Orthopedic beds and mattresses
The purchase of an orthopedic bed is one of the most important measures that you can take if you wish to avoid back pain, muscular discomfort and benefit from a good night's sleep. Millions of people suffer from back problems,
but in many cases the solution to this discomfort can be the replacement of an existing bed with an orthopedic one. Switching to an orthopedic mattress can have similar benefits.
The human spine takes the well documented form of a double “S” shape and back problems arise when adequate support is not provided to the spine during rest. Orthopedic beds and mattresses are designed with spine, skeletal and muscular support as their primary objectives and they allow the back to rest and recover from the activities of the day.
Amazingly, despite the fact that most beds and mattresses have a usable lifespan of less than 10 years, many people continue to use their bed for anything up to 20 years. By this time their bed will have failing springs, sagging foam and may have developed lumps and irregularities that have the potential to irritate and damage the back.
What an orthopedic bed and mattress do
The key to getting a good night's sleep and maintaining a healthy back is to ensure that the spine is held in the correct position. This is where the characteristic of an orthopedic bed come to the fore.
In Orthopedic terms your back needs to be supported in a position where the “S” shape of the spine is maintained. This requires a bed or mattress that can contour sufficiently to fill the gap under the lower back, but equally is firm enough to support the rest of the back and the body without excessive deflection or sagging. Orthopedic beds are designed specifically for this purpose. They provide comfort and support.
It should also be born in mind that poor beds that do not support the body properly can cause all kinds of temporary and permanent health difficulties. Many of these problems do not manifest themselves immediately and in some cases the discomfort or aching may not be noticeable initially. Even so, a quality orthopedic bed or mattress will benefit any sleeper of any age, level of fitness, or state of health. In this respect orthopedic bedding can be considered a preventative measure and one that may ensures against back and lumbar problems in the future.
Types of orthopedic beds and mattresses
With the innovations of memory foam, natural latex and the different configurations and characteristics of coil beds currently available, orthopedic beds are now offered in a vast array of forms.
By using the index to the left, you will be able to find out more about each specific “orthopedic bed” type's construction and the unique features that it offers. But there are also composite orthopaedic beds that combine the best orthopedic qualities of sprung, memory foam, latex and sometimes even air cushioning beds.
There are also orthopedic beds that offer remote motorized adjustment of the beds angle and level of tilt and, at the very top of the range, there are beds that provide heat and massaging features.
The cost of an orthopedic bed
Orthopedic beds are rarely cheap, but few people seriously consider the level of use and reliance that their body confers upon a bed in their daily life.
Based on the average human lifespan, most people spend approximately 24 years of their life in bed. This means that they spend considerably more time in their bed than they do in their car – a purchase that is regularly made and at great expense.
When you add to this the importance of a good night's sleep, the health benefits of supporting the spine during rest, and the refreshed feeling that a “proper” night's sleep provides, it becomes very obvious that few spend an amount of money on a bed that is proportional to its impact on their health. Furthermore, very few people buy an orthopaedic bed in the first half of their lifetime, the period during which their back's future health is often assured.
When viewed in this light, the cost of a quality orthopedic bed, which may last up to 25 years, is comparatively low. The technology that is invested in many of these modern orthopedic beds is also amazingly high and utilizes developments by organizations like the Space program's NASA. To find out more about orthopedic beds, mattresses and pillows, use the links in the main menu and within all pages. You will also see advertisements that will take you to the websites of bed suppliers and retailers which will provide up-to-date prices on orthopedic beds. (Both orthopedic and orthopaedic are correct spellings for this kind of bed.)