Sleep on a firm mattress; a ¾-inch plywood bed board is helpful and should be used with all but a very firm orthopedic mattress. Keep your knees and hips bent when sleeping on your side.

Sleeping on your stomach, especially on a sagging mattress with your head on a thick pillow, puts too much strain on the spine and can lead to morning backache.

With acute back pain, sleep with a pillow or blanket rolled under the knees and a pillow under the head.