Sleeping Position Associated with Well-Being and Mattress Type Linked to Low Back Pain

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relationship of low back pain (LBP) and well-being with sleeping position and mattress type in an adult population. Design: A cross-sectional general population survey study. Settings: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, NOVA, Central Hospital of Central Finland, Jyväskylä and Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Tampere. Methods:Subjects were invited to take part in the sleep ergonomic survey by an announcement in a nationally daily newspaper. The online survey was completed using Webropol. Results: A total of 6 422 females and 3 694 males aged 18 years or over answered the questionnaires. Morning LBP was reported by almost half of the subjects (43%) and morning back stiffness by significantly more than half (62%). Subjects usually slept on their sides (35%) or side lying and supine (31%). Only a few subjects reported sleeping prone (6%) or solely in a supine position (3%). The remainder (25%) slept in all the major sleeping positions. The occurrence of LBP did not correlate with sleeping position (p=0.06). Subjects sleeping in the supine position more often reported sleeping peacefully, better vitality on awakening and feeling powerlessness less often than those sleeping in the other positions. Subjects sleeping on a Tempur mattress reported significantly less LBP and greater vitality than those sleeping on other types of mattresses. The number of subjects sleeping on spring and foam mattresses was almost equal, while no significant difference was observed in low back symptoms between them. However, subjects sleeping on Tempur mattresses (10%) reported significantly less frequently LBP and stiffness. Conclusions: No correlation was found between sleeping position and LBP, but supine position was associated with better well-being. From mattresses only the Tempur correlated with a lower incidence of LBP and well-being