Orthopedic beds and mattresses

Types of orthopedic beds and mattresses

There are two basic types of othopedic bed, a divan bed and a bed constructed with a frame. Both can be manufactured with orthopaedic use as a primary objective. The mattress that sit upon the bed can also be manufactured in a number of ways and utilise an ever increasing number of materials.

A divan bed typically has under bed storage with draws or compartments and the mattress is supported on a sprung or platform top base. These beds can therefore be considered as multi-purpose.

Orthopedic beds, comprising a frame, can be constructed from any number of materials including timber and steel. They have no separate storage and can either have a void beneath them, or sit closer to the floor than a divan. These beds can also be made in such a way as to be adjustable through the addition of electric motors and a remote control unit.

There is sometimes an additional classification, simply describes as "children's beds" which may have further requirements or restrictions placed upon it (depending on the country in which they are sold).

Orthopedic support and springing systems

The support and cushioning of an orthopaedic bed and mattress is achieved through one, or a combination of, different systems. The primary spring and support methods used today are "spring systems", memory foam, Latex foam and air cushioning.

Spring systems

Within the category of "spring (or sprung) systems" there are three slightly different construction approaches and each has been invented, or promoted, by one or more of the bed industry's leading manufacturers.

These spring systems are known as "posture spring" (with variations produced by Slumberland, Silentnight and Sealy), "open coil" (with variations produced by Airsprung, Silentnight and Sealy) and "pocket sprung".

Posture spring beds are made from a continuous single wire which enables all of the springs (or coils) to be interlinked. This creates a support system that allows every spring to act in unison with every other spring.

Open coil beds have a frame of springs that are linked together by further horizontal or vertical coils to create a tight and interconnected mesh of springs. These beds are very firm and have been long regarded for their orthopaedic qualities.

Pocket sprung orthopedic beds have individual springs that are placed in separate pockets which then run in rows along and across the mattress.

Memory foam orthopedic beds

Memory foam beds use a unique material that was invented by NASA in the 1970's as a part of their space program. These beds have the ability to contour themselves to the unique shape of anyone who sleeps on them and they offer superior support by balancing out weight distribution across the body. This ability gives these beds and mattresses orthopedic characteristics previously unavailable in bedding and has made them highly popular. The first large scale producer of these memory foam beds was a company called Tempur-Pedic.

Latex foam orthopedic beds

The use of Latex in the bedding industry is still fairly new, but this material offers many of the advantages of memory foam and the "natural" rather than synthetic latexes have the additional advantages of "sleeping cool", being hypoallergenic and having no noticeable odour.

Waterbed

There are many people, both bed salesmen and those in the medical profession, who will argue the case for the waterbed being the best bed available. There is no doubt that it is the only bed that can perfectly shape and contour its surface to the exact profile of the person sleeping on it, and any movements are compensated for immediately.

Waterbeds have come a long way from their slightly seedy image of the 1970’s and now soft sided (or edged) waterbeds are indistinguishable from standard beds. They can also be surprisingly good value with prices similar to the top of the range memory foam range. To find out more take a look at these pages.
Waterbeds
Waterbed - common questions
Waterbed - how do they work

Gel beds

Gel beds are a new innovation in the mattress industry. To find out more about them, follow this gel bed link.

Therapeutic bed

The therapeutic bed can include beds for specific needs like lack of mobility or obesity and includes the bariatric bed for people of a very large size and weight, and the adjustable bed where features like mattress height and inclination can be altered manually or by remote control

To find out about therapeutic beds generally you can go to this therapeutic bed page. Beds of this type are often required if a carer needs to look after and monitor a bed bound person on a regualar or continual basis. The facilities available on these beds can vary significantly and they can be expensive.

Therapy beds

Another category of bed that is becoming increasingly popular is that which is either impregnated with an aroma, see Aromatherapy Beds, or one that uses some other therapy such as "magnetic" therapy to aid sleep, e.g. a magnetic mattress or topper.

One way of being able to independently select the most suitable mattress for your body and sleeping positions is to buy a bed frame and then buy the mattress separately. Most bed frames are either of a simple design (disguised by their bedding style) or either a French or Sleigh bed.

The best type of orthopaedic bed

There is no recognised answer to the question, "which is the best type or style of orthopaedic bed?" Indeed a number of manufactures now use a "composite construction that utilizes different layers of the materials and construction approaches summarised above.

These composite beds seek to take the best properties of each material, or constructional methodology, and merge them together to create the ultimate sleeping surface. This approach sees traditional design practices, modern materials and orthopaedic knowledge combine with the aim of producing the best possible orthopaedic sleeping solution.

If your decision to select an orthopaedic bed is based primarily on a medical condition, or a desire to increase the ease with which you can sleep, you should –

• Consult you doctor for his opinion and orthopaedic beds
• Research (or seek advice) on a number of orthopaedic bed options before making a purchase.
• Try to find a store or online retailer who will allow you to "trail" a bed before you complete your purchase.

Daybeds for living areas

For something completely different you can consider having a daybed. A daybed is a bed that is used instead of (or as well as a sofa) in the living room and they have increased in popularity over the last five years. The other significant thing about daybeds is that they make the presence of a bed in a normal living room acceptable. This can be a relief to those who need to have their bed in their living room for health or space restrictive reasons.

How much should you pay for a bed?

There is no precise answer to this question, but you can get a clearer picture and some guidance by visiting this page - How much to pay for a bed.