Top spine surgeon reveals his go-to mattress for back support

A man sits up in bed at night, holding one hand to his lower back because he's experiencing back pain
(Image credit: Getty)

Sleep is important to our general wellbeing, and even if you’re currently pain-free and fit, sleeping on the best mattress for your body is one of the smartest things you can do for your health in the long-run. But for anyone dealing with back pain, comfy sleep can prove elusive. It’s harder to find a position that doesn’t add to your pain, so what you lie on really can make or break your sleep.

If you’re currently on the hunt for a mattress for back pain, or one that promotes better spinal alignment, one of America’s top spine surgeons has revealed his go-to mattress. In a recent interview with MarketWatch, spinal and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo recommended the Cocoon Chill Memory Foam Mattress

When advising how to pick a “proper mattress”, Dr. Okubadejo, who heads up The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care, told MarketWatch: “A mattress should hug the curves of your body and fill the gap under your lower back when lying down.” If it’s too firm, it might to be stiff to allow your spine to curve naturally. On the flipside, if you sink into your mattress too much, you could be adding pressure on certain parts of your body.

Chill Memory Foam Mattress |Save up to $540 at Cocoon

Chill Memory Foam Mattress | Save up to $540 at Cocoon
With prices now starting from $499, the Chill is a good value for money mattress that delivers excellent pressure relief. It also comes on a 180-night trial with free US shipping, and is covered by a 10-year warranty.

Back pain can be caused by many different factors, so we’d recommend speaking to your doctor if you’re regularly experiencing pain. It’s common too - according to figures shared by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), over 31 million Americans experience lower back pain at any given time. 

Are mattresses for back pain expensive?

They don't have to be. In fact, when it comes to the best memory foam mattresses, the Cocoon Chill is good value for money, especially when it’s 35% off, making it a superb cheap mattress deal for back support on a budget. The Chill is designed to adapt to the shape of your body, so while you will feel hugged, you shouldn’t feel like you’re being swallowed alive.

We’re not surprised to see the Chill recommended by a spine surgeon either, as this particular mattress in a box sports four support layers. These work together to keep your spine aligned by better supporting your neck and shoulders, reducing your chance of back pain during sleep. When we reviewed the Chill we found it to be comfy and supportive, with excellent levels of pressure relief.

If you want more great recommendations for a mattress for back pain, take a look at the following duo, which includes the stunning Saatva Classic Mattress.

Saatva Classic Mattress| Save $200 at Saatva (from $887)

Saatva Classic Mattress | Save $200 at Saatva (from $887)
When we reviewed the Classic, we found it to be as close to perfect as you can get. It’s an ideal choice if you have back pain because it marries coils and foam to contour to your body and support your spine. Saatva offers free White Glove Delivery on this one, plus a 180-night trial and 15-year warranty.

Casper Wave Mattress| Get 15% off at Casper (from $1,355)

Casper Wave Mattress | Get 15% off at Casper (from $1,355)
The original version of the Wave was endorsed by the ACA, and this updated model doubles down on back support with Casper’s Zoned Support Max tech. In a nutshell, gel pods align your spine naturally, while cradling your waist and lower back. Sleep on it for 100 nights to see if it’s right for you.

For further savings on mattresses, take a look at our round-ups of the latest Saatva mattress sales, plus the biggest Casper mattress sales and deals

Claire Davies
Senior Sleep Editor, Certified Sleep Science Coach

Claire is a fully qualified journalist and Certified Sleep Science Coach with over 15 years’ product review experience. Claire is responsible for all mattress and sleep content published on Tom’s Guide, including our Best Mattress of 2025 buying guide. She is our expert on Saatva, DreamCloud, Nectar and Tempur-Pedic mattresses, and is also our in-house hybrid mattress specialist. Claire is certified to advise people on how to choose a mattress that best suits their sleep, body and budget, as well as helping them to create a nighttime routine and bedroom environment that promote good sleep. As Senior Sleep Editor, Claire takes the lead on developing and overseeing rigorous testing procedures for our mattress reviews, both at home and in our fully equipped Sleep Studio. Claire leads a team of experienced sleep and mattress specialists who report on and test a wide range of mattress and sleep products, and she also writes about all things related to sleep, and has interviewed a wealth of experts including mattress designers and buyers, neuroscientists, and doctors of sleep medicine. 

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