association, the mattress industry trade group (Better Sleep Council). That does not make the results wrong, but it is worth knowing when you weigh them.
How long should a mattress last? Sources do not agree on one number. The Better Sleep Council says a mattress set that is seven years old "has reached the end of the line and needs to be replaced" (Better Sleep Council). The Sleep Foundation says mattresses "should be replaced every 6 to 8 years" under normal conditions (Sleep Foundation). How your body feels on the bed is a better guide than its age alone.
How to Apply This Study When Choosing a Mattress
When to check your bed: Twice a year, and more closely once it is 6 to 8 years old.
The Better Sleep Council suggests checking your mattress for comfort and support twice a year, when the clocks change. If you often wake up sore, or sleep better away from home, it may be time to shop.
Study Scope and Limitations
59 people, no control group, and all results were self-reported ratings. The new bed was one medium-firm innerspring model, and the study was funded by the Better Sleep Council, a mattress industry group. It did not test any brand sold today.
Primary Citation
Jacobson, B. H., Boolani, A., & Smith, D. B. (2009). Changes in back pain, sleep quality, and perceived stress after introduction of new bedding systems. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 8(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2008.09.002