Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain 

We specially designed the Amerisleep AS4 with side sleepers in mind. The 12-inch mattress has a medium-soft feel to cradle the widest parts of your body, the hips and shoulders, while still supporting your midsection and spine.

All of our mattresses are wrapped in a lightweight and soft cover designed to keep you cool throughout the night. The cover is removable so you can wash it easily.

At the top of the AS4 is a thick, 4-inch layer of our plant-based memory foam, Bio-Pur®. The memory foam comfort layer cradles your hips and shoulders, promoting pressure relief while you sleep. Bio-Pur® is more breathable and responsive than traditional memory foam.

Between the top and bottom layers is 1-inch of our transitional Affinity foam with HIVE® sleep technology, hexagonal cut-outs in the foam designed to provide more support for your back and hips, and extra cradling for your head, feet, and shoulders. The Affinity layer distributes your weight evenly and soothes pressure build-up in your body parts.

The third layer of Amerisleep’s AS4 is 7 inches of Bio-Core®, a durable poly-foam built to prevent your mattress from sagging and reinforce the upper two layers.

If you’re looking for a luxury mattress to relieve your shoulder and back pain, take a look at the AS5 Hybrid. Despite being a soft mattress, this bed offers excellent support through its pocketed coil support system.

The AS5 Hybrid contains 3 inches of pressure-relieving Bio-Pur® foam to cradle even the widest parts of your body sufficiently and promote pain relief.

A common issue with soft mattresses is how they restrict easy movement. We offset this issue by inserting 2 inches of Active Flex to the AS5 Hybrid, a highly responsive material to give some bounce to your bed so you don’t feel stuck at night. This way, you can enjoy the soft cradling of the AS5 Hybrid and still move easily.

Instead of the traditional Bio-Core® base in our memory foam models, our hybrid models contain an 8-inch pocketed coil support core. The hundreds of coils in the AS5 Hybrid are made with upcycled steel that adapts to movements. By doing this, your body weight is well-distributed and you won’t experience any pressure points around your shoulders.

The base layer of the mattress is a 1-inch foam to enclose the mattress and give a surface for the pocketed coils to rest on.

The AS3 is one of our most popular mattresses because it contains the perfect balance of pressure-relieving Bio-Pur® and supportive Bio-Core® foam, making it a medium firmness.

This 12-inch mattress contains three layers of foam: 3 inches of Bio-Pur®, 2 inches of Affinity foam for extra bounce, and a 7-inch Bio-Core® base. It’s a great option for side sleepers, combination, and petite sleepers struggling with neck and shoulder pain.

The foam layers in all of our mattresses are CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning they’re free of harmful chemicals and release minimal off-gassing (the unpleasant scent emitted from new mattresses).

A variation of our AS3 is the AS3 Hybrid. The AS3 Hybrid offers extra support and bounce for side and combo sleepers. At the same time, the mattress is soft enough to support the body’s curves, helping relieve shoulder and hip pain.

The AS3 Hybrid still has 3 inches of Bio-Pur® for its top layer, but instead of containing Bio-Core® or Affinity foam, the mattress has an 8-inch pocketed coil layer and a 1-inch foam base.

Each of our mattresses is available in a range of sizes, from twin up to California king. Our Amerisleep mattresses come with a 100-night sleep trial and a cushiony 20-year warranty. We also offer free shipping and returns to the contiguous U.S.

Causes of Shoulder Pains While Sleeping

There are many potential causes of shoulder pain at night, including strains and different medical conditions. According to the Mayo Clinic, Verified Source Mayo Clinic Ranked #1 hospital by U.S. News & World Report and one of the most trusted medical institutions in the world. The staff is committed to integrated patient care, education, and research. View source some common causes of shoulder pain include, but aren’t limited to the following conditions:

• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Pinched nerve
• Infections
• Cancer
• A rotator cuff injury
• Broken arm or collarbone
• Poor posture
• Old age
• Frozen shoulder (stiff shoulder joint)

Evaluating the exact cause of your shoulder pain may require medical attention, but upgrading your mattress can help reduce the pain. Most shoulder pain passes on its own, but if it prolongs for longer than six months, it is considered chronic shoulder pain.

Firmness Levels for Shoulder Pain

While research suggests Verified Source National Library of Medicine (NIH) World’s largest medical library, making biomedical data and information more accessible. View source that a medium-firm mattress is often best for those with pain of any kind, firmness needs are subjective. Sleep style, size, and whether or not you share your bed, all affect the firmness options best suited for you.

Sleeping Position

An important factor to consider when choosing a mattress firmness is your sleep position, as it affects the amount of cushioning you need. Your sleeping position also plays a part in the shoulder pain you’re experiencing.

Side sleeping puts sleepers at the highest risk of developing shoulder pain since they’re directly lying on their shoulder. Based on one study, 67 percent Verified Source National Library of Medicine (NIH) World’s largest medical library, making biomedical data and information more accessible. View source of individuals with shoulder pain were side sleepers who continued sleeping on the affected shoulder.

A firm mattress, in particular, can cause pressure points on the shoulders. To alleviate pain, the best mattresses for side sleepers are medium to medium-soft, which will properly cushion shoulders and hips whilst keeping the spine aligned.

If sleeping on both sides is uncomfortable for your shoulders, back sleeping is a good sleeping position to ease your shoulder pain. A medium-firm or firm mattress is typically best for back sleepers since it keeps the spine aligned while still conforming to the body’s curves.

Sleeping on your stomach can lead to shoulder pain if your spine isn’t correctly aligned, so we typically don’t recommend stomach sleeping. However, if you prefer stomach sleeping, use a firm mattress to prevent your body from sinking and straining the shoulders, head, and neck.

Body Type

Our mattress firmness recommendations are based on the average-sized adult who weighs between 130 to 230 pounds. Individuals weighing more or less than this need to slightly alter their firmness choices.

Petite sleepers (130 pounds or less) should choose a mattress softer than what’s recommended for their sleeping position because they don’t put much pressure onto a mattress. Firmer mattresses won’t contour to lightweight sleepers’ bodies well, in turn causing pressure build-up in their shoulders.

Plus-sized sleepers (230 pounds or more) should choose a mattress firmer than what’s recommended for their sleeping position to help their shoulder pain. Firmer mattresses prevent heavy individuals from feeling trapped in their bed while also maintaining healthy spinal alignment.

Softer mattresses work well for heavy people if they contain additional support features such as zoned or transitional layers.

Couples

For couples, choosing a mattress firmness can be a little tricky if you and your partner have different firmness preferences. Typically, the best mattresses for couples are those with a medium or medium-firm feel as they’re balanced surfaces and suit most sleeping positions.

However, if you have enough space and a big budget, we recommend choosing a split king mattress because you can have different sleep surfaces and use a split adjustable base. This way, the firmnesses meet each person’s personal preferences and can better ease shoulder pain.

Best Mattress Types for Shoulder Pain

There is no one best mattress design that alleviates shoulder pain. However, a pressure-relieving and supportive mattress is your best option when looking to soothe your shoulder pain. Some types of mattresses we recommend include memory foam, latex, hybrid, and airbeds.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is well-known for its immense pressure-relieving capabilities. The foam contours to your curves and cradles your pressure points, making it a great option for shoulder pain sufferers.

A common complaint with memory foam mattresses is that they tend to trap body heat, but modern variations of memory foam (such as charcoal, gel, copper, or plant-based) contain materials to help you stay cool.

Latex

Latex mattresses are similar to memory foam but tend to be cooler and more durable. Natural latex is an eco-friendly and organic option made from the sap of rubber trees, while synthetic and blended latex contains petrochemicals and can be potentially toxic.

We recommend choosing natural 100-percent latex mattresses as they’re more durable and safer for your home compared to synthetic variations.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses include the best features from foam and traditional innerspring mattresses: a coil support system and at least a 2 to 3-inch comfort layer.

A hybrid bed has the breathability and support of an innerspring bed and the pressure relief of a foam bed. Hybrid mattresses often contain targeted support technologies to better distribute body weight and prevent pressure build-up, making them a good option for shoulder pain sufferers.

Airbed

Airbeds are mattresses with air support chambers. One of the main features of airbeds is how you can adjust their firmness based on the amount of air in the chambers. You can use an airbed for shoulder pain if you want to change your bed’s firmness to suit your pain levels and sleeping position that evening.

While simpler airbeds are just a cold, vinyl bags of air, high-quality airbeds have foam comfort layers and are wrapped in soft fabric covers, making them usable on a nightly basis if you choose. Modern air mattresses are connected to apps or remotes so you can quickly adjust them.

FAQs

Can a bad mattress cause shoulder pain?

The wrong mattress may be the culprit of your shoulder pain. If you’re a side sleeper, too firm a mattress can cause pressure build-up in your shoulders, resulting in stiffness, pain, and discomfort. The shoulder pain can travel and cause pain up your cervical spine (neck) and down your lumbar spine (lower back) as well.

How should I sleep to relieve shoulder pain?

A supportive sleep posture can reduce shoulder pain while sleeping. We recommend sleeping on the side opposite of your injured shoulder or on your back to ease your discomfort. Sleeping on your affected side only worsens the pain and should be avoided at all costs.

Technically, sleeping on your stomach also relieves pressure on your achy shoulder, but stomach sleeping can cause other issues, including lower back pain, stiffness, and neck pain.

Why does my shoulder pain hurt more at night?

The conditions bursitis, tendonitis, and rotator cuff injuries can feel worse at night because they all inflame your shoulder and cause joint pain. This inflammation may feel worse when your shoulder is compressed, such as when you are laying down in bed.

However, sometimes, your pain may feel worse at night because when you’re in bed, there are no distractions to keep your mind off of the pain.

How do I get rid of my shoulder pain?

Some simple at-home remedies to reduce your shoulder pain include:

• Applying a cold compress to the shoulder area for 10 to 15 minutes 3 to 4 times a day
• Taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen
• Gently stretching the area (stop if it creates more pain)
• Maintaining good posture during the day to keep your shoulders properly aligned

If you’ve just experienced a severe injury or your shoulder pain is incredibly painful, seek medical attention. Also, if your shoulder pain isn’t resolving or is getting worse (chronic pain), speak to a medical professional for assistance.

What is a good pillow for shoulder pain?

A supportive pillow should fill the space between your head and the mattress so your neck and shoulders aren’t strained. So, depending on your sleeping position, you’ll need more or less space filled. There are several different types of pillows available.

We recommend higher loft pillows for side sleepers, mid-loft pillows for back sleepers, and low loft pillows for stomach sleepers. Regular rectangular pillows work well for relieving shoulder pain, but you may also consider a body pillow to better support your upper body.

Latex and memory foam pillows are ideal for relieving pressure build-up in your shoulders while maintaining their shape.

Conclusion

Shoulder pain is all too common, but you can manage with the right care. While a new mattress isn’t a guaranteed cure for your pain, it helps soothe pain (making it easier to sleep) and can prevent further strain.

The right mattress differs from person to person, but a comfortable mattress should align your spine and provide excellent pressure relief for your shoulders, helping you get a good night’s sleep.