Are mattress toppers bad for your back?

To start with what is a mattress topper. A mattress topper is a layer that sits on top of your mattress for extra comfort. Mattress toppers can be made with different materials such as, memory foam, feathers, latex and many more different materials to choose from to get you desired comfort whilst you sleep on your bed. When using a mattress topper, it is best to use a bed sheet that fits so that the mattress topper does not move out of place when you are on your bed. This is due to the mattress topper being a separate object, so it is not connected to the mattress itself.

Advantages:

• Additional support when you sleep.
• Extra comfort when you’re on your mattress.
• Might help extend the quality of your mattress since you are not directly sleeping or sitting directly on it.
• Depending on the quality of the mattress topper it can make your mattress colder in the summer and warmer in the winter.
• Provides support for people with joint pain or arthritis.

Disadvantages:

• Hard to find a mattress topper if your mattress is not a standard size mattress. 
• It will not fix major problems with your current mattress. For example, if your mattress goes down in the middle or makes irritating noises when there is movement on the mattress.
• Might cause allergic reactions because of the material it was manufactured from. 

Do mattress toppers cause back pain?

Whether a mattress topper causes back pain depends on if the mattress topper is either to firm or to soft. If the mattress topper is to firm, it will not allow your body to sink into the mattress and will start to strain your body. For instance, the mattress topper will apply strain on your shoulders and hips because they do not lay flat on the bed. The same can be said about if a mattress topper is too soft. If the mattress topper lets you sink into much, it will also apply strain on your body because your hips and shoulders will not be in line with your spine causing back pain. So a mattress topper can cause back pain if it is too firm or too soft for the person who is using the mattress.