Orthopedic Mattresses
As humans, pain is inevitable no matter what age we reach. Whether we're unwell, overworked, or just sore from exercise, we can experience pain in different parts of our bodies. That is why we must rest and recover well, so we don't put our bodies in any more danger or pain!
One great way of reducing pain and helping certain areas of our body that are painful -select the right mattress. If you have a mattress that supports you, it can help with your spinal alignment and take the important weight off specific pressure points like your neck, hips, back, and many other areas. If you have pain in a certain part of your body, you won't want to buy just any mattress. The best mattress type for you is an orthopedic mattress. By simply having the right orthopedic mattress, you can have a more comfortable and soothing sleep. To know more about the best orthopedic mattresses, check out our top pics here.
What is an orthopedic mattress?

An orthopedic mattress is a specific type of mattress that provides support to people with painful joints. These types of mattresses are commonly advised for people who still suffer from pain when they sleep. This mattress falls in between the category of latex and memory foam, which enables your body to shape and sleep on one side. You can find many different types of memory foam mattress made out of innerspring and latex to provide optimal spinal support and reduced back pain. Orthopedic mattresses have been on the market for some time now; in fact, they first came into existence around the 1950s. The original purpose was to be a mattress that stopped you from having a painful back in the morning. So, the manufacturer's initial intention was to be a therapeutic bed for bad backs. However, these turned more popular than they first expected and then started getting more modified to support other areas of the body. Later due to their popularity, they officially got given the name orthopedic mattresses.
It's important to know that there's no right way to detect that a mattress is orthopedic based on its name. Often, many manufacturers and marketers jump onto this buzzword to upsell their mattresses. Therefore, when looking to buy an orthopedic mattress, it's essential you carry out sufficient research to see if the bed can help straighten your spine and reduce any pain you may have.
How to choose a mattress?

When looking for an orthopedic mattress to buy, you mustn't just buy the first one you see. Similarly, you should never opt for the cheapest option you know; you should always prioritize quality over price. To do this, there are a few factors you should review first, which are:
Research medical findings
As highlighted earlier, the word orthopedic is used very loosely in the sleep industry. You must take your time to conduct your own thorough research, and the best way to do this is to look at medical findings. One way to do this is to view studies via Google Scholar, which will help you see if the mattresses support your back, hips, and neck. If you struggle to find any studies on Google Scholar, you will often find that many mattress companies conduct their own sleep trials. This will allow you to be part of a sleep trial using their mattress to see if it suits your needs. It's a fantastic way to try it out before you buy! You might also want to check if the manufacturers have any medical experience alongside selling mattresses, as they may be more specialized in treating orthopedic ones.
Flexibility
Most orthopedic mattresses should never be flexible. The whole purpose of the mattress is not to sag and provide support to your joints. Because of this, most of these mattresses tend to cost more than other ones on the market.
Similarly, if you find an orthopedic mattress and it starts to sag after some time, it might be due to the foam wearing out quickly. If this happens, many orthopedic mattress companies will provide you with a replacement free of charge.
Firmness
Firmness is an essential factor for looking at any mattress. You need to consider your height, weight, and sleep position when looking for an orthopedic mattress. If you're someone who tends to sleep on their side more, you will want a soft mattress. Whereas if you're someone who likes to move around a lot in their sleep, then a soft to medium mattress could be for you.If you sleep on your back the most and that area needs the most support, you would ideally want to have a medium-firm mattress. Finally, if you sleep on your front, you should opt for a highly firm mattress to stop you from sinking into your bed and provide adequate support for your spine.
Materials
When looking for the best orthopedic mattress to fit your needs, you have to review the materials! Now, there are many types of materials orthopedic mattresses are made out of, but they don't necessarily mean they are the best. The common materials that make up an orthopedic mattress are latex, memory foam, and air.
- Latex: These are hypoallergenic mattresses that contain memory foam which contours your body. It's highly adaptable to different body types and regulates temperature. The sinking aspect helps you relieve pressure from your joints and muscles.
- Memory foam: Memory foam has similar properties to latex; it sinks and supports your body. However, it's not as well temperature controlled.
- Air mattress: This type of mattress contains air chambers that help relieve pressure from different body areas. Plus, you can adjust the firmness to your liking. This type of mattress is a popular orthopedic style.
How comfortable it is for your back
This point is pretty much essential for any orthopedic mattress shopper. To look to see how comfortable it can be when testing it, you should ensure there's no space across the top of the mattress and between the body. You should be lying flat and let your body still be fully supported. Plus, the best orthopedic mattresses will have great spinal alignment. Most good mattresses will be softer around your head and feet, then firmer in the middle of your bed to enable you to have less stress. Similarly, you will want to make sure your shoulders, hip, and neck have adequate support to provide you with a painless and good night's sleep.
Why use an orthopedic mattress?

In general, having an orthopedic mattress will prevent your spine from going against its natural curvature. The right orthopedic beds are designed to provide you with optimal spinal support and support for essential joints. They're a unique mattress that caters to different types of people with various pain problems. Once you have the right support from an orthopedic mattress, your muscles will be relaxed in bed. If your muscles aren't relaxed, they constantly work while you sleep to optimize the alignment of your spine. Therefore, causing you to wake up sore and ache in the morning. Then, once you're up, your spine needs to work more when you're moving about to stay in line. This is why those muscles of yours must have adequate time to rest and recover while you sleep, using an orthopedic mattress.
Main benefits

You should never think twice about buying an orthopedic mattress as there are so many benefits which are:
- Reduces body pain: If you tend to sleep for around 8 hours or more on a standard mattress, it's highly likely that you might experience some pain in your lower back and spine. Orthopedic beds have a firmer surface than a standard bed which allows you to relieve pain. Many people who have had surgery and experience fractures, back pain, injuries to their spine, and arthritis benefit a great deal from orthopedic mattresses. Similarly, their recovery rates are often higher and quicker, as there's less discomfort.
- Contributes to a better sleep: Orthopedic mattresses don't bounce back when you lie on them or sink down fully like a memory foam mattress; they're the perfect balance of the two. Due to their solid support, they don't have a ripple effect and often have reduced motion isolation preventing little disturbance to another sleeper in the bed. As a result, it improves sleeping posture and stops you from waking up with additional aches or pains.
- Good posture: Orthopedic mattresses provide a better posture. The bedding is specifically made to keep your spine in line, and when standing upright, it allows your posture to be better. Due to their emphasis on aligning your spine, there is less likely to be a sinking element in the bed and will allow you to feel comfortable after a hard day at work. They also have a high foam density level to enable you to sleep better.
- They last for a long time: On average, a standard mattress lasts around 7-10 years if looked after well. Generally, orthopedic mattresses tend to have a longer lifespan as they're created for durability and support. Plus, they're constructed from a high resilient foam designed to benefit medical conditions. Therefore, they're less likely to deteriorate as quickly.
- There are little rollovers: A lot of us share a bed with another person, and sometimes mattresses can wake the other person, especially if we turn over a lot in our sleep. A good thing about an orthopedic mattress is that the foam depression absorbs body movement and does not transfer over onto the other side of the bed. This means it's more likely for couples to enjoy a better night's sleep.
Conclusion
Overall, orthopedic mattresses are fantastic to own if you have many joint problems, soreness from exercise, and age-related degeneration. They help you by taking the pressure off your joints and enabling a natural alignment of your spine. They also allow your muscles to relax while sleeping and prevent them from getting tired out as quickly during the daytime. There are many types of orthopedic mattresses as marketers tend to use the buzzword to sell their products. So, make sure you do your additional research and test them out before buying.
FAQ
Why should I choose an orthopedic mattress?
Orthopedic mattresses will remove any weight off your spine and remove any pain you have from your back. They are also more durable than a standard bed and will help you spend less on medical bills as they're preventing the problem instead of causing one.
What makes a mattress “orthopedic”?
An orthopedic mattress must support your joints, back, hips, and the rest of your body. Generally, they tend to be softer around your head and feet, whereas they're firmer in the middle of your body.
How does back and joint pain affect sleep?
The joint and back causes inflammations in your muscles and makes it more difficult for areas like your spine to work harder to help you sleep. Because your body is working harder, none of your muscles are relaxed, stopping you from being in an optimum position to sleep.
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