Orthopedic beds and mattresses

Pocket sprung and innerspring mattresses

Not too many years ago mattresses were limited to springs or basic foams and the continuous coil (inner spring) or open coil mattress was the most popular option. These spring based mattresses had a comparatively small number of springs and the springs were often heavy in gauge (thickness) to make them firm or even hard when an orthopedic bed was required.

Today these inner spring beds are still popular as cheaper budget beds, however when it comes to quality and support they have been superseded by the more modern and technically advanced pocket spring bed and mattress.

The pocket spring bed has a large number of springs and, unlike the continuous coil types mattresses, the springs are independent of one another. This makes the mattress more able to adapt its flexing and support to the shape and weight of the person resting upon it. The result is that it makes an ideal orthopedic bed.

With the inner spring continuous coil and open coil mattresses the springs are interconnected to each other and this prevents them from working independently. The result is that the bed as a whole deflects, rather than only the area where the person resting on it is lying. You can find out more about these open coil type beds at this inner spring bed page. Very few beds of this construction have what is now considered to be an orthopedic quality of support.

Over the years "mattress technology" and a clearer understanding of skeletal body support mechanisms have resulted in more advanced orthopaedic beds and mattresses. The result is that the once simple spring based mattress now comes with a massive variation in spring count, spring gauge, springs twist and spring strength (ability to flex), and this means that choosing a mattress can be a challenging process. So, to help you make your choice, read the information below and also go to the pages about open coil and pocket springs that are underline above.

Mattress construction and spring count

Pocket spring mattresses are made with individual spring units rather than the cheaper interconnected ones. Each spring is contained in a fabric pocket and this makes them responsive and comfortable. With the old fashioned orthopedic inner spring mattresses, the tops of the coils were woven together like a mesh by using wire. This ensured additional firmness and it made the coils function as a single "web" like unit. This is why old style orthopedic beds were always very firm or even hard.

The more springs there are in a mattress, the more it is able to support the whole of the body – in theory at least. Good coils or springs provide firmness, but also yielding and compression where needed. This flexibility allows the mattress to respond to the precise shape, weight, size and sleeping patterns of anyone resting upon it.

Orthopaedic Spring mattresses offer a strong support to the back and are often supplemented with various layers of foams to offer softness and greater levels of comfort. The more you pay, the more opulent will be the quilting and finishing touches to your mattress. Modern foams like visco elastic memory foam and latex foam are frequently used to top the better quality pocket spring mattresses.

A simple sprung mattress will consist of spring coils, layers of upholstery fillings and a cover (the fabric of which is called ticking). A higher coil count means that there will be more springs and that the springs will have a smaller diameter and probably will not feel quite so hard. The gauge or thickness of the coils also affects the firmness of the mattress. The heavier the gauge - the stiffer the mattress, and the lighter the gauge - the springier and more flexible the mattress. The choice is down to personal preference and possibly medical advice.

A standard double spring open coil mattress typically comprises of about 312 coils of 13 gauge-2. With a natural spring, this kind of mattress combines high compression resilience with good moisture absorption properties and acts as a natural insulator by maintaining a constant temperature. A pocket spring mattress will rarely have less than 800 springs and frequently the figure will be between 1400 and 2400. This is an indication of the differences in quality between the two mattress constructions.

Consider the coils in your spring mattress

Modern spring mattress cores, often called "innersprings," are made up of steel coil springs, known as "coils". The most commonly discussed feature of an innerspring mattress is the number of coils in the mattress. Most conventional mattresses, particularly those made with innersprings or coils, can produce painful pressure points that may cause you to toss and turn. If you decide to purchase a spring mattress, it is important to consider the number and type of coils. Pocket spring beds give you more springs, independently acting springs and a better night’s sleep.

In most (but not all) mattresses, a higher numbers of coils or springs means a firmer mattress. This higher coil count results in more coils that are closer together, thereby providing additional support for the mattress to prevent failing areas, soft spots or lumps from developing. The distribution of coils is also important. In the case of an open coil bed, steel wire is woven throughout the tops of the coils to secure each individual coil in place and eliminate the possibility of any lateral coil movement. The downside to this is that every coil reacts to the movements of every other coil.

As previously mentioned, both visco elastic memory foam and Latex foam can be found in the surface padding of many of the better quality pocket sprung mattresses. These expensive materials are less frequently found in inner spring beds.

A final thought

If you buy any kind of innerspring mattress (i.e. continuous or open coil) you will be in good company as they remain the best sellers, but this is almost certainly down to price. Even so, you may not be getting the best mattress for your body or your spine. By modern standards cheap coil mattresses are not able to conform properly to the unique curves of the body and they may not stay firm and supportive for as many years as the more advanced pocket spring, memory foam, or Latex foam beds.

Coil based mattresses generally wear out due to sagging springs, flattened filling and most of all, use over time. They generally need replacing every 7 to 10 years. By comparison a pocket spring bed can last for 20 years. If you want to know more about bed springs and coils then take a look here Different types of bed spring and coil.