An ortho mattress is a must-have for anyone suffering from back pain, but what exactly are these mattresses? We've found all the most frequently asked questions about this type of mattress and answered them to make your buying choice easier.

Orthopaedic mattresses are specifically designed for sleepers with back pain. The term orthopaedic refers to the branch of medicine that deals with skeletal issues. They are ranked on the firmer end of the scale, meaning they do not provide as much 'give' as a softer mattress. This forces your body into a healthy spinal alignment, reducing the pressure on your joints and the risk of aches and pains.

An ortho mattress differs from a normal mattress in that it is designed to offer high levels to your back. As such, they tend to be on the firmer end of the scale to help ensure you sleep with a correct spinal position. They also tend to utilise higher-density foams or latex that help to distribute pressure evenly, reducing the risk of aches and pains.

The materials used in an ortho mattress all need to provide higher levels of support than with a normal mattress. Many of our orthopaedic mattresses feature a layer of high-density foam, with memory and latex foam being popular choices. These use your body heat to soften and mould to your shape, cushioning your joints to reduce the amount of pressure on them.

Given that an orthopaedic bed mattress is generally on the firmer end of the scale, many of them also include a spring structure to offer higher levels of support. Popular options include pocket springs, which are individual springs wrapped in their own pocket, or an open coil structure, which features springs entwined in a connected structure.

Those who suffer from back pain will benefit best from a firm orthopaedic mattress - particularly if they often wake up with pain, whether an older person or an athlete needs better sleep. This can indicate that their mattress isn't suitable for their sleeping needs, leading to poor sleep and pain.

An orthopaedic mattress for back pain relieves pressure on joints and encourages correct spinal alignment, making it perfect for those with back or joint issues. Check out our best mattresses for back pain guide to find out why your mattress is more important than you think to a night of pain-free sleep before exploring our mattresses for back pain collection.

Our ortho mattresses come in the following sizes:

• Small single orthopaedic mattresses
• Single orthopaedic mattresses
• Small double orthopaedic mattresses
• Double orthopaedic mattresses
• King size orthopaedic mattresses
• Super king size orthopaedic mattresses

Are you unsure if you're buying the right mattress size for your needs? Our mattress size guide offers plenty of helpful information and tips.

The most popular types of orthopaedic mattresses include:

Orthopaedic pocket spring mattresses

Pocket spring mattresses are great for restless sleepers or couples. Each spring is individually nestled in a pocket of fabric, allowing them to move independently from each other. As such, they help reduce excess movement when sleeping while offering high support levels. An orthopaedic pocket-sprung mattress is perfect for helping relieve pain with a restful night of sleep!

Orthopaedic memory foam mattresses

If you're looking for high levels of support, you can't go wrong with an orthopaedic memory foam mattress. These mattresses use memory foam to mould to your body as you sleep, giving you customised support to encourage pain-free sleep every night.

Orthopaedic open coil mattresses

Enjoy comfortable and pain-free sleep with an orthopaedic open coil mattress, an affordable option that offers high levels of support every night. These mattresses, also called traditional mattresses or Bonnell springs, have a structure of combined springs that evenly distribute your weight as you sleep.

Orthopaedic hybrid mattresses

Combining the high-tech benefits of foam with the classic support of springs, hybrid mattresses offer the best of both worlds. An orthopaedic hybrid mattress has a structure of either individual pocket springs or open coil springs with a layer of foam, such as memory, latex or reflex foam.

Our mattress buying guide provides more information that helps break down all the essential facts about the available mattresses, including our orthopaedic mattresses.

An orthopaedic bed mattress will have the same lifespan as any other type of mattress, which is between 6 and 8 years, as long as you maintain a maintenance schedule. Make sure to rotate or flip it every few weeks to keep it feeling fresh, and follow a regular cleaning routine. If you take care of it well enough, then your ortho mattress will be able to provide all the support your back needs for many years.

Our mattress cleaning guide offers plenty of great cleaning tips and useful information on preventing mould in your mattress! Want to find out more about how often you should change your mattress? Our guide on changing your mattress includes all the information you need to know.

Whether an orthopaedic mattress needs to be flipped depends on the type. Some need to be flipped to help increase longevity, whereas others should only be rotated. Many are actually something called a hybrid mattress, which means they contain a mix of foam and spring layers. As such, they should not be flipped, as the support structure is only located on one side.

Double-check the mattress listing to see whether it requires flipping or turning.

An orthopaedic mattress will carry a slightly higher price tag than a normal mattress made of only one or two materials, as they are more likely to include multiple materials and a complex design that will raise the price.

In general, though, they are not too much more expensive than others, and we have something to suit every budget! Remember that the larger it is, the more expensive it will be due to its increased size and the amount of materials needed. It's important to remember that even with a higher price point, ortho mattresses are designed to be a long-term investment that will help improve your health over the years.

Yes, all our ortho mattresses come with a 5-year guarantee as standard. This guarantee starts from the day of delivery, with more information available in our manufacturer's guarantee.

Buying a firm orthopaedic mattress from Happy Beds means that you not only get to enjoy a restful sleep with plenty of support for your back but also:

• Fast delivery - get supportive sleep sooner than ever, with plenty of mattresses in stock and ready to be delivered whenever suits you best!
• Finance options – pay for your new ortho mattress however you'd like with our fantastic ways to pay, from up-front to spreading the cost with 0% interest finance from Klarna and PayPal.
• Manufacturer's guarantee - all mattresses sold at Happy Beds come with a 5-year guarantee, giving you plenty of nights of peaceful sleep.
• Rated Excellent – but confidently with the knowledge we have over 15,000 reviews from previous customers on Trustpilot, giving us an Excellent rating!
• Customer service - whether you have a question about your order, a product, or delivery, our knowledgeable customer service team is here to help via email, phone, or live chat.