Bed firmness? Sleeping on hard surfaces or soft surfaces? Effect on hips, shoulders, and back?

Wondering about bed firmness? Should you sleep on a hard surface? Should you sleep on a soft bed?
Everything you need to know about posture: bit.ly/uhposture
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ABOUT THIS VIDEO
In this video Matt talks about the effects of sleeping on a hard surface and a soft surface from a postural perspective. He also discusses the idea of what perfect bed firmness is.
The important thing to remember is that different people have different needs. You need to find what works for you.
Everything you need to know about posture: bit.ly/uhposture
Free Exclusive Back Tips: uprighthealth.com/back-tips/
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[@Uprighthealth]

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[@maoriboy1015]

I wake up every morning with back pain every day. I think I'm going to start sleeping standing up.

[@gmoney5947]

MaOribOy 10 I’ve figured out flexing my gluteus pushes my hips forward and supports my lower back and the pain is gone. I walk around ass out. Hard to stop after 34 years

[@treharrison4097]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@diesirae8954]

@@gmoney5947 Zamn!

[@88siddharthchopra]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@kimberlydeprey]

Goggle

[@bangmo2860]

I'm a 45 year old petite woman very happy, healthy and super strong. A few months ago I got a 6-inch thick foam pad that covered my entire mattress; and it felt so good to be like floating on clouds. A few days later I started to feel and move like I was 85 years old, I had pain on every joint, and my bones cracked all day long. I also had to walk slowly and turn slowly because my leg muscles felt tight but my knee joints were loose. I dreaded getting up in the morning while before I used to spring out of bed as soon as I opened my eyes. I would sit for 2 hours before I could start my day, while before I could drive literally 30 seconds after getting up. It took me months to realize the marshmallow foam pad on my mattress was causing it. I removed the foam from my medium firm mattress and I noticed a major improvement on the very first day. On the second day I was back to my normal self. It feels good to feel good. I hope it helps someone.

[@gmdw123]

yes same experience thanks

[@mleekahh]

I bought a firm mattress thinking its better for my back. After 21 days, i was in the worst of pain of my life. Switching to a medium mattress now

[@Alexandermeister]

I've been sleeping on the floor - literally carpet or hard wood - for four years. It's the single best lifestyle change I made.

[@Uprighthealth]

Interesting...The year and a half I (Matt) spent sleeping on the floor in Japan wreaked havoc on my hips.

[@KatJaguar1122]

Upright Health why not put a pillow under the knees to change the sacrum position??

[@plarnylittle]

Same here.

[@victorzhou6172]

Do you put a blanket under or you literally sleep on the floor

[@neukyt]

​@@Uprighthealth When sleeping on hard surfaces mostly sleep on your back.

[@knittingnirvana]

Don't know how you came to such a conclusion regarding sleeping on surfaces as an "expert"!! I've had back problems most of my life, and in recent years recurring sciatica and sacroiliac pain, bit since I started sleeping in the floor (3 months ago) I feel ten times better! All it takes is a few pillows in the right spots, when sleeping on my back, I put it under my knees and when on my side, I put over leg on it (the way pregnant women use pillows). It's a completely different and infinitely better format for sleeping. Odd that your expertise would exclude any positive benefits! In the end, people should try it for themselves and STOP taking the words of "experts" as gospel!

[@obsidianstatue]

Changed from a soft mattress to a hard one, I was getting back pains for the first few weeks. but after that, not a single bit of discomfort. All the previous back discomfort went away.

[@Yootzie]

Question If im a side sleeper is it really bad for me to be on a hard one?

[@Kody_Hull]

Dwight Schrute

[@Kody_Hull]

@@Yootzie Probably not if you are supported by the right pillows to relieve pressure points.

[@framedheart]

The challenge about beds is, how to you try a bed out? You buy a $900 bed and then you find it wasn't comfortable... then you have to invest another $900 or more in another bed, again you might find it wasn't what you were looking for... Yes, you can lie down for 5 minutes in a bed shop, but that doesn't tell the experience of a whole night or a month... For me, another challenge is when lying on my back, I prefer a softer bed, and when lying on the side, I prefer a harder bed. How to solve that? :)

[@erickburgos8242]

Good points you made, That is what I'm going through right now.👍

[@crikeymos22]

I tried different hotels. Then found the perfect bed this way.

[@ChemistTea]

This is one reason I'm thinking of trying to sleep on the floor first, it's free. Also, you can try to sleep at your friends' or relatives' beds, with various firmness.

[@letitgrownow]

I don't know how you pay 900 for bed you don't already know it's comfort level

[@magellaniclight9098]

My hard bed over 5 years improved my posture, albeit not the most comfortable. Sometimes I notice my posture when standing, walking or running. Upright without effort.

[@Volkswagenitalia.]

Recently got a new mattress after mine was incredibly worn out. This one is very hard and doesn’t conform to the body at all. I’m loving it already!

[@jennicuervo8265]

I been researching for one like that. Can you give me the brand and name of it please?

[@WolfBand626]

Furniture mover for a living. Ive been on the floor for about 1 year. All the pains in the knees, back, shoulders, collar bone, and neck. Havent felt any of them in quite a long time. Im just stronger than Ive ever been. Its almost like a cat or dog needing a fluffy sack to lay in all the time. Your body absolutely gets used to it!

[@catherine0515]

I've been sleeping on a really hard bed for two years (it's like the floor). I have pain in my body everyday and one of my shoulders got lower than the other because my posture got worse. So, I'd recommend underweight people to sleep on softer beds

[@speedracer7022]

When you're sleeping on hard surfaces, pillow height becomes much more important. Fold a towel into 3 layers and use for when you're on your back. For side sleeping fold towels and try out which height you need. Between 10-20cm depending on the person. 90% can get their height to within a towel layer. When you find your height your eyes will close, your mouth will make a smile and you'll never want to get up again, TRY IT!!!

[@QdaChosenOne23]

Oh, i will.. great video,, but a wiseman once said, "There's Gold in the comment section"

[@JohnnyRebKy]

I’ve had 4 back surgeries and had to force myself to give up my soft marshmallow feeling bed. I bought a Tulo medium firm memory foam bed that felt way to stiff for me....but my back felt better after one night. The memory foam provides just enough to relieve pressure but supports and holds up my hips etc and my spine stays straight. No I’m not as comfortable as my marshmallow bed but I don’t wake up 8 hours later feeling like a truck hit me. It’s a great compromise!! Most think memory foam as being soft but they make very supportive mattresses like Tulo. Relieves pressure points and holds up your posture. I highly recommend people go to mattress firm and try out a Tulo medium mattress. Don’t be afraid to give up the marshmallow bed like i was!!! I should have done this years ago. I paid 750 dollars for a King size Tulo and they threw in a adjustable bed platform for free!!!

[@elumiluce]

I've slept on the floor for a few years now and what I've discovered is that over time the discomfort goes away. I switch between all positions throughout the night, even on my belly (my favorite).

[@davidlam5378]

Hi Matt great video. Just wondering if you've done a video on pros and cons on different sleeping positions?

[@GMiller75]

When lying on your side on the floor place top leg, bent, over the lower leg and roll your hips. This removes the pressure from the hips and better aligns your body.

[@Yootzie]

Hi sorry im really bad st visualizing this.. Is there a Picture?

[@galaxydreaming]

I just switched to a firm bed from my soft, comfy, spongy marshmallow bed 😆 bad nights sleep but my morning sore back significantly better. Crossing fingers after a month I will be adjusted.

[@billl.2441]

i bought a massage table. best bed i've ever had. love sleeping on it.

[@shovelcharge]

I sleep on a mattress topper on the floor. Totally firm with just enough padding to be comfortable. I sleep on my side/stomach. Someday I'll sleep on my back without a pillow. We evolved to sleep on harder rather than softer surfaces, so it makes sense. Hard wood or concrete would also be unnatural and obviously painful.

[@silence-humility-calmness]

my mom slept on a straw sack in her youth and that was the norm were she was

[@vivid_xyz]

How did your mattress topper hold up? Did it wear out?

[@shovelcharge]

@@vivid_xyz no changes

[@dankierson]

But don't you find you sink into the topper and can't make small resettling movements to aid circulation ?

[@svenpe1628]

you forgot to mention sleeping on the front or slightly rolled to the side (but not completly on the side) when sleeping on hard surfaces. I threw out my mattress one year ago and now sleeping on a 0.5 cm thick foam camping matress (just because it is cold from the downside). after one ore two month I felt completly comfortable with it. and I am relaxing better on it e. g. after a hard day of training than on the mattress the years before.I think it is more natural because for millions of years humankind had no soft mattresses and the body is made to sleep on harder (not stone hard) surfaces. the downside, I found out, is that you need some improved flexibility. the first few weeks my arms has been numb from time to time because my shoulder was not flexible enough. but after one year i can say that sleeping on pretty hard surfaces is much better for me

[@LordGurila]

Thanks men, it really help

[@Wardragon1012]

Thank you for the information Doctor. I have been trying to sleep on the floor and I had exact issue you described when sleeping on my back.

[@dw7859]

I’ve had to ditch my bed and start sleeping in a hammock in the garden, back pain went…couldn’t believe it

[@SeldonLien]

The best opinion so far

[@ryanr991]

Any tips when it comes to sleeping on a soft bed that causes pain in upper/middle back (under the shoulder blades) got a brand new mattress and it’s just much softer than what I’ve been use to but I wanted to know if there’s sleeping tips you could give me. I heard sleeping with a pillow under your legs while lying in your back and help reduce stress off my upper/mid back. Is that true and would you recommend anything els e

[@8thhousehottie]

great insight tysm!, i have a memory foam that is tearing my back and shoulders up!.

[@SuperVigilante007]

So I just recently tried a purple 3 and it’s way to soft, I fall asleep faster on the floor on my back, so naturally I returned the purple and got a firm beauty rest that’s way more supportive. There was an extra firm but I thought that was to extreme, so I’m just going to go with a firm mattress which I assume will break in to feel medium firm. So is back or side sleeping better ?

[@ArboleSola]

Hello! Thank you for this! Regarding hard surface sleeping- I feel everything you are saying as I have been sleeping on tatami for about a year and it is sometimes hard to figure out a comfortable position- yet it is less painful than the wild positions I find myself waking up in on a mattress. However I am wondering , how do you account for the large amounts of people in several countries who have slept on tatami or other floor sleeping arrangements ? Would you say they all have tailbone/ hip/ shoulder issues , or do you believe there is a true possibility of adjusting the body to it healthfully ?

[@Jchathe]

I've been sleeping on a tatami mat plus futon and thin, pure cotton topper with lambswool filling on a wooden floor for about a month now and although it took a week or two to get used to, I am finding it much better now. The night before last I felt my lower back 'clack' and oh, the relief afterwards was amazing. I think my lower back had been jammed up for so long I had forgotten how it was meant to feel! I have no issues with pressure or positioning. I can lie on my back or sides, no problem. Perhaps you could try just a little bit more padding? An inch or two could make all the difference. It's why I added the topper. It's still firm but my joints are a little more cushioned. Blessings to you.

[@glodusmuspell9069]

I'm sleeping on the hard surface, on the floor. It's pain I'd say the least. It's been 3 month or so. I wake up like I was beat up all night. It's so uncomfortable. Only benefit is, you wake up easily in the morning. You don't wanna sleep longer coz it's uncomfortable. I wake up 2 times at night to say the least.

[@vaughny7258]

If i have ppt and uneven hip. What should I get? I try to sleep on my side that isn't in pain but do move

[@daborshy4089]

Wouldn't it be ideal if they made compound beds---a bed that is firm on the upper body, but has a slightly elevated plush surface below the sacrum that compresses just enough to keep the hips in proper alignment

[@beachhum]

They do. Casper has it. It’s called zone support

[@BlueLuvbby]

Ty ❤️

[@EllieMandyArt]

Aw he’s sooooo cute 😭😍❤️

[@TheFatKid128]

I have a disk derangement, and when I sleep on my left or right side I get pain on my right low back and glutes and typically have glute inactivation when I wake up on the morning along with alot of pain, any advice would be great, (I actually sleep on a massage table

[@mikha007]

get a massage

[@mikha007]

I sleep on a 3/4" thermarest under two sheepskins on the floor. best thing I ever did. more energy took a week to get used to but ill never go back

[@user-mz7cn9hq8v]

I'm lying on hard mattress right now, at 3 am. I tried to fall asleep from 1 am but my mind can't relax and I'm experiencing stress from it. What do I do? Struggle to sleep till 5 am or go sleep on soft mattress?

[@rohanofelvenpower5566]

light a candle somewhere at eye level and gaze at it for 15-30min. Don't the move and just relax. No need for thoughts just SEE the flame

[@RomaniaTare]

hy for 100kg body what matress do you recomend , i have level 7 firm matress and its a disaster

[@mexdrago3009]

My firm tempurpedic bed got soft. I can't sleep now. My mom had these new tall air beds from Costco, and it feels firm, but it doesn't hurt me. Im thinking about buying one to see how feels to sleep on daily.

[@masonmalaguti3463]

Is it the 1.0 or 2.0 I got a firm 2.0 w weeks ago myself

[@beachhum]

This was informative and hilarious! Definitely a thumbs up. If you sleep like a BRICK. 😆

[@Uprighthealth]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Gelenvader3]

I wished I watched this video before I bought a really soft bed :/

[@aselinduala1243]

Idk. I was watching this while lying on the floor. I fell asleep.

[@DC-wp6oj]

Sleeping on the floor, on the side with an adjustable layered pillow at the CORRECT height --> great sleep. Tribal societies sleep on hard surfaces. This video is not scientific. A proper study should be done.

[@rachkate76]

I tried sleeping on the floor over winter and it completely screwed up my body over just a couple of weeks. Had pain everywhere- definitely won't try it again. How do poorer people in certain countries do it though? Some actually seem to prefer it to sleeping on a bed? 😕

[@Alexandermeister]

For me it's camping mats covered with a straight sheet on top -- that's worked for me for over five years. My fiancée and I will get tatami mats when we move in together.

[@WolfBand626]

I carry furniture every day, I decided to throw my mattress away about a year ago. All of my pains in the knees, back, shoulders, collar bones, and neck, like tingly nerves sometimes....i haven't felt any of them in a long time. I really just feel stronger than ever. Just saying lol

[@aap9490]

Actually hard surfaces are healthier for humans to sleep. I am from Bangladesh and our bed is made of wood and mattress is also a special type of mattress that was made from natural organic fibers which made it pretty firm and not as squishy as the ones you have in the west. So after I moved in the US, I have noticed that every time I sleep or even sit on the bed it feels really different. I have started noticing that my food is digesting poorly than before, most of the time I feel bloated, sleepy and even after I wake up I felt tired, and sometimes it felt like I am having trouble breathing! Also my posture was getting ruined and I was having trouble sleeping on that super soft squishy bed! Recently I have ditched the bed and started sleeping on my floor. And surprisingly, I longer felt bloated, tired or difficulties in breathing! Although you can’t lie down forever on a hard surface, it is enough to have a healthy sleep. And makes the body healthier.

[@rachkate76]

@@aap9490 not all beds are super squishy- in fact it’s known that they’re not good for you. I sleep on quite a firm thick mattress.

[@davidperry4013]

I prefer medium beds.

[@GautamJain]

Matt, what about stomach sleepers? Similar advice?

[@antiinline]

Gautam Jain advice for stomach sleepers: Don't sleep on your stomach

[@VJacquette]

@@antiinline I know sleeping on your stomach is terrible for your neck, but I don't fall asleep any other way -- PERIOD. I've tried everything. So, like Gautam Jain, I want to know what type of bed is best for the way I sleep.

[@erickburgos8242]

Same here, I sleep well on my stomach. Matt, your input would be nice if any for stomach sleepers.

[@QdaChosenOne23]

@@erickburgos8242 kool

[@dankierson]

That explains the problems. But the solution of getting a mattress not too hard or too soft is like saying the winner of the race will be fastest horse on the day. Fact 1: Mattress manufacturers are in business to make money, year on year. They have more to gain from people in discomfort - and getting a new mass-produced mattress - than from customising springs for everyone's mattress. Fact 2: Modern mattresses have foam layers above and below the springs with stiff matt in between. This foam gives the impression of softness when you lie on it in the store. But lie on it for 20 minutes and you find you've sort of sunk into the foam and can't make the small autonomous movements during sleep to aid circulation. So you have to roll out of the sunken foam channel onto a firm part of the mattress - until that too starts to sink under your weight. Foam is no solution to overly firm springs. Fact 3: Today, many coil spring mattresses are made from a continuous coil of steel wire. Few today are made from separate springs fitted into a preformed steel lattice. This reduces the number of spring stiffnesses as manufacturers will generally make up mattresses that are either soft or hard since each resetting of the coiler is downtime for the factory.

[@michaeldooley5331]

I have been sleeping on a memory foam placed upon a medium firmness mattress for three months. Sleeping feels quite comfortable, but I awake with more discomfort in my shouders, lower back, SI joints and anterior hips each day. I am a back sleeper due to so many injuries, and I rarely change positions. Do you have any opinions about memory foam? Also, my bed is beneath the circuit box, the power box being just outside. I wonder if there is any relationship to the power box and my ever increasing pain and loss of mobility.

[@Uprighthealth]

I LOVE memory foam toppers. :-) I'm not an expert on how electromagnetic stuff plays into our comfort levels. I have always tried to focus on mastering the factors that I have control over. I'm surrounded by wifi, bluetooth, computers, cars, planes, lights, etc. all over the place. I can't change that without moving to the forest. What I can control without becoming a backwoods survivalist is figuring out which muscles need some attention to make me more resilient. If you've had so many injuries to make it uncomfortable to side sleep (I was like that before too), then I would suggest gradually working on teaching your body to be able to side sleep by figuring out the root causes of your discomfort.

[@JohnnyRebKy]

Michael Dooley old comment here but I advise against memory foam toppers and recommend a FULL memory foam mattress. Been there done that sleeping in a topper that turns into a marshmallow after 6 months. A full memory foam mattress that is 10 inches thick like a TULO has much much better support. It’s soft enough to conform and relieve pressure but firm enough to keep good posture and a straight spine. I bought a King size medium firmness Tulo mattress for 750 dollars at mattress firm and got a adjustable bed platform for free!! No box springs required either. It’s made a huge difference for my back and I have had 4 surgeries on it

[@goingthrough9390]

In case you're still suffering after 2 years (though I hope not) I think you should definitely explore more the relationship between the power box and your ailments. There are plenty of people affected by these things, as hard as it is for the rest to believe or acknowledge.

[@ryans413]

Everyone says you need to sleep on a hard mattress but I’m sorry for me it’s so uncomfortable. I like to sleep on my side so I need some softness.

[@meritokrat8622]

i always sleep on the floor with a pillow

[@TheINFP_Diary]

Anyone switch to barefoot shoes after switching to floor sleeping ?

[@harneetsinghdeo6926]

i sleep on a very firm bed, and I wake up with very inactive glutes that lasts for an hour. I have to very careful walking as I feel I might injure my glutes.

[@Roguey84]

I feel like the use of cushion for everything over the years keeps us dependent on it. Ppl that don’t have as cushioned of a life (some developing countries) don’t seem to have all the physical issues some modern societies have.

[@masonmalaguti3463]

Also prob cuz they are doing it from a young age so there body is used to it

[@maverick9708]

Front sleeping gets slept on here 😴😂 us prone sleepers are pretty rare though

[@elizabethsaenz4714]

It is 4:57pm I am in my parents house with a new mattress SUPER FIRM! I need help haven’t slept for days my head hurts my whole body is aching and I have no way of buying another mattress 😞 holy cow any kind of advice as to how to brake this bed so it can be less firm? Without a mattress topper? Please I need help!

[@elizabethsaenz4714]

Also forgot to say that I am currently at a very heavy weight and this bes is literally effing me up!! I’m getting a surgery done and this bed is no help at all! 😭😭😩😭💀💀

[@mewbao4744]

Me too, I'm in the same situation .

[@erickburgos8242]

I'm going through the same issue, bought a new firm mattress less then a month ago and the first couple of weeks seem alright but now I'm suffering from body aches including my joints, kneecaps and calves. I'm trying to break my bed in also.

[@zeesears4875]

Wow, and I thought that I was simply falling apart... I have a new bed and I’ve had pain in my back, hips and legs every since... called Art Van furniture to take it back and they claim it’s a final sale... wtf... I can even sleep all night because of awakening pain...I’m going to a chiropractor to see if he can help me alleviate some of this pain

[@DJLOUIE1000]

Time to sleep upside down like a bat

[@rabeeajamil6165]

Nawar ki charpai!!! Where's my Desi squad at?

[@michaelkay4132]

If you’re here , good luck with surgery guys , blessings

[@skyhi9h]

Will sleep on the floor with a pillow and two blankets. One on the bottom one on top. Like buddhist I was buddist I will be. Sorry islam, sorry christianity, sorry judaism. Japan and buddah rocks!

[@mikha007]

do you smoke buddha? put you to shleep

[@skyhi9h]

@@mikha007 Im now kinda muslim. Islam is great.

[@skyhi9h]

@@mikha007 Christianity is awesome too.

[@johnsmall5901]

The hyperbole you use is just killing me. (Hyperbole intended.) Seems completely inappropriate to the serious subject matter. Nerves and such being "crushed" or "smashed?" It lowers the credibility of all your information.

[@crikeymos22]

Have to politely disagree. Using such plosives gets the point across loud and clear.