Considerations When Choosing a Mattress

Mattresses are now offered in a wide range of styles and materials, each with its own unique benefits and drawbacks. When choosing a new mattress, it is important to consider the following:

    • Level of support. A firmer mattress that provides the spine with additional support is generally preferred, and some studies have noted benefits from the use of a medium-firm mattress. A mattress that supports the spine along its natural curves and keeps the spine in the same body position as good standing posture can provide relief from certain types of lower back pain.

See Considerations When Buying a New Mattress

    • Issues related to a hard mattress. While a firm mattress is usually preferred, a mattress that is too hard can cause aches and pains in pressure point areas, such as the hips. Inflammation of the bursa over a person’s hips (greater trochanteric bursitis) is particularly likely to be exacerbated from a mattress that is too firm. People who sleep on their sides—with pressure point areas like the hips and shoulders pressed against the mattress—may also experience discomfort and sleep disruption from a hard mattress.

See How to Evaluate a Mattress

    • Compatibility with an adjustable bed. An adjustable bed is a base that can be adjusted to various angles. Certain mattresses are not compatible with adjustable beds, so it is important to consider adjustable beds and mattresses in tandem.

See Considerations Before Buying an Adjustable Bed

  • Pillow-tops provide a softer surface. A pillow-top can help create a softer layer on top of the mattress. Pillow-tops come in a range of softness and thickness, and they are also incorporated into some mattresses. Pillow-tops come in a variety of materials with varying characteristics. For example, pillow-tops may come with a heating component that provides soothing heat therapy; natural wool pillow-tops are relatively expensive, but provide warmth when it’s cold and are cooling when it’s warm. Egg crate pillow-toppers are less expensive, but they can run on the warm side and tend to wear out quickly.

In general, any mattress and/or pillow-top that results in good sleep, so that the sleeper wakes feeling rested without pain and/or stiffness, is recommended for that person.

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