Orthopedic beds and mattresses

Foam mattresses

Foam mattresses and beds have been around for a long time, however modern foams like visco elastic memory foam and latex foam are comparatively new. The significant thing about these materials is that they offer a very different kind of support to the more conventional spring mattresses and they make excellent orthopedic beds. Many people now consider these modern foam mattresses to be as good as, if not superior to, the old style firm to hard orthopedic beds.

What memory foam mattresses do

Memory foam mattresses inherently seek to conform to the natural shape of the body in the way that they compress. Importantly, they are highly effective at applying pressure at the areas of least resistance like the lumbar region and spine and this is one of the reasons why their orthopedic properties are highly rated. A memory foam mattress that contours to the pressure points of the body whilst offering passive resistance to the less supported structures is able to provide a balanced support over the entire body.

An individual who is particularly sensitive to any type of pressure that might come from a coil spring may find the consistent support of a memory foam mattresses a comfortable and stress free alternative.

In addition to being very comfortable and supportive of aching muscles and joints, the memory foam mattress also has the added advantages of being hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, resistant to moisture build up, and mould and dust mite resistant.

Memory foam mattress technology

The Visco Elastic Memory Foam mattress has its origins in “NASA” space technology and it is a relatively new material in the bedding industry. It is a product that is being increasingly used in mattress and orthopaedic mattress construction, both as a stand alone product and as a top layers in spring based mattresses. Memory foam is given a grade called the “indentation load deflection” (ILD), which tells you how soft or hard the orthopaedic mattress will be.

Unlike traditionally made mattresses, memory foam mattresses are made from either a single block of material, or multiple layers of differing density foam. But that does not mean that you are simply getting a piece of foam. Usually, the memory foam mattress is composed of two parts, the memory foam layer and the core. The core is normally made of a special vibration reducing foam. In some of the more expensive orthopedic quality memory foam beds there can be as many as four or five different layers.

The orthopedic advantages of memory foam

A memory foam bed can eliminate some of the aches and pains that may be caused on the more sensitive body areas by regular coil spring mattresses. (This is very true of the cheaper inner coil mattresses.)

The sensation created when you sleep on a memory foam bed is one much like that of weightlessness. This is because of the balanced support that these mattress types provide across the body’s mass. They shape and adapt to every curve and contour of the human body.

Memory foam beds have been proven to help “bad backs” and their application in orthopedic bed use has modified the traditional idea that a firm orthopedic mattress is always the best solution for back and lumbar problems. There have been many tests and evaluations by health experts and doctors, many of whom now highly recommend memory foam mattress products for a range of health benefits and sleeping disorders.

The hypoallergenic qualities of Visco Elastic Memory foam make it perfect for people with allergies or asthma and it is recommended for anyone with the following complaints - backache, painful or aching joints, sciatica, body stress, insomnia, restless sleep, arthritis and even headaches.

Due to the structure of the Visco Elastic Memory Foam it becomes impossible for dust mites to penetrate the mattress.

Things to consider

Memory foam mattresses and memory foam mattress toppers are helping people of all ages, sizes and shapes sleep comfortably and without the build up of pressure points on areas like hips and shoulders.

When buying a memory foam bed or mattress (especially an orthopedic one), it is important to pay attention to the memory foam’s density. Density is a measure of the firmness and also the quality of the foam. If you like your bed a little softer, go with the lighter 3-pound memory foam. Overall, Visco-elastic memory foam mattresses are heavier than spring based ones, but they don’t collect as much dust.

Memory foam mattresses are available for all bed sizes. If you have a bed partner, a memory foam mattress is great because one person's movements do not affect the other person. This is not the case with some of the cheaper continuous coil mattress products.

If you tend to be a “hot sleeper”, then look for a memory foam mattress that has a ventilation system. Memory foams do sleep warm and the higher density memory foams can be warmer than the lower density ones. Alternatively, select a Latex foam bed, these Latex mattresses tend to sleep cooler.

The drawback to high quality memory foam mattresses can be their excessive price, but memory foam beds are now so popular that a number of companies manufacture affordable quality memory foam products. Probably the most well known manufacturer of the memory foam mattresses is Tempur or Tempur-Pedic, but there are many more with comparative products.

Be aware that some memory foam orthopaedic mattresses can come delivered vacuum packed. This tends to be the case with the cheaper lower density foams, however within a few hours of unpacking the mattress will fill out to its full and permanent size.

Because of show room and floor space restrictions, both Latex and memory foam mattresses are poorly represented in many bed outlets. For this reason the internet still represents the best and most extensive source of memory foam bed retailers.

Most memory foam mattresses are made up of different layers of varying density foam. When this is the case they are normally no turn mattresses (i.e. they cannot be flipped over). Some of the cheaper budget priced single block memory foam mattress beds are reversible mattresses and this means that they can be turned upside down (or flipped).

Foam mattresses are normally suited to all forms of bed construction from the divan to the four poster bed,the pine bed (frame) and the cast iron bed (frame).

The best alternative conventional spring based bed to memory foam is the pocket spring bed. These beds can have very high spring counts and offer good orthopedic body support. The other option is the composite material bed that combines springs and one or more foams.