Save Up To 50% Off FREE LOCAL DELIVERY on all orders $399+ WHAT TYPE OF MATTRESS IS BEST FOR YOU? Being that each of us has a unique body type there is no one perfect mattress that works for everyone. Although there are mattresses constructed with higher quality materials and better fabrics that Sit 'n Sleep recommends over lesser-quality items, when it comes to levels of support and feel, it's really all about what's best for the individual. Are you looking for a firm mattress that offers maximum support or a soft mattress that has more of a cradling effect? If you're not sure, you're not alone. Lying on a mattress in the store for a few minutes on a showroom floor just isn't enough time to determine whether it's the type of support you'll need for the next eight-plus years. As a rule of thumb, larger individuals tend to choose a firmer mattress because they better support a larger build. Smaller individuals should try softer mattresses because they don't have as much weight to displace.
Also, if you find you have chronic back pain, a firmer mattress may help relieve pressure from the hips and lower back. Which support system is right for you? By far the most popular choice, the innerspring mattress has a spring zone in the bottom and atop it a comfort layer that can be made from various foams and fibers. The type of materials used in the comfort layer determines the firmness of the mattress. For the innerspring system, coils can either be individually wrapped which reduces the amount of motion transferred between coils or open coils which transfer more motion and tend to wear more quickly. Many brands make hybrid mattresses which combine memory foam and innerspring technologies. Memory foam mattresses are made from Visco elastic and can provide both comfort and support without the aid of coils. Memory foam has the added benefits of being able to conform to a sleeper's body and respond to their body temperature by softening under warmth. Memory foam is also great at reducing motion transfer between sleep partners so when one person tosses the other doesn't turn.
Latex mattresses have been growing in popularity over the last few years as they have declined in price. Its unique construction allows latex to instantly respond to the body and provide a high level of comfort while helping to promote proper spinal alignment. These qualities allow latex foam to act as a support system in lieu of a traditional innerspring. Latex mattresses are great for allergy sufferers because they are hypo-allergenic and do not accumulate dust mires. Latex mattresses are also known for staying cool and for having excellent breathability. Waterbeds became wildly popular in the '70s and '80s and although they look like a conventional mattress, they have an inner bladder of water, or water filled tubes for support. Waterbeds became popular because they offered conforming support at a time that traditional mattresses were much firmer. Although waterbeds were once the preferred sleep system for people with joint and back problems, modern technologies such as memory foam and latex have, for the most part, made waterbeds a thing of the past.
As of 12/30/2015, California state law requires retailers to collect an $11 recycling fee on each mattress and each box spring sold. A recycling fee of $22 must be assessed for the purchase of one mattress with one box spring.) The amount of the fee was mandated by the state and is not set by individual retailers. To see the details of the recycling fee in California click here.October 24, 2016 in News, Article, Ask the Expert, Low-Back Pain, Neck Pain, Tips, Wellness/Prevention, Posted by Thomas C. Schuler An extremely common question that I am asked in my clinic is, "What is the best mattress that I should buy?". Given this is such a common question, one would think that an answer, driven by data, would be readily available. Unfortunately this is an extremely difficult question to answer because of the nature of human variability. Just as there are people that enjoy sleeping on their back, stomach, or side, we also have to contend with variations in their anatomy. After reviewing many of the studies that have attempted to answer this, it is clear that none of them definitively solve the question.
This causes us to rely on our own experience and those of thousands of patients that we treat over our career. The optimal mattress allows our bodies to relax while providing appropriate support to our lower back. It should aim to decrease tension in areas that are injured and reduce the risk of developing new injuries. Support for the lower back means the mattress will contour to the normal upward curve of the back when one is lying flat. Cervical {neck} support is also critical because of the natural forward curvature in the neck. Support for the neck is easily found by using a soft pillow that molds to the shape of the head and doesn’t contort the neck. Meeting these requirements may seem simple enough but not all mattresses withstand the test of time. A mattress may initially seem more comfortable than the rest, but the question is whether the support, or lack thereof, feels as good after a complete night of sleep. Extremely soft beds can actually become more uncomfortable after prolonged use.
The same can be said for extremely firm mattresses. One of the positions that seem to be the worst for people's back is anything that sags. A sagging mattress causes the normally lordotic, or forward-shaped, lumbar spine to flex, which compresses the discs in the front. Degenerative discs are an extremely common source of chronic back pain, therefore anything which causes abnormal force or stress on the discs will predispose us to more pain and injury down the line. My recommendation after reviewing the data and my own experience is that we should purchase a firm mattress pad that has a softer cushioning top. The firmness provides adequate support for our legs, pelvis, and spine, while the flexibility of the top pad enables the pressure to be diffused across the different contours. Getting a good night's sleep is critical for our mental function, but also for our well being and pain control. We cannot be healthy and function optimally without getting adequate sleep as that is the time that our body heals and recharges.