Those who say that “an orthopedic mattress is a hard mattress” and “it is good to sleep on a hard surface” is very mistaken. Here is how to choose the right mattress for you.
Let’s try to figure out what the orthopedic effect is, which determines the main effect of the mattress on your body.
Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that deals with problems and diseases of the joints and the spine. Of course, the mattress itself cannot cure back illnesses, but it can help with quality rest, relieve stress and fatigue, and unload the spine.
The spinal column should be in its natural position, and this is possible only if it does not experience any additional stress. To do this, the mattress must follow all the contours and shapes of the body. Too hard a mattress will crush and bend the spine, and too soft will allow it to sag. The closer the spine is to the natural S-shaped position, the higher the orthopedic effect.
Let’s consider how this problem is solved technically. In humans, different parts of the body have different weights. For example, the shoulder girdle is lighter than the lumbar region. Therefore, in order for the mattress to repeat the shape of the body, it is necessary to evenly distribute the load along its entire length.
Review of the Nolah mattress zoned mattresses that keep your spine in a physiological position while you sleep.
In addition: zoning helps prevent another important problem – trauma to the shoulder and hip joints while sleeping on the side, which is especially important when sleeping on hard mattresses.
So how do you choose the right mattress?
To choose the right mattress is to test it in the showroom. At the same time, lie down for several minutes on different mattresses in the position in which you usually sleep. And on the mattress on which you have chosen – lie down for at least 10-15 minutes.
While you are lying on your side, pay attention to the position of the pelvis – if the pelvis sags and the thigh is equal to the level of the lower back, then the mattress is too soft for you, if the thigh, on the contrary, protrudes too much upward and a “window” has formed between the mattress and the lower back then the mattress is too hard.
Lying on your back, pay attention to the lower back – if you can easily stick your hand between the lower back and the mattress, then such a mattress is too hard and does not provide sufficient support for the lower back. If you feel like your pelvis has “sunk” into the mattress, and your legs are above the level of the pelvis, then the mattress is too soft.
Keep in mind that most of the models in several hardnesses, so by testing each mattress with a full set of hardnesses, you can find the perfect one for you.
If your usual position is sleeping on your stomach, then keep in mind that you cannot sleep on a soft mattress in this position. Also mattresses with memory foam covering will not suit you.
Also keep in mind that when choosing the firmness of the mattress, you must adhere to the following rule – the older the person, the softer the mattress should be. And for people with peripheral circulation disorders or joint diseases, the most anatomical mattresses with memory foam are recommended.
How will you feel on the perfect mattress?
Lying on a perfect mattress, you will not be able to tell whether it is soft or hard, you will feel firmness and support in the lumbar region, and at the same time you will not feel firm in the shoulder and hip area. In the supine position, the S-shaped curves of the spine will remain, and the surface of the body will be almost completely horizontal. When you lie on your side, your spine will maintain an even horizontal position. Your shoulder will sink in the corresponding area of the mattress, so you will not be twisted by the “propeller”, and the notch in the waist area will be completely filled. When viewed from the side, the curve of your body will represent the natural correct line.
I bought a new mattress and my back started to hurt!
If you used to sleep on low-quality surfaces for a long time (old sofas, armored beds and folding beds, sagging mattresses, very hard or very soft surfaces, etc.), then your spine has adjusted to the peculiarities of sleep in a certain position. After your sleep has passed to a new qualitative stage on a new mattress, the spine begins to straighten in a dream, its ligaments and intervertebral muscles begin to stretch, so at first you may feel some pain in your back. Such unpleasant sensations can be observed for a couple of weeks or even a month, after which they disappear without a trace.
I have diseases of the spine or joints, what should I do?
In case you have problems with the spine or any diseases of the musculoskeletal system, we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor before choosing a mattress and choose a mattress based on his recommendations.