BEDTIME DELIGHT: EMBRACING COMFORT THROUGH THE RIGHT MATTRESS
Do you toss and turn when you sleep at night? Do you wake up in the morning with excruciating back and/or neck pain? These may be indications that it is time for a new mattress. In this week’s blog, we will determine what a good mattress is, and give recommendations on a good mattress to use.
What Should a Good Mattress Entail?
There are several different mattresses out there that include inner support such as memory foam, gel, spring, water, etc. Mattresses come in different levels of firmness. A mattress should be firm and have good lumbar support. There is no perfect mattress out there. Mattress preference and patient comfort should be the determining factor for a mattress purchase.
Some people love memory foam mattresses, and others hate them. Some people love spring mattresses, and others hate them. Unfortunately, we don’t have an answer for what mattress is the best because of the different possibilities and outcomes.
What Are Our Recommendations?
Even though we don’t have an exact answer for what mattress is best, we do have some recommendations that may help patients decide what mattress to buy. First and foremost, steer away from Tempur-Pedic beds. Their reviews vary and patients tell us all the time that they wished they never bought one. They are too firm and are overpriced. There is no need to spend thousands of dollars on a mattress for the best sleep patterns.
We know that we said there is no perfect mattress on the market, but we are partial to a memory foam mattress. Memory foam mattresses are a good choice because they have different levels of firmness, whereas other types of mattresses don’t have as much of a variety.
Some patients like a firm bed so they don’t sink into the mattress, and others like to sink down deep into the mattress. We recommend finding a mattress that is right in the middle. A mattress that is too firm can negatively reduce the lumbar spine curvature, and a mattress that isn’t firm enough can negatively increase the lumbar spine curvature. Having a mattress with a midline firmness maintains a natural lordotic curvature, allowing patients to sleep comfortably through the night, and wake up in the morning without pain.
Mattress cost is another important aspect to consider. Some mattresses can cost $2000-$6000. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a good mattress. There are a few great inexpensive memory foam mattress brands, and in our opinion, they perform better than expensive mattress brands.
When you are finished reading this week’s blog, get on the computer and look up mattress in a box. Mattress in a box is exactly how it sounds. A mattress of your choice literally comes in a box. Reputable mattress companies such as Nectar, Sealy, and Purple can be purchased from mattress in a box. You can choose the size of the mattress and the desired firmness, and the cost ranges anywhere from $400-$800 depending on the mattress size.
These low-cost mattresses are highly recommended by consumers and the doctors at Wilkins Spinal Care. Dr. Steinert currently owns two mattresses from mattress in a box and they are the best mattresses he has ever owned. Just like any mattress, over time, they breakdown and a new one needs to be purchased. Dr. Steinert’s mattress is about 4 years old, and it still feels brand new. Not everyone can say that about their mattress, especially expensive ones.
If you have any questions about this week’s content or want additional information on finding the right mattress, please call us at (724) 547-3377 and check out our website at www.drlarrywilkinsspinalcare.com for more content.
Yours In Health,
Larry E. Wilkins, DC
Brian M. Steinert, DC
