Today, about 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain ranging from headaches to low back pain. According to a National Institute of Health Statistics survey, low back pain(27%) was the most cited listed out of four common types of pain. The survey also found that Americans between the ages of 20-64 experience frequent back pain on a daily basis. And although about 92% of people agree that a comfortable mattress is important to a restful night’s sleep, many don’t take the time to research or invest in a quality mattress for their back pain. Instead, many people rely on mattress salespeople to direct and guide them to the best mattress for their particular sleep needs. Unfortunately, not all salespeople have your best interest in mind. It’s better to consider asking your doctor first for their recommendations for the best mattress for your back pain. There are several types of mattresses, but the most common ones are innerspring, memory foam, memory foam hybrids, and latex.
Of these four mattresses, innerspring is the most popular – representing over 80% of the mattress market. Mattresses should have three main components: Support, Comfort, and Durability. Innerspring mattresses vary according to the types of coils and materials used. Some are sold at a higher price due to the number of coils used, but there have been no studies that have proven that more coils equate to better sleep. Instead, it’s better to look at the types of coils used in the mattress and the gauge number. If you can’t budget for the other types of mattresses, then choose a medium-firm innerspring mattress. It’s the best bang for your buck, and it meets the criteria of support, comfort, and durability. Memory foam mattresses, short for visco-elastic memory foam, consist of slow, forming foam. Over time, these mattresses have evolved from one comfort feel to a spectrum of squishy soft to very firm. They have grown in popularity mainly due to their ability to conform to one’s unique body shape and provide pressure relief.
If you are weary of sleeping hot, though, these might not be the best option for you. But if you are a fan of very minimal motion transfer, natural alignment and pressure relief on your joints and back then this is a good option for you. Keep in mind though that you might have to save up since these mattresses tend to sell at a much higher price point than innerspring mattresses. Memory foam hybrid mattresses consist of two main components: innerspring and memory foam. If you like the bounce and support of innerspring and the pressure relief that memory foam offers then this is the mattress for you. This mattress comes in many different styles and offers a wide selection of varying comfort levels. They are also very durable because they have a base of innerspring for support. It can be difficult to find the right style for your sleep needs though because there is such a wide selection so make sure to research and familiarize yourself. Since these mattresses tend to sell in the ultra-luxury/luxury category, they can easily run up to $5,000.
Latex mattresses, made from natural or synthetic rubber, provide firm uniform support and bounce. This mattress is very firm and supportive and provides comfort similar to memory foam. They differ from memory foam mattresses regarding support. Latex pushes back on you and provides more support in doing so. Another key, distinctive difference is that latex is naturally biodegradable – it tends to be very durable and lasts longer than all the other conventional mattress types. Latex does tend to be on the firmer side though so if you can’t stand the thought of sleeping on a very firm mattress, then it might not be a good choice for your back pain. Since there are several types of mattresses on the market today, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what mattress you need. Here are some key tips to keep in mind when shopping for a new mattress: Check out Loom and Leaf’s patented gel technology in the #1 Rated Mattress For Back Pain.Memory Foam vs Spring MattressesI’m going to cut straight to the chase with this page on my website, and start by telling you the main reason spring or “coil” mattresses are still manufactured is because they’re cheap to construct and to buy.
The technology used within a spring mattress hasn’t changed that much in many years, and the support you received from a new one bought 10 years ago will be the same if you buy one now. However, I’m not about telling you what’s good for you and what isn’t. My job is to make sure you get both sides of the story and I think this page will be very useful for those of you who are not sure if moving from a spring mattress to memory foam is the right choice for you. So, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons you can expect with both types. Of course, I will try not to be biased, but I can’t help starting with memory foam. There is far more choice with a memory foam mattress simply because of the abundance of technology available to manufacturers. Plus the levels of firm to soft are far more accurate than that of a coil spring, not to mention the different layers foam mattresses can have. Starting out with a foam mattress before you suffer from back, neck or shoulder pain could stop this from happening all together because you get the natural support you need from the word go!
If you do have trouble with various aches and pains whether they’re mild or severe, a foam mattress will definitely help because it supports important pressure points across the body. Unlike a spring mattress, the technology within is like having billions of tiny springs supporting your frame and it will contour to your natural shape much better. Think of it like buying a suit that’s been made for you rather than buying “off the peg”. Foam mattresses will last much longer and the warranties available are more extensive because the materials used are far superior to that of a spring type. Largely, you’ll be doing the environment a favor especially if you look out for the CertiPUR-US certification. One of the biggest complaints about foam mattresses is the fact they produce additional heat. However, there are brands on the market like the DynastyMattress 12-Inch New Cool Breeze GEL I have reviewed that pretty much eliminate this problem. Depending on the way of packaging, you may have to wait for your mattress to expand before you can use it, and in some cases there will be an odor.
Finally, yes, foam mattresses will cost you more. But, they last longer if cared for properly and could avoid problems in the future due to aches and pains caused by a poor sleeping surface. First of all, as I have mentioned a spring mattress is cheap. The main reason for this is the technology used to construct them is pretty basic. When you first buy a spring mattress, there is no need to wait until you can use it because they “spring” to their original form instantly. Since spring mattresses don’t rely on heat to adjust to your body, you won’t get the problem of being too warm when you sleep. They are well ventilated. You won’t get the “outgas” odor that’s sometimes synonymous with foam mattresses because of the materials used. If you don’t like the idea of waiting for your mattress to conform to the contours of your body, a spring mattress might be the answer. This is a personal issue though, and most people get used to this characteristic of memory foam fairly quickly (plus new foams and layer set-ups are being developed every day, making the problem slowly go away).