Best Mattresses for Hip Pain

If you suffer from hip pain, you'll already know how hellish it can be to get a good night's sleep. But no matter the cause of your achy hips, have you ever considered that your mattress could be making it worse? It may seem a little grandiose to purchase a brand new mattress just to relieve a little pressure on your joints. But when you really think about it, isn't it worth the cost to improve your sleep, mobility and overall quality of life? Yes, we think so too.

Here, we've put together our guide on the best mattresses for hip pain in the UK – from firm mattresses to memory foam mattresses – as well as some top tips on how to sleep with achy joints.

What causes hip pain?

A whole host of issues can cause sore hips from injuries to conditions such as arthritis, poor sleeping/sitting positions, pregnancy or even overuse from strenuous activity. Sometimes your hip pain could just be a little niggle that can work its way out, but if your suffering lasts beyond a few days, make sure to visit your doctor to identify the cause.

Other than injury, your hip pain could actually be caused by your mattress. Old and unsupportive mattresses can cause havoc with your hips as they are unable to support your joints and distribute your weight effectively – especially if you're a side sleeper. This can also be the case for mattresses which are too hard as the mattress places undue excess pressure on your hips, rather than cushioning them and moulding to the contours of your body.

If left unaddressed, a poor mattress can turn occasional pain into chronic pain that seeps into your everyday life and disrupts your sleep night after night. The good news here is your problem can be solved with a simple quick fix – a new, top quality mattress!

What sleeping positions are best for hip pain?

Certain sleeping positions will find you waking up in the dead of night cringing in discomfort, so it’s best to start as you mean to go on and learn the best sleeping positions to relieve stress on achy hips.

Try sleeping on your back with your legs slightly apart to open the joint and relieve pressure. You could even add a pillow under your knees to ease the strain and pull on your hip flexors and keep you from wriggling around in the night and causing even further pain.

Or, if you love to sleep on your side, opt for the side of your body that doesn’t hurt and pop a firm pillow between your knees to keep your hip propped up and aligned. Essentially, remember to avoid any sleeping position which will place extra weight on your sore side – alignment and low pressure are key!

Top tips for sleeping with hip pain

There is nothing worse than tossing and turning when you’re trying to sleep with hip pain, so how do you make things easier for yourself when it comes to bedtime? Here’s our pick of the best advice out there to help you sleep better with hip pain.

Change your sleeping position

Getting a good sleep when you have sore hips is all about getting your body into the best possible alignment. If your current sleep position is putting extra strain on your hips, it’s time to change things up. The best sleeping position is undoubtedly on your back as it distributes your weight evenly, opens the pelvis and reduces intense pressure points. You can even take this further by placing a small, firm pillow beneath your knees for support, but if this makes your pain flare up, the pillow may be better placed under the small of your back to more directly relieve the pressure from your hips. Many pregnant women swear by this tip, especially in their third trimester!

If you struggle with back sleeping however, you can still sleep on your side; you just need to ensure you are sleeping on your good side. To relieve pressure further, draw your knees up toward your body and place a firm pillow between your thighs and knees to maintain correct body alignment throughout the night.

Invest in the best mattress

The best mattress for hip pain is the one that strikes the perfect balance between firm support and soft cushioning. Too old or soft and your joints will fall out of alignment and aches will increase, too firm and additional pressure will be added to your sore hips. At Time4Sleep, we have a whole host of mattresses that are fantastic for those who suffer from hip pain. Our orthopaedic mattresses for example are designed to help you get the best night's sleep possible by prioritising skeletal alignment, combining tried-and-tested designs with the newest fillings, fibres and coverings.

Use a mattress topper

If you already own a great mattress but are in need of a little extra support while recovering from an injury, a mattress topper could be a great option to help your rehab and improve your sleep quality. Mattress toppers for hip pain are an inexpensive and effective way of increasing support to your joints while you recover, as well as distributing your body weight more evenly while you sleep.

Keep a good sleep schedule

No matter what your sleeping ailment, top tier sleep hygiene is the foundation of improving the quality of your sleep. Our bodies need rest to recover and heal, so be sure to stick to healthy and consistent sleep and wake times that allow at least seven hours of slumber per night. You’ll also need to ensure your bedroom is an excellent sleep environment. Is it cool enough? Is it dark enough? Are your electronics on silent mode and away from your bed to avoid distraction? We could wax lyrical about healthy sleep schedules and hygiene forever – take a look at our top tips here for how to improve your bedroom routine

Manage and treat your pain

If your hip pain isn’t severe enough to warrant a visit to your GP, the best thing you can do to treat your aches and pains at home is to follow the RICE process (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation), stay on top of pain relief that works for you and stretch your hips regularly to keep them moving. Often inactivity in the day can actually lead to them seizing up even more, making good sleep even more of a feat come nighttime!

What are the best mattresses for hip pain?

Quality of sleep is crucial for our overall health – both physically and mentally – and a great mattress is the first step you should take to achieve the perfect night’s sleep. When it comes to choosing a mattress for hip pain, the key thing to keep in mind is support and firmness. You need a mattress that is going to give your sore joint the maximum support that it requires, whilst also catering to your sleeping positions and personal softness preferences.

The perfect mattress will keep everything aligned, from your spine to your shoulders and hips, meaning less pressure is placed on your bad hip. Here are our top picks.

Firm mattresses for hip pain

Sleep Sanctuary Crystal 3000 Pocket Mattress

If your hip requires a firm touch, this is the mattress for you. The Crystal king-size mattress has a 3000 pocket sprung unit that grants an incredible level of support due to its individually wrapped springs. This means that as the springs are not bound to one another, they can move independently, moulding themselves to your body shape, weight and position as you move throughout the night and providing the utmost level of support.

Available in four standard UK sizes, the Crystal comes as a single mattress, double mattress, king size mattress and super king size mattress.

V-Fibre Pocket 1000 Ortho Mattress

Looking for something a little firmer? Look no further than the V-Fibre Pocket 1000 that scores a full 5/5 on our firmness rating. Combining the traditional benefits of a pocketed spring system with the latest generation of mattress fillings, this mattress is a great option for those suffering with hip pain as it offers a n extremely firm level of support with its 1000 individually pocketed springs. Not only this, but the mattress also has a side stitched border for increased edge support in case your partner likes to hog the bed and you’re pushed to the side of the bed!

Available in sizes from single to king size, the V-Fibre mattress’s fillings are also hypo-allergenic to help air circulation as it effortlessly cradles your body in perfect alignment.

Memory foam mattresses for hip pain

Sleep Sanctuary Memory Pocket Plus 3000

Mattress Memory foam mattresses are perfect for those with joint pain as they work to provide extra support that specifically targets relieving pressure points. This is especially true for side sleepers who may suffer with pelvic rotation problems and hip pain due to misalignment when you sleep.

The Memory Pocket Plus 3000 is the answer. Combining traditional pocket spring technology with memory foam to create the perfect medium support mattress, all you need to do is relax and effortlessly drift off into the land of nod. Research shows that the visco elastic memory foam used within this mattress significantly improves the quality of sleep and is highly recommended by global chiropractors and osteopaths for both back and hip pain. Result.

Sleep Sanctuary Ortho 2000 Gel Memory Mattress

Much like the Pocket Plus 3000, the Ortho Memory Pocket Gel 2000 combines traditional pocket spring technology with the latest memory foam to create a highly comfortable mattress with a firm comfort rating of 4/5.

However, this mattress uses ‘Cool Blue’ pressure relieving gel memory foam which helps to improve blood circulation and dissipate heat for a restorative night’s sleep. At the same time, each of the 2000 individually wrapped pocketed springs adapt silently to your every movement, granting you a highly supportive kip. Available in double mattress and king mattress sizes, this memory foam mattress is sure to have you snoozing all the way through to the morning.

Why choosing the right mattress is important for hip pain

It’s crucial not to compromise on quality when it comes to choosing a mattress if you suffer from hip pain. Soldiering on with an old, saggy model or sleeping on a mattress that is too firm every night will only make your aches and pains so much worse. Instead, investing in the best mattress for hip pain will transform your sleep and kickstart your journey to comfort and recovery.

Ultimately, your mattress needs to be soft enough to mould to your body and be comfortable but firm enough to hold you up during the night, distribute your body weight evenly and gently push back on your joints to keep your frame in perfect alignment to alleviate pressure points. This can mean different things for different people (we all come in different shapes and sizes after all), so be sure to do your research to find your perfect match. Our blog on choosing the perfect mattress is a great place to start!

Looking for a little more advice before you commit to a lifetime of better sleep? Take a look at our complete guide on choosing the perfect mattress for you – you won’t regret it!