Can a Bad Mattress Cause Hip Pain? Best Mattresses for Hip Pain + Tips for Finding Relief

Key Takeaways

• Bad mattresses, poor sleeping positions, and health conditions can cause or worsen chronic hip pain.
• The best mattress for hip pain will support spinal alignment while offering pressure relief for your hips, though individual preferences may vary.

Chronic hip pain is a common issue that can reduce your quality of life and make it difficult to get the rest you need. Finding out the cause of your hip pain can help you identify the best way to relieve your symptoms. So, can a bad mattress cause hip pain?

Absolutely. An unsupportive mattress, sub-optimal sleeping positions, and underlying health conditions are some of the most common causes of hip pain at night.

If you can't get comfortable at night due to hip pain, there are a number of ways you can try to relieve your aches and pains. In this guide, we discuss some of the best ways to relieve hip pain when sleeping, how to choose a mattress that provides the most relief, and our recommendations for Purple’s best mattresses for hip pain.

1. Purple RejuvenatePremier™
2. Purple RestorePremier™
3. Purple RestorePlus™
4. The Purple Mattress®
5. PurpleFlex™

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Causes of Hip Pain at Night

If your hips feel stiff, sore, or achy, you have shooting pain in your hips, or you’re experiencing pain and numbness that radiates down your legs, you may have a hard time falling and staying asleep. Hip pain can reduce your sleep quality, but relieving your pain depends largely on the cause behind it.

The most common causes of nighttime hip pain include: 

Your Sleep Position

Even if your sleep position feels natural and comfortable at first, it’s important to choose a position that keeps your spine aligned to help prevent back and hip pain. Some positions can worsen hip pain without proper support. Side sleepers, for example, may experience more hip pain while sleeping, especially if they lie on the side that hurts.

Your Mattress

If you’re experiencing hip pain at night no matter what position you’re in, a bad mattress may be to blame. An unsupportive mattress that lacks the features you need can prevent your hip pain from improving and even worsen the issue.

Mattresses that are too soft or too firm can put unnecessary strain on joints like your hips, resulting in poor alignment and discomfort. Similarly, a worn-out or low-quality mattress won’t provide the support and pressure relief you need, making your hip pain worse.

Health Conditions

Hip pain can be a symptom of several medical conditions that may result from overuse, deterioration, or excessive pressure and nerve compression.

Some of the most common health conditions that cause hip pain include:

Bursitis

Though bursitis can affect any joint, trochanteric bursitis occurs when the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) cushioning your hip joints become inflamed. This condition can cause sharp, intense pain on the outside of the hip that can radiate to the thigh, making it difficult to sleep soundly.

Osteoarthritis

Degradation of cartilage in the hips can result in hip arthritis, causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness. Symptoms can worsen after standing, walking, or sleeping, disrupting your sleep night after night.

Tendonitis

Inflamed tendons are often the result of overuse or injury, resulting in swelling, pain, or general discomfort. Hip tendonitis can develop from sports like gymnastics or running but can also occur from carrying your weight on one leg or keeping your legs crossed too long.

Sciatic Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis syndrome entails spasms of the piriformis muscle in the buttocks, causing pain and compressing the sciatic nerve. This condition can result in hip pain as well as sciatica symptoms while sleeping, such as radiating numbness and tingling.

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis can cause hip pain when the body’s immune system attacks the joints, causing inflammation, swelling, and stiffness.

Excessive Weight

Carrying more weight on your body puts added pressure on your joints, contributing to deterioration and a higher risk of injury. While it may not be the sole cause of your hip pain, a higher body weight can worsen your symptoms, making it difficult to get the rest you need.

Pregnancy

Hip pain can occur at any stage of pregnancy and can be exacerbated by weight gain, reduced movement, and hormonal changes.

When you’re pregnant, your body releases hormones that relax the connective tissue, joints, and ligaments in your pelvis, increasing your body’s flexibility to allow your baby to pass more easily when you’re in labor. While this process helps ensure your delivery goes smoothly, loose ligaments and shifted pelvic bones can cause pain, especially when sleeping on your side during pregnancy.

Injury or Surgery

In most cases, you’ll know when your hip pain is caused or worsened by an injury, resulting in stress fractures, soft tissue tears, or infections. Whether you had a bad fall or were in a car collision, acute injuries to the hips require medical attention, so contact your doctor immediately if you’ve suffered a hip injury.

You may also experience pain after undergoing hip surgery. Inflammation and nerve issues are not uncommon after a hip replacement, but excessive swelling and pain may be an indicator of an incompatible replacement, infection, or tendonitis. If you’re concerned about pain after surgery, contact your doctor to identify the cause and get the correct treatment.

How To Relieve Hip Pain While Sleeping

If hip pain is keeping you up at night, finding ways to safely alleviate your discomfort can help you sleep better and improve your quality of life. Here are 11 tips for relieving your hip pain at night.

1. Replace Your Mattress

Your mattress plays a major role in your comfort and sleep quality, so if your hip pain isn’t improving or is getting worse, your mattress may be part of the problem. It may be time to replace your mattress if:

• It’s started to sag
• It feels too firm or too soft
• It doesn’t provide the pressure relief you need
• You’ve had it for over seven years

Mattress lifespan varies depending on materials, construction, and quality, but as a rule of thumb, if your mattress isn’t as comfortable as it used to be, a replacement may be necessary.

Deciding what mattress to get as a replacement depends largely on your unique preferences and needs. You should try to find a mattress that relieves pressure from your hips while supporting broader surfaces like your back to promote spinal alignment.

2. Change Your Sleep Position

One of the best positions for relieving hip pain and keeping your spine aligned is sleeping on your back. This position keeps your spine aligned and prevents you from putting too much pressure on your hips.

You can teach yourself how to sleep on your back to help relieve your hip pain, but if you've been a side sleeper for years, changing your preferred sleeping position won't always be easy. You can alleviate some hip pain by sleeping on the side that doesn’t hurt and placing a pillow between your knees to promote correct spinal alignment. 

Stomach sleepers may find that the position provides some hip pressure relief, but they may wake up with neck pain or lower back pain because their spinal alignment is off-kilter during the night. Placing pillows under your pelvis to support the curve of your spine and provide pressure relief can make this position healthier and more comfortable, but you can also try to train yourself to sleep in a different position to relieve your pain.

3. Use Pillows for Relief

The type and quality of your pillows, as well as how you sleep on them, impact the quality of your sleep. A good pillow will keep your neck and shoulders aligned throughout the night. 

If you sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees and use a low to medium loft pillow for your head and neck to keep them aligned. Stomach sleepers can place a pillow under their pelvis to reduce pressure on the spine and relieve pain.

The best pillows for side sleepers are often medium-firm to firm with a medium loft to keep your neck aligned and support your head. If you’re struggling with hip pain as a side sleeper, try sleeping on the non-achy side with a pillow like the Purple Harmony Anywhere™ Pillow between your knees to align your hips and spine. 

4. Stretch Before Bed

Stretching out your hip muscles and tendons before lying down can help you get a good night’s sleep. Stretch before you go to bed, when you wake up, and throughout the day if severe hip pain prevents you from relaxing.

If you work in a setting where you have to sit for long periods of time, take periodic stretch breaks during the day to keep your muscles loose and provide pain relief. Gentle stretches and light yoga are often good places to start, but it’s important to know your physical limits and listen to your body. If a stretch feels uncomfortable or causes more pain, you should consult your doctor for advice.

5. Practice Good Posture

Try to maintain good posture while standing, sitting, and sleeping to promote spinal alignment and prevent hip pain. When you go to sleep, make sure your back is in a neutral position that aligns with the natural curvature of your spine.

Keeping your shoulders back, chin up, and back straight while standing and sitting can help condition your spine to maintain its natural curves, reducing your risk of back and hip pain when you go to sleep.

6. Take a Warm Bath Before Bed

Soothe pain and reduce stiffness by increasing circulation when you take a warm bath or shower before bed. It can also be beneficial to perform your stretches after taking a warm bath, as the heat can help loosen your muscles and make it easier to stretch.

7. Apply a Compress to the Affected Area

You can get comfort from using ice or heat therapy on your aching hips. Heat can keep muscles and tendons loose, relaxed, and comfortable during the night. This works best for people suffering from muscle spasms, arthritis pain, and general stiffness.

Applying ice can help reduce swelling and inflammation, which can be helpful for hip pain caused by an injury.

8. Try Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers

Over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen can offer temporary relief from chronic hip pain. Talk to your doctor first about how often it’s safe to take them. You can also talk with your doctor about topical medications that help relieve chronic pain and increase your comfort.

9. Avoid Sleep Aids 

After a few nights with no sleep, you might be tempted to try sleep aids. In the short term, sleep aids can be an effective way to fall and stay asleep, but if you consistently rely on them, your body will build a tolerance, meaning you’ll need more medication to get the same effect.

It’s often best to avoid using sleep aids, as they won’t improve the root cause of your hip pain. Consult your doctor if your hip pain continues to disrupt your sleep after trying these tips.

10. Consider a Mattress Topper

If you can't say goodbye to your current mattress just yet, you can use a mattress topper, which sits on top of your mattress to provide pressure relief when your current mattress can't. You can find mattress toppers made with memory foam, latex, and cooling gels to suit your needs.

We don’t recommend using a mattress topper on Purple mattresses, as they negate the cooling, instantly adaptive benefits of the GelFlex® Grid. 

11. Speak to Your Doctor

If you’ve already tried the above tips but hip pain still interferes with your sleep, it may be time to talk to your primary care doctor. They can help identify the underlying cause of your hip pain and create a care plan that may include physical therapy, steroid injections, or surgery.

Best Mattresses for Hip Pain

A good mattress helps you maintain neutral spine alignment throughout the night, providing relief for sleepers who suffer from hip joint pain. In contrast, an unsupportive and uncomfortable mattress can create additional pressure on your hips and worsen your pain.

The best mattress for hip pain will ultimately depend on your individual preferences and needs. We recommend the following Purple mattresses for their adaptive support, soothing pressure relief, and cooling comfort.

Purple RejuvenatePremier™

The Purple RejuvenatePremier™ is an elevated, luxurious mattress offering maximum pressure relief, comfort, and full-body zoned support to keep your hips and spine aligned no matter what position you’re in.

• Feel: Medium-plush
• Key Features: 50% more GelFlex® Grid Plus between two layers, full-body support
• Materials: 8" 5-Zone Coil Core, Active Response Comfort Foam, layers of Ultra Comfort Foam, Talalaly latex, two GelFlex® Grid Plus layers, Quilted Euro Top
• Sizes: Twin XL, queen, king, California king, split king
• Price: $$$-$$$$

“This mattress is heaven. I cannot remember the last time I had a perfect night’s sleep. No tossing, no turning, no waking up during the night to go sleep on the couch. My husband has a bad back and he has seen some improvement with comfort during the night. This in and of itself was worth the money spent. We both actually feel rested when we wake up.” — Renee W., Purple RejuvenatePremier™ review

This indulgent hybrid mattress has earned rave reviews and awards from reputable sources, including:

• Health: Most Comfortable Mattress¹
• Amerisleep: Best Luxury Mattress²
• The Spruce: Best Euro Top Mattress³

Purple RestorePremier™

Enhance your sleep quality with the Purple RestorePremier™, designed for superior pressure relief and comfort. This hybrid mattress combines contouring foam with our GelFlex® Grid for pressure relief, plus individually wrapped coils for structured support to keep your body aligned and comfortable.

• Feel: Two feel options
• Key Features: Up to 4x cooler* than competitors with temperature balancing technology, pin-point pressure point relief, and dynamic support
• Materials: 3” GelFlex® Grid, Ultra Comfort Foam, Coolflex™ Coils, Advanced Edge Support System, moisture-wicking breathable cover
• Sizes: Twin XL, queen, king, California king, split king
• Price: $$-$$$

*Disclaimer: Thermal test and heat flux study conducted by Purple on Purple hybrid mattresses in 2023.

“I've suffered with side hip pain from some hip joint problems and side hip pain from tendinopathy. This mattress allows me to sleep on my side without pain! I also like that it does not build up dust mites like traditional upholstered mattresses, as I have some issues with dust allergy.” — Leanne, Purple RestorePremier™ review

This innovative hybrid mattress provides a tailored sleep experience, making it a great option for relieving hip pain and earning the following awards:

• Forbes: Best Pressure-Relieving Mattress for Side Sleepers⁴
• NBC: Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Pain⁵
• Forbes: Best Mattress for Sciatica Pressure Relief⁶
• Healthline: Best Support Hybrid Mattress for Hip Pain⁷

Purple RestorePlus™

The Purple RestorePlus™ Hybrid Mattress features GelFlex® Grid for enhanced pressure point relief and zoned support for spinal and hip alignment.

• Feel: Two feel options
• Key Features: Up to 3x* cooler, advanced pressure relief, and targeted support
• Materials: 3” GelFlex® Grid, zoned Edge-to-Edge Coil Support System, Ultra Comfort Foam, moisture-wicking antimicrobial cover
• Sizes: Twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
• Price: $$-$$$

*Disclaimer: Thermal test and heat flux study conducted by Purple on Purple hybrid mattresses in 2023.

“This bed has helped my family immensely. I get a much better night’s rest. My wife also gets a better night’s rest and is relieved of all her hip pain. This bed is amazing and you can't go wrong with it. I no longer sleep hot and wake up restored and rejuvenated.” — The Santi Family, Purple RestorePlus™ review

Refinery29 named the Purple Restore™ Hybrid Mattress the best non-memory foam mattress for back pain, and the Purple RestorePlus™ Hybrid Mattress elevates the pressure relief, comfort, and support for an enhanced sleep experience.⁸ The RestorePlus™ has also earned the following awards:

• Good Housekeeping: Best Mattress for Heavy People With Back Pain⁹
• Esquire: For the Best Side Sleep of Your Life¹⁰

The Purple Mattress®

The original Purple Mattress® features our innovative GelFlex® Grid, providing unparalleled pressure relief, cooling, and broad support. Our flagship mattress instantly adapts to your body, cradling your pressure points and supporting the alignment of your hips and spine to keep you comfortable.

• Feel: Medium-firm
• Key Features: Great pressure relief, temperature balancing, durable support
• Materials: 2” GelFlex® Grid, Durable Base Foam, Edge Support Foam, Comfort Foam, SoftFlex Cover
• Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
• Price: $-$$

“It helped me sleep with my bad hip! I was finally able to rest and get good rest! That helped my energy level and I was able to continue my health regimen to lose weight and after a year I was able to have my hip replacement surgery!” — Veronica D., Purple Mattress® review

This innovative mattress provides a unique, tailored sleep experience, earning the following awards:

• Good Housekeeping: Best Cooling Mattress for Back Pain¹¹
• CNET: Best Mattress for Side Sleepers With Shoulder and Hip Pain¹²
• Eachnight: Best Flexible Mattress for Hip Pain¹³
• Prevention: Best Cooling Mattress for Back Pain¹⁴
• Healthline: Best Mattress for Hip and Shoulder Pain¹⁵

PurpleFlex™

Offering breathable, cooling support and pressure relief for your back, shoulders, and hips, the PurpleFlex™ mattress contours to your body to keep you cool, comfortable, and as pain-free as possible. This mattress may be best suited for back sleepers with hip pain, promoting spinal alignment and relieving pressure from the back and hips.

• Feel: Firm
• Key Features: Soothing pressure relief, temperature balancing, stable base support
• Materials: 2” GelFlex® Grid, high-density Durable Base Foam
• Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king
• Price: $-$$

“I have never slept better in my life. I used to wake up with back pain every morning because of my mattress, but now I can't remember the last time I woke up with a sore back because of my Purple mattress. Would definitely recommend.” — Sarah S., PurpleFlex™ review

Great for relieving hip pain and pressure without trapping heat, the PurpleFlex™ mattress has earned the following award:

• Mind Body Green: Best Mattress for Chronic Hip Pain¹⁶

How To Choose a Mattress for Hip Pain

If you’re struggling with hip pain, you’ll need a supportive mattress that cradles your hips. There is no one-size-fits-all type of mattress for hip pain, and the best mattress for sleepers with hip pain is one that suits your individual needs and preferences. There are six main factors to consider when choosing a mattress for hip pain relief.

Firmness

Mattress firmness ranges from soft (or plush) to firm, and it’s important to consider your needs and comfort preferences to determine the right firmness for you. Sleepers with hip pain often prefer a medium-firm feel that supports their back and offers pressure relief around the hips and lower back. You may choose a different firmness depending on factors like your size and preferred sleep position.

Softer mattresses let sleepers sink into the mattress, providing a contoured, hugging feel. This type of mattress is often best for light sleepers and some side sleepers, though individual preferences vary.

Heavier people and stomach sleepers often sleep better on firmer mattresses that provide more lift and support, keeping your spine aligned. Medium-firm mattresses are generally good choices for sleepers of all types and especially back sleepers, blending the pressure relief and support of soft and firm mattresses.

Mattress Type

Different types of mattresses may offer more pressure and pain relief than others. Some of the most popular choices for hip pain relief include:

• GelFlex® Grid: Found in every Purple mattress, our innovative Hyper-Elastic Polymer material simultaneously cradles pressure points (such as your hips) and supports everywhere else (such as your back and legs) for proper spinal  alignment. Open-air channels also provide cooling benefits. 
• Foam: Memory foam and other polyfoams contour to your body, cradling your pressure points for relief, but foam that is too soft can put too much pressure on the hips and may trap heat.
• Innerspring: This is an affordable mattress option made with coils covered by a comfort layer to support your body. Innerspring mattresses often offer firmer support, which someone suffering from hip pain may prefer.
• Latex: Latex foam beds are some of the longest-lasting mattresses available, offering a bouncy, floating feel that disperses your weight to relieve pressure. They can be heavy and may not offer as much relief as other options.
• Hybrid: Blending the benefits of coils and foam, latex, or other materials, hybrid mattresses offer pressure relief and support, making them suitable for those with hip pain and heavier sleepers, though they may have a higher price point.

Those with hip pain often prefer these mattresses, but you should decide what feels most comfortable to you and best suits your needs.

Zoned Support

A mattress with zoned support features different materials and construction throughout the length of the bed, offering different levels of comfort and support to better align areas like your shoulders, back, and hips. Look for a mattress with tailored zones to relieve hip pain and support the alignment of your spine for maximum comfort.

Thickness

While mattress thickness doesn’t always translate to pain relief potential, a mattress with more layers of high-quality materials designed to provide pressure point relief and support your spinal alignment may be a good choice for those with hip pain. Look for mattresses that cradle your hips with comfort layers to relieve pain and help you sleep.

Your Sleep Needs

Everyone has different needs and preferences when it comes to finding the right mattress, so when you’re searching for the best mattress for hip pain, you may find that the mattresses others prefer don’t work for you.  

Your preferred sleep position may affect what mattress will best relieve your hip pain. For example, the best mattress for side sleepers with hip pain may be different from what is best for a back or combination sleeper.

Depending on your weight and build, you may prefer different mattress materials, feels, and thickness. If you exceed the mattress weight limit, you may not get the support you need to relieve your hip pain.

Ultimately, you should pick a mattress that has the features you want and feels most comfortable to you.

Warranty and Trial

When you buy a new mattress online or in a physical store, you may not know exactly how comfortable it will be when you sleep on it night after night. Make sure the mattress you purchase has a generous sleep trial and good warranty to ensure you can test it and determine if it provides the hip pain relief you need.

Purple offers a 100-night sleep trial so you can get a feel for your mattress and decide if it’s right for you. If you determine it’s not a good fit before the end of your trial, you’ll get a full refund. We also offer a 10-year warranty on our mattresses so you can rest easily.

How Do I Know If My Mattress Is Causing My Hip Pain?

If you’ve been waking up stiff and sore, you may be wondering if a bad mattress can cause hip pain. A worn-out or incompatible mattress can cause or worsen hip pain, and if you’ve tried using tips to relieve your hip pain with no success, there’s a chance your mattress is the culprit.

Finding a good mattress is integral to ensuring a comfortable night's sleep. The best mattress for back and hip pain is a mattress that conforms to your body’s shape for pressure relief with enough firmness and support to keep your spine aligned.

Every Purple mattress features our innovative GelFlex® Grid, offering superior support and pressure relief for your hips and joints. Enhance your sleep quality and enjoy the breathable, cushioned feel of a Purple mattress to relieve your hip pain and rest well.

Pressure Relief and Full-Body Support

No other mattress provides the adaptive, cooling comfort of the GelFlex® Grid. Experience superior pressure point relief for yourself.

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