Scoliosis is a condition where the spine develops an abnormal sideways curve. People with scoliosis may develop unpleasant pressure points during sleep. For these sleepers, it’s particularly important to find a mattress that can keep the spine aligned while also offering good pressure relief.
Our in-house testing team rated mattresses based on the most useful performance criteria for sleepers with scoliosis, such as support and pressure relief. We also looked at other important aspects like price and construction.
We’ll discuss our picks for the best mattresses for scoliosis, including their design, materials, and potential benefits for sleepers.
Sleep Doctor’s Picks
Best Overall Mattress
WinkBeds GravityLux
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The WinkBeds GravityLux is a comfortable all-foam mattress that works particularly well for sleepers needing additional back support. Available in three firmness levels, the GravityLux promotes spinal alignment and provides the conforming pressure relief of foam while still maintaining a cool temperature at night.
Buy From WinkBeds
Side Sleepers
Medium Soft (4), Medium (5), Firm (7)
Close-Conforming Foam
Supportive For All Sleepers
Pros
- Available in three firmness options
- AirCell foam layers provide good pressure relief without retaining too much heat
- Two-layer foam comfort system absorbs a significant amount of motion
Cons
- Price-point may be too high for some shoppers
- Edges are not reinforced, so it may not be the best choice for those with mobility issues
- Medium soft option may not provide enough support for sleepers weighing over 130 pounds
Why We Like It
The WinkBeds GravityLux stood out to us because of its ability to support good spinal alignment and pressure relief while still staying cool throughout the night. Additionally, the combination of memory foam and polyfoam absorbs a high degree of motion, making this mattress a well-rounded option for couples as well. And because there are three firmness options, it’s likely to appeal to many different kinds of sleepers. We also found that the mattress isolates motion well, which could make it a good option for couples.
How Does It Feel?
The WinkBeds GravityLux Mattress comes in three firmness levels: medium soft (4), medium (5), and firm (7). Its unique AirCell memory foam is designed to support healthy spinal alignment without retaining too much body heat.
Nearly all of our testers felt that they got a good balance of comfort and support from at least one version of the WinkBeds GravityLux. The medium soft option was most popular among side sleepers under 130 pounds. The medium model had wider appeal, with side and back sleepers under 230 pounds and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds giving it good to excellent marks. The firm option worked particularly well for our testers over 130 pounds.
Best Value Mattress
Nectar Mattress
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
With its reasonable price-point and solid pressure relief, the Nectar Mattress provides great value for sleepers with scoliosis. Its all-foam construction is a good option for sleepers who want good back support without having to compromise on the conforming “hug” of a memory foam mattress.
Buy From Nectar
Couples
Medium Firm (6)
Close-Conforming Foam
Good for Sleepers Under 230 Pounds
Pros
- Lower price-point provides great value for shoppers on a budget
- Memory foam layer closely contours the body
- Great motion isolation makes this model ideal for couples
Cons
- May retain too much heat for some sleepers
- Stomach sleepers over 230 pounds may not get enough support
- Below-average ease of movement
Why We Like It
The Nectar Mattress is a great option for value seekers who want good back support along with the conforming feel of memory foam. The all-foam design contours the body, providing excellent pressure relief around the shoulders, back, and hips, which can be problem areas for those with scoliosis. We also found that this mattress absorbs motion well, making it ideal for couples who are sensitive to movement.
How Does It Feel?
The Nectar Mattress has a top layer of gel-infused memory foam, followed by a layer of polyfoam, to provide pressure relief and minimize motion transfer. Our testers who sleep on their side found that this all-foam design did a particularly good job of relieving pressure around the shoulders and hips. Our back and stomach sleepers also generally felt comfortable on the Nectar, although stomach sleepers over 230 pounds felt they sank into the mattress too deeply.
Most Comfortable Mattress
Helix Midnight
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Helix Midnight is a good fit for sleepers who want a mattress that reinforces healthy spinal alignment and pressure relief without losing its springy feel. The mattress offers a comfortable balance between contouring and support that should be particularly appealing to sleepers with scoliosis.
Buy From Helix
Side Sleepers
Medium Firm (6)
Plush, Supportive Surface
Pros
- Memory foam and polyfoam layers provide both pressure relief and support
- Pocketed coil support core allows for good temperature control
- Good motion isolation for co-sleepers
Cons
- Stomach and back sleepers over 230 pounds may not get enough support
- Edge support may not be robust enough for those with mobility issues
- Off-gassing may be noticeable after unboxing
Why We Like It
The Helix Midnight does a good job of accommodating sleepers who need a strong balance of comfort and support, such as those with scoliosis. It’s competitively priced but still promotes spinal alignment thanks to its transitional polyfoam layer. The support core includes a reinforced perimeter, which allows for good edge support, making the Helix Midnight a good option for couples or sleepers who want to use more of the mattress’ surface.
How Does It Feel?
The Helix Midnight is a medium firm (6) hybrid mattress. Its construction includes a mix of memory foam, polyfoam, and pocketed coils, which provides back support along with light contouring. The Helix Midnight was designed for side sleepers, but it may also be a good option for some back and stomach sleepers.
The two layers of foam work together to provide contouring without sacrificing support along the spine. Our side sleepers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds reported the best balance of support and pressure relief around the shoulders and hips. Back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds also felt that the mattress provided them with good pressure relief.
Best Luxury Mattress
Loom & Leaf
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Loom & Leaf is a high-quality luxury mattress that suits a wide range of sleeper types looking for a combination of support, comfort, and cooling. Its multilayer, gel-infused foam construction is designed to prevent sinking around the midsection for healthy spinal alignment, making it a particularly good fit for sleepers with scoliosis.
Buy From Saatva
Pressure Relief
Medium Firm (6), Firm (8)
Plush, Supportive Surface
Supportive For All Sleepers
Pros
- Two firmness levels accommodate a range of sleeping positions and body types
- Dual memory foam comfort layers provide great pressure relief
- Free White Glove delivery available
Cons
- May produce more off-gassing than the average foam mattress
- Price-point may be out of range for some sleepers
- Medium firm option may not provide enough support for stomach sleepers over 130 pounds
Why We Like It
The Loom & Leaf has a unique design made up of multiple layers of foam that provide a balance of cushioning and support. The quilted cover creates a plush feel, while the internal layers of memory foam are infused with gel designed to sleep cool. The dense polyfoam base allows for good support and spinal alignment without compromising on comfort, and the two firmness options make this mattress a good choice for a wide range of sleeper types.
How Does It Feel?
The Loom & Leaf Mattress is available in medium firm (6) and firm (8) options. Its price-point is on the higher end, but this reflects the high quality of the materials used in its construction. We found that both firmness levels of this five-layer mattress provide very good pressure relief.
Our side sleepers under 230 pounds preferred the medium firm option, which provided good spinal alignment and a more contouring feel. Side sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds preferred the firm option, which offered them better support. Back and stomach sleepers on our testing team also generally liked the Loom & Leaf, with all preferring the firm version except those under 130 pounds.
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Nolah Signature 12
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Nolah Signature 12 is a great choice for side sleepers needing a little extra back support and pressure relief. Nolah’s proprietary polyfoam in the comfort layers strikes a good balance between support, comfort, and temperature regulation, particularly for side sleepers under 130 pounds.
Buy From Nolah
Side Sleepers
Medium (5)
Close-Conforming Foam
Good for Sleepers Under 230 Pounds
Pros
- Closely contours the body
- Provides great pressure relief
- Good motion isolation makes this mattress ideal for couples
Cons
- Off-gassing may be noticeable after initial unboxing
- Back and stomach sleepers over 130 pounds may find the mattress too soft
- Does not provide a lot of edge support
Why We Like It
The Nolah Signature 12 is an all-foam mattress with a medium (5) firmness level. It has multiple foam layers that closely contour the body without compromising on back support, making it a good option for side sleepers who need both solid support and pressure relief.
Side sleepers tend to put more pressure on their shoulders and hips, which means they need strong pressure relief in those areas. The Nolah Signature 12 has thick polyfoam layers that provide extra pressure relief, prevent excessive sinkage, and keep the spine aligned. We also appreciated that the open-cell structure of the AirFoam in the Signature 12 allows for more cooling airflow.
How Does It Feel?
Our side sleepers in all weight classes reported that the mid-range firmness of this mattress provided good pressure relief around the hips and shoulders while still supporting the back. Back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds also appreciated the tension-reducing properties of the Signature 12’s AirFoam layers, though testers above that weight level felt they sank too far into the mattress.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our team is made up of experts who have years of experience testing products in the sleep industry. We individually test each mattress that we review using testing methodology that can be applied to a range of sleepers with different body types and preferred sleep positions. This includes criteria like support and pressure relief, which are particularly important to sleepers with scoliosis. We also work closely with medical experts to ensure our information is as accurate as possible so you can use it to find the best mattress for you.
More Mattress Options for Specific Needs
About The Author
Staff Writer, Sleep Health
Katherine is a freelance writer based in Chicago. She has doctorate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing and is published in the journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research and the journal JMIR Mental Health. She has also worked as a policy fellow at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. With a background in academia, Katherine has always been interested in making healthcare research more accessible to the public. When not writing, Katherine is an actor and loves doing theater at night.
- POSITION: Side Sleeper
- TEMPERATURE: Neutral Sleeper
- CHRONOTYPE: Dolphin
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