An orthopedic mattress provides extra support for people with back problems, stiffness, headaches or other health problems that make sleeping on a traditional mattress difficult.
There are several types of orthopedic mattresses, each one made from a pliable material and constructed in a slightly different way. Each person has to test mattresses before deciding on the one that’s best for his needs.
Memory Foam Mattresses:
Memory foam mattresses adjust to a person’s contours. This helps distribute pressure evenly over all parts of the body. On a conventional innerspring mattress, a sleeper’s weight pulls them down while the springs inside the bed push back against them. This results in pressure on certain parts of the body. That’s why a person tosses and turns at night in an attempt to get into a comfortable position. A memory foam mattress eliminates this problem. Developed by NASA (the National Space and Aeronautic Administration) in the 1970s, memory foam mattresses first hit the consumer market in the 1990s. A memory foam mattress consists of two separate parts—the memory foam layer and the core, which muffles vibration. Dust mites can’t penetrate the material and it’s also non-allergenic, which reduces potential problems for people with asthma.
Water Beds:
While water beds aren’t typically categorized as an orthopedic mattress, they do have several benefits for restless sleepers and people with bad backs. Like memory foam mattresses, they adjust to a person’s body shape. The wavy, floating feeling of a water bed can help some people relax and fall asleep. Many people mistakenly believe that a water bed is constantly in motion, but a series of baffles within certain types of water-filled mattress eliminate this problem. These baffles allow the owner to adjust the wave action, from high motion to nonexistent. High-end water beds have heat controls that can deliver warmth to the neck, hip and back muscles.
Latex Foam Mattresses:
Latex foam mattresses have qualities similar to memory foam. They adjust to a person’s body contour, and support the back, neck, torso and legs evenly. Like memory foam, latex foam mattresses are hypoallergenic, odorless, and resistant to dust mites and mold. Customers can choose from soft, regular, firm or hard tension mattresses. Latex is more expensive and durable than memory foam and reverts back to its normal shape quickly.