This was a somewhat difficult page for me to put together for a couple of reasons. The first is that everyone is different. For instance, take two people who are the same height, weigh the same and suffer the same aches and pains first thing in the morning. One might like a medium density memory foam mattress, and the other might like a higher density. The second reason is that the technology available on the market these days can also complicate matters. When memory foam first came to the market it was unusual to find various densities that offered additional features such as temperature control or ease of movement. So far I’ve probably confused you even further, but below you will find some straight to the point information regarding low, medium and high density memory mattresses that will hopefully give you an idea of where to start. First I should explain what density actually means. Basically, it’s very easy. If you have a memory foam mattress with a density of 5lbs per cubic foot, the foam will weigh 5lbs (per cubic foot of course).
You should also know that most memory foam mattresses have several layers so they can benefit from the different density characteristics explained below. For instance, what you often see is a mattress with a low density top layer and a thick high density bottom layer. Pretty much all memory foam mattresses on the market today react to the temperature of your body. As the foam warms up it becomes softer and moulds to your natural contours. For that reason, some brands do take time to adjust to simply because the cushioning beneath you doesn’t “spring” into action the minute you lie down. With a low density memory mattress (3lbs and under), you instantly get a softer feel beneath you. So if you’re someone who prefers a nice soft bed, or you can’t get over that initial feeling of stiffness memory foam is synonymous with, a low density might just do the trick. Of course, you have to take into account that manufacturers don’t need to use as much in the way of materials which is why a memory foam mattress of 3lb density or less tends to be easier on the wallet so bear this in mind if you’re on a budget.
These will normally be in the 4 – 5lb region and are probably the more popular bracket because they have a good mix of a firm to soft ratio. Think Goldilocks and the Three Bears and you start to get the idea. This level of density is also popular because the price range will suit most budgets, but when you first lie on a foam mattress like this you won’t get the same “stiffness” you can experience with the high density bracket. However, if you happen to be someone who doesn’t need any medical attention for joint or muscle pain, can’t really decide which is the right memory foam mattress for you or you just want something that’s not too firm but not too soft, this type will probably suit what you need. I have to say though (if your budget allows you), that you may also want to go for a low density top layer with a high density bottom layer. This will still give you the softness you like plus you won’t sink in too deep. Now we really get into the specialist area.
If you come across a memory foam mattress that has a density of 6lbs or more, expect to pay top dollar. In fact, this level of density can cost thousands of dollars. Orthopaedic mattresses will never have less than 6lbs density, so if you suffer from a medical condition that can cause nasty aches and pains, this bracket of foam mattress is definitely worth considering. When you first lie on a mattress like this you will feel a certain amount of stiffness, but generally they do warm up quicker which means they will shape to your body. This is because they’re designed to give the ultimate in support across many of the pressure points over your body. Of course, durability goes without saying and if you’re prepared to spend the money you can expect a memory foam mattress at this level to last for many years to come. As I said at the beginning of this page, choosing the right density of memory foam mattress does come down to personal choice a lot of the time. However, I hope the information above has at least given you some idea of what to expect.
Recently a friend of mine asked me, “Do you know what is the best mattress for back pain?” She was having a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep because of sciatica and some back problems. I figured the firmest mattress (hard mattress) was probably the best but I really didn't know for sure. To answer her question, I decided to dig into the medical literature to see what was in there about the best mattress for backI went back about 10 years. There aren't a lot of studies on mattresses and back pain. But there's enough information there to make a And not only was I wrong about what I thought was the best mattress for back pain, but so are a heck of a lot of doctors who deal with back pain. mean better for back pain. In 2003, a study from Spain of 313 adults with chronic low back pain examined the effect of mattresses on their levels of pain while lying in bed...and when getting out of bed. Some of these people got new firm mattresses to sleep on for 90 days and some got new medium-firm mattresses.
participants knew which type of mattress they had received. After 90 days, a higher percentage of patients sleeping on the medium-firm mattresses reported: The study states: A mattress of medium firmness improves pain and disability among patients with chronic non-specific low-back A medium-firm mattress provides good support while distributing pressure points on the body when lying in bed. mattress that is too soft is just as bad for low back pain as a mattress that is too firm. In a 2005 study, The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association pointed out that in a survey, 76% of orthopedic surgeonsAnd most health professionals recommend hard or extra firm mattresses. The problem again is that these types of mattresses decrease the ability of the body to have more contact with the mattress. more pressure on the parts of the body that do touch the mattress. in turn means more pain in bed and getting out of bed. It's a known fact that low back pain significantly affects sleep
A study in 2006 (Journal of Chiropractic Medicine) also looked at sleep quality in relation to medium-firm mattresses. The study of 30 women and 29 men showed this: For 28 days, subjects slept in their owns beds. Then they slept in beds with new medium-firm mattresses for 28 days. With this new bedding, there was significant improvement for back pain and stiffness, comfort, and sleep quality. Is it starting to become clear here what the best mattress for back pain is? A 2008 study in Applied Ergonomics showed that age of and quality of bedding had a major effect on back pain. People sleeping in new beds had significantly less pain and more comfort than when they were sleeping on their older mattresses. The average age of the beds people were sleeping on before getting the new mattresses was 9.5 years. In addition, the study states: It was found that for the cheapest category of beds, lower back pain was significantly more prominent than
for the medium and higher priced beds. So let's wrap up this article on the best mattress for back pain with two final studies I uncovered. Below, we'll also take a look at three top choices for where to get the mattress of your dreams. The first study was in Spine. One hundred and sixty people were divided into three groups for a one month test of new mattresses. in group one were given water beds...group two memory foam mattresses...and group three hard mattresses. People who slept on the water beds and memory foam mattresses had improved back pain symptoms, back function, and sleep quality. mattress types were deemed superior to a hard mattress. were no differences observed between the water bed and the memory foam. Now I don't know about you, but I've slept in a few water beds over the years but never really liked them. I always felt like I was sleeping in a row boat. A 2010 study showed that replacing patients' beds with new medium-firm
mattresses, layered with memory foam and latex, provided significant improvement in both back and shoulder pain. Check out this chart below and you'll see what the best mattress for back pain is. As you can see, there is over a 60% drop in back pain and stiffness, resulting in improvement in sleep quality after just one week! And these results continue through week 12. Researchers also mentioned there was a significant drop in the number of days per week that people were experiencing poor sleep and Obviously, then, if your back gives you fits, the best mattress for back pain is one that has memory foam in it. (Or if you love your water bed, by all means stick with it.) The question then is... Searching around to find a quality mattress is like getting your teeth drilled at the dentist without novocaine. Yes, it's that painful! So I'm going to save you all that trouble. I've searched for hours all over the Internet to bring you three excellent choices of mattress companies.
sells America's luxury mattresses for a steep discount. Their prices are unbeatable. And if you don't live in the United States, no problem. Saatva ships their discounted luxury mattresses where you live. After you pick out the items you want on Saatva's website, select International Checkout as your shipping option. They are experts at shipping anywhere in the world. You can read two Saatva customer reviews from Saatva customers in the right column of this page up above. This may be the best mattress company on the Internet. Click here to go to the Saatva home page. is recommended and was featured on Dr. Oz's TV show and AndersonThey claim to have the world's only truly natural memory foamI must say, these are incredibly pure memory foam mattresses. However, they are expensive. So unless you have a lot of money, I think you can get a much better deal with the third choice below.There’s a new memory foam mattress Loom & Leaf has flipped the world of buying memory foam
Now you can get a luxury queen from Loom & Leaf for onlyA similar mattress at Tempur-Pedic would cost you $3,699. Which price would you rather pay? Loom & Leaf mattresses are built in America with American high-grade, non-toxic memory foam. Certified pure by Certi-PUR. They also use a unique medical grade cooling gel. placed in the spinal zone area to keep you cool and comfortable with no When you buy one of these mattresses, you’re not only sleeping well at night…you’re helping to keep the American economy strong.And you may find that for you, this is the best mattress for back pain. Click here to check out your new luxury memory foam mattress. Click here to download your FREE special report created by Sleep Passport on How to Buy a Mattress. This 9-page checklist contains the important questions for you to ask—and know the answers to—before buying a mattress. Where to Buy the Best Memory Foam Topper 23 Dangerous or Unhealthy Sleep Apnea Symptoms