Orthopedic beds and mattresses

Air mattresses and beds

The three main categories of air mattress use are those used for camping, temporary home use and full time permanent use in a bedroom. If you are looking for temporary stow-away beds for guests, then cheap inflatable air beds are the answer. Air mattresses are great at a pinch, but provide minimal comfort and support and are not intended as a permanent sleep system. This type of bed has no orthopaedic qualities.

"Air mattress beds" however, not only give you the feeling of sleeping on air, but with the right materials and construction can be very comfortable and supportive and can be considered as permanent sleeping system solutions.

Read more about these inflatable bedding units below.

Air mattresses

An air mattress (often referred to as an airbeds) is an inflatable mattress that is typically made of plastic, textile-reinforced plastic, or rubber. The support is achieved by means of filling the mattress with compressed air. This may with done with an electric or manual pump.

Air mattresses are frequently nothing more than portable mattresses that you can inflate when required and then deflate for easy storage and transportation when not in use. They are ideal if you want something that will let you sleep comfortably, but that can be easily transported or stored away. Most air mattresses can be rolled up for storage.

Air mattresses are convenient to use in a number of situations, e.g. camping, emergency beds for unexpected visitors etc, and they can be a great addition to any household. They fill the gap when you need an extra bed for unexpected guests, or to use on hard ground while on a camping trip.

Air mattresses are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, all of which makes it easy to find one that meets your comfort and space expectations. Because air mattresses are becoming increasingly popular, many different companies are offering their version of the air mattress and prices are continually dropping.

Air mattress beds

Air mattresses are no longer viewed as being just for short term extra bedding requirements, or camping/pool use. In the hospital sector, air mattress beds are a commonly used medical instrument that prevents patients, who have to lie on beds for prolonged periods of time, from suffering from bedsores.

As with all beds, quality comes with a price, but the higher grade air beds offer options including additional padding and/or foam on the top layer. These beds are of high quality, have a sturdy construction and may offer soft railings around their edges.

Multiple-zone air mattresses are definitely in the premium category and allow separate inflation and pressure levels for the different sections of the mattress body. These air beds are popular as permanent bed alternatives and the more advanced versions can be viewed as having orthopaedic characteristics. Many people who buy these inflatable memory and foam covered beds state that they are more comfortable than their previous "coil sprung" bed.

Premium range air beds (those with orthopaedic benefits), have an inflatable mattress that allows the sleeper to adjust the firmness to their own needs. Each segment of the air mattress is independently inflatable, allowing a sleeper to adjust the level of support provided for their head, lumbar, and foot regions. This is done by altering the air pressure within each segment of the mattress unit.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that air mattresses are too soft for use with sleeping infants.