Mattresses come in a wide range of solidity. From the ultra soft to the extremely hard, it is more a matter of preference than necessity. However, there are some basic truths that hold for the majority of us. Very soft cloud-like mattresses can wreak havoc on bad backs. This is because there is very little support in a soft mattress. While hard mattresses might be better for a bad back, very hard mattresses can cause just as much trouble. It all boils down to what works best for each individual.