Orthopedic Mattress 101 – All You Need To Know About It

Many people are suffering from backaches because their bed is not offering them adequate support. In the effort to put an end to annoying back problems, mattress manufacturers have developed orthopedic mattresses.

Unfortunately, many advertise their products as orthopedic, but when you buy them, you realize your back problems are still there, and the only thing that’s changed is the amount of money in your bank account.

On that note, we’ve decided to share our knowledge with you. In this article, we’re going to tell you all you need to know about orthopedic mattresses, so when the time comes for you to buy a new one – you’ll know exactly what to get.

What is the orthopedic mattress?

To put it simply, an orthopedic mattress is a mattress that offers substantial support for your entire body, ensuring that you rest and sleep in the optimal position to prevent any pain or discomfort. As a general rule of thumb, orthopedic mattresses are bit on the firmer side of things, usually 7 out of 10, or above. This level of firmness, coupled with several other orthopedic features like pressure relief, is what makes a true orthopedic mattress.

What are the main benefits of orthopedic mattress?

Simply sleeping on a firm surface is not enough to help you get rid of the annoying pain. That is why the best orthopedic mattresses do a lot more than just being firm. Here are the main advantages and benefits of owning an orthopedic mattress.

The best support

The key to eliminating back and joint pain is sleeping on an adequately supportive surface, which is what orthopedic mattress is. The benefits of proper support provided by an orthopedic mattress are virtually endless. It will improve your sleep quality, eliminate pain, promote good health, help you recover faster and so much more.

Good spinal alignment

Your spine has to stay in a natural position at all times, regardless of your sleeping position. A good orthopedic mattress will not only be firm, but it will also allow for some contouring and sinkage, so that even if you lay on your side – your spine stays in the perfect alignment.

Good body posture

One of the main benefits of proper support during night time is how it translates to your life. When you sleep properly aligned and supported, your muscles relax and recover, which means you’ll manage to maintain good body posture at all times, and never again slouch or hunch over because your muscles are tired and aching.

Weight distribution

Your body is heaviest around the hips. Therefore, a mattress must be good enough so that it doesn’t sink in the middle. Properly distributing the weight of your body is the cornerstone of every high-quality orthopedic mattress. Without it, you’d still wake up feeling sore and aching.

Are there different types of orthopedic mattresses?

Orthopedic mattresses are no longer limited to coil-based mattresses. The coil-based mattresses still dominate the orthopedic mattress, however, the advancements in the mattress development technology allowed us to experience and enjoy other types of orthopedic mattresses. Nowadays, you can find a memory foam orthopedic mattress, just as effective as the ones with an open coil base.

Open coil

Open coil based mattresses are the pioneers in the orthopedic field. They’ve been around for over 70 years at this point. Generally, orthopedic open coil mattresses come with firm, thick steel coils, which prevent sinking and promote great posture. However, nowadays, their biggest advantage lies in their price as they are the most affordable of the bunch.

Pocket springs

Pocket springs, unlike open coils, are not all tied together. They are all individually pocketed, hence the name, which allows for a better, more precise support, contouring and pressure relief. Ideally, you’d look for a mattress with 2500-3000 individual springs for the best results. A pocket spring orthopedic mattress is arguably the best you can get if you have trouble with back or joint pain.

Memory foam

Memory foam does not have to be soft. An orthopedic memory foam mattress usually comes with a firm, high-density foam base, which provides adequate support and promotes good posture and spinal alignment. The top layers are usually the softer ones, handling the pressure relief and comfort.

Latex

Latex is naturally firmer than the rest of the materials commonly used in mattresses, so that is what makes them a good option for an orthopedic mattress. Not only is it firm, but latex is also quite bouncy and durable, so you should have no problems using the same mattress for years to come.

Hybrid

Finally, when you put pocket springs and memory foam together you get a hybrid. Hybrids are popular a options for orthopedic mattresses nowadays, mostly because when you’re combining the two, you can create a perfectly firm and supportive mattress, that is also incredibly comfortable, contouring and soft to lie on.