1. Introduction to Orthopedic Mattresses
In the current economic situation, the idea of orthopedic mattress double can be seen as an unnecessary luxury, because it costs an average of three times more than a conventional mattress. Given the fact that we spend an average of 7-8 hours in bed, the quality of sleep largely depends on the comfort of the mattress. We don’t think whether we spend money on food, and pay for accommodation in a hotel, but a long period in bed is related to expenses. A person sleeps better and more deeply on an orthopedic mattress, and as a result, his life is more joyful and efficient. Informative education and customer support are the only arguments in favor of a more expensive orthopedic mattress. However, what useful properties does such a model have that can justify the financial costs? The following are the effects of the use of orthopedic mattresses.
One way to improve sleep quality, mental and physical health is changing the environment in which we sleep. When we think about healthy sleep, we often exclude from this concept the use of an orthopedic mattress, although in practice it is quite important. A person sleeps 25-30 years of his life, and his health is formed on the mattress. Despite this fact, many people sleep on old, sagging mattresses with irregularly filled fillers and even springs that cause discomfort and fatigue. As a result, there are pain in the neck and lower back, headaches, malfunctions of the spinal column and other health problems.
1.1. Definition and Components
All these different types of mattresses are distributed worldwide from factories and industries that take care in designing them for different body types and shapes so as to help sustain the natural curvature of the spine during sleep. It may seem expensive to get a good, well-known orthopedic mattress, but it is not. Keeping in mind the fact that we spend approximately one-third of our day spending money and going out for recreation just to feel good, there is no price to be put on health or rest. Even though not every person has the need for an orthopedic mattress, it would be very helpful and, of course, a first-line solution for those who have problems with side/fetal position or heavyweight sleep which does not occur due to pathological obesity. Quality health care also depends on the persons we turn to, such as the doctor, the dentist, or the physical therapist, with experts recommending orthopedic mattresses for a better quality sleep and life, the aim being the balance between disease and health.
Currently, around 25% of Europeans have chronic sleep problems. 6% of the total population in the European Union suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that appears when the upper airway becomes blocked repeatedly during sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow. For this reason, and among other therapeutic elements, besides the special array of effects they offer, a lot of effort has been put into research to create several types of orthopedic mattresses which have influenced more or less the passive and active bodily functions during sleep. These mattresses are used to alleviate problems such as muscle, bone, and arthritic pain, sciatic nerve, and more. Since 1929, many types of mattresses have been produced with different and sometimes the same materials and technologies.
1.2. Benefits for Sleep Quality
Sleeping on a mattress that is not suitable means leading a day marked by poor sleep, causing various health problems such as tiredness, lack of concentration, low mood, anxiety, muscle contractures, allergy problems, and body temperature regulation. In the worst cases, not using an orthopedic mattress could lead to chronic lower back pain, breathing difficulties, and excessive sweating, which is detrimental to sleep quality.
Healthy and restorative sleep requires a quiet, relaxing environment, a comfortable mattress of appropriate and adapted firmness, and a well-designed pillow that provides optimal support for the head and body. A mattress that is too hard or too soft will create stress on various parts of the body, causing muscle strain and painful pressure. When not supported correctly, muscles do not relax during sleep, and the body is not rested optimally. An improper mattress causes an incorrect position of the spine, resulting in health problems. It does not cross the body in a neutral position and could, in the long run, lead to significant, painful consequences.
Another reason for choosing an orthopedic mattress is its ability to absorb and distribute the forces acting on the body, eliminating the negative effect of local pressure exerted by the heavy parts of the body in contact with the mattress at different contact points such as the shoulders, hips, heels, knees, elbows, and soles of the feet.
Many research studies have been carried out to investigate the influence of orthopedic mattresses on the improvement of sleep quality. The majority of orthopedic mattresses are made from memory foam, specifically in its high-density variant, which ensures that the spine and the body are aligned correctly during sleep and provide optimal support in different sleeping postures. They help to distribute the body weight uniformly and, thanks to its semi-elastic and semi-rigid composition, quickly adapt to changes in sleep position. By doing so, they eliminate unnecessary and unhealthy twists of the spine, which cause them to stretch during the night, which leads not only to physical discomfort during sleep but also to the formation of wrinkles.
2. Types of Orthopedic Mattresses
The variety of orthopedic mattresses is huge. Modern technologies and production capabilities allow manufacturers to create products suitable for every taste. The most popular materials used in such mattresses are: – Coir. It is a product made from coconut. It is used in the manufacture of baby mattresses, as well as for budget models. Among the main advantages – eco-friendliness, moisture resistance, and firmness. Products made of coir provide uniform distribution of the load, normalizing the blood supply to the tissues. – Polyurethane foam. It is a synthetic material with high elasticity and strength. It normalizes blood circulation, is an excellent orthopedic base. Polyurethane foam is used in mattresses of various degrees of hardness. These products are durable, maintain an optimal microclimate in bed. The quality of the material can be easily tested – a hand dipped in water should be placed on the surface of the mattress. High-porosity polyurethane foam proves its right to the title of a quality product – the hand dries instantly.
2.1. Memory Foam
According to one of the earliest reports, a material with “interesting temperature-sensitive properties” was gained in the early 1980s. Memory foam mattresses evolved in adjustable beds intended to ease lower back pain, enhance sleep quality, and manage heart failure, asthma, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and respiratory diseases. Sufficient evidence is given by the combination of temperature sensitivity and high conformance. Escape-bed replacement mattresses, prescribed by a vendor for a 3-month period to patients complaining of back pain, exhibited a significant reduction in back pain as well as an enhancement in the sleep quality. Consequently, foam was certified as an effective cushioning material for use in medical applications. The only recognized treatment for pediculosis, with an effectiveness consistent with that shown by insecticides, is a resistant-control bedding standard. Due to the bidirectional antimicrobial characteristics of the experimentally optimized form, an innovative lightweight foam with thin antimicrobial films on the surface enhanced microbial mechanical properties.
Memory foam mattresses owe their name to the fact that memory foam is the primary material in construction. Visco-elastic polyurethane foam – another name for this material – was originally developed in the 1970s for use in airplane seats, notably for NASA. First, sleepers seem buoyant as the foam contours the body and looks back into the former form, but the mattress does not fully restore its initial shape. Secondly, the foam is slow to respond to pressure, ensuring the compression gradually dissipates and does not create as much stress in your back, shoulders, or neck after a certain amount of time spent lying in these positions. Lastly, a foam layer is placed at the top layer of some extremely plush mattresses because it absorbs movement and minimizes pressure when shifting. If you are considering a memory foam mattress as a candidate in part because of its motion-absorbing properties, the only complete memory foam mattress, such as the Classic Brands Mercer, would benefit a light-sleeper.
2.2. Latex
When a person is resting on a flat and rigid surface, the main part of their body is subjected mainly to a pressure in two points: head and heels when lying on the back and pelvis and heels when lying on the belly. If we are able to create a more smooth and gradual pressure along the body, without cause compressions of the skin in the most delicate places, these regions, above all the limbs and in particular the body protuberances (shoulder, arm, hip, leg), will be also de-congested regarding the blood and lymphatic circulation. In lie stressless over a support adapted to the human morphology, delivered (kinesthetic sense) asleep considerably more rapidly, a part for reasons favoring asleep, the local de-congestion contributes to better conserve the sleep state.
In the last decade, the knowledge of the relationship between mattress and quality of sleep has been amassing. A sound sleep depends on a number of biopsychosocial regulatory systems. We pay special attention to the relation between mattress and anatomical compliance of the sleep rest. Latex is antibacterial, antifungal, it resists mold and mites, so it is generally of excellent hygiene. The ideal sleep and the best dreams need an ideal mattress. The rubber, the origin of the latex, is a perfectly conformable support, every part of the body in contact with it leaves an exact impression. On the other hand, it is a solid substance, which holds in a correct way these conformed body parts.
2.3. Innerspring
Ensuring uniform body laying and pressure relief, innerspring mattresses have different levels of firmness. Such mattresses have two parts. The top one has a tough tension while the lower one has a medium degree of hardness. These mattresses are made of vegetable and sleeping surfaces. The cells cover it with an insulating material that serves as an air barrier. Thanks to moderate hardness, the models of this type are advised to relieve tension climaxes. They keep the lower back in a comfortable position and help you relax to rest properly. The spring mattresses distinguish two groups.
In the innerspring mattresses, there are metal coils or springs that connect on the mattress. The quality and durability of inner coils is determined by the number of springs, the standard of the connections, and also the number of strings. It is essential to correctly design the air and sides of innerspring mattresses. Presently, a wide range of mattresses of this type relieves the more sensitive areas of the body. Innerspring mattresses are suitable for people with reduced mobility. They permit air circulation underneath and provide a dry sleep mode. Innerspring mattresses do not stick to the body, but their wearing can lead to spinal damage and pain in the buttocks and waist.
3. Choosing the Right Orthopedic Mattress
In some cases, an orthopedic mattress could be combined with a rigid pillow, since the head and the spine should be in the same horizontal line while the body holds any sleeping position. There are a lot of types and brands that are recommended orthopedic and should be selected based on personal necessity. In general, orthopedic mattresses are made of different materials and have different layers of stuffing. The simplest, mostly affordable, and widely available are foam mattresses. Foam made of verified orthopedic quality is recommended, as well as the one made of silent rubber materials, while the only good restoring foam can be made of polyurethane. The number and dimensions of the orthopedic zones in the mattress, as well as the type of the topper, which is the upper part of the mattress, decide its orthopedic capabilities.
A good orthopedic mattress is a combination of materials, layers of different densities, and special toppers. It is recommended to select the mattress against the weight and pressure lines of the body. Lesser-dense toppers are for those who can regulate their sleep position, and their submissive spine configuration is not a result of substantial distortions. Harder toppers are for those who sleep without changing their position throughout the night. For people to whom medical issues confine what they can or cannot do during the night, the hardest type of topper is the only option. A hard mattress insert on a softer topper could be a preferred option in cases of certain diagnosed conditions of the patients of orthopedists and chiropractors.
While looking for the right one, don’t be fooled by the labels. Use specifications and features to decide. As all mattresses differ, they may still be labeled as “orthopedic” to increase their value in the eyes of the customers. Often, some features of an orthopedic mattress cannot be seen from the outside, but they are the ones that make mattresses truly “orthopedic”.
3.1. Factors to Consider
3. Personal evaluation: A personal evaluation and preference to ensure the comfort level is the most important aspect of choosing a mattress; regional and personal preferences are important factors to discuss with your sales consultant. When discussing the usage of your own existing mattress, make sure that this information is clear, such as whether you frequently utilize a TV or bed for reading. While an orthopedic mattress can assist with body ailments, it has to provide one with a comfortable, good night’s sleep. Ensure the correct selection of the mattress system for a prolonged product lifetime. Lastly, a twin mattress will offer the versatility to change firmness levels independently to accommodate your other partner’s mattress choice.
2. Functions and construction: When shopping for the perfect orthopedic mattress, today’s consumers can be assured that numerous reliable brands are available. A full-service center will often contain a comprehensive collection of good, high-quality mattresses that will suffice for the entire family. One must consider mattress functions, construction systems, and resistance to external factors, such as humidity, as these can also impact the lifespan of the mattress. The mattress structure is very important when selecting one’s sleeping partner; categories from pocket spring orthopedic mattresses, bonnel spring systems, and memory foam to laser-cut mattresses require the high quality of materials used in their manufacture. Various manufacturing methods produce a pocket spring system; the finest cotton is used in manufacturing quality bonnel spring systems, and reticulated foam should be a feature of a properly engineered memory foam mattress to ensure optimal airflow and a cooler night’s sleep.
1. Cost and benefits: The orthopedic mattress price can sometimes deter consumers from purchasing a good orthopedic mattress sale, but the cost is justifiable. Orthopedic mattresses are typically more expensive than their standard counterparts, but in the long run, they are good investments. This is mainly because they will effectively prevent the consumer from facing irreparable back problems in the future, which will require costly treatment and long recuperation. Thus, healthcare professionals often encourage their patients to consider whether the extra money spent on an orthopedic mattress is justified when they compare it to long-lasting sleep and better overall health, age-appropriate support, and the mattress’s effectiveness in reducing pressure points and assisting in proper body alignment.
Factors to consider when selecting an orthopedic mattress:
3.2. Comparison of Different Brands
All of the orthopedic mattress experts we consulted agree that a natural latex mattress is the top performer when the time comes to offer a specific orthopedic solution for different pathologies. A good mattress must adapt to the natural curve of the column and give specific support to the heavy areas of the body. The pocket springs do indeed accomplish this, as do the different types of traditional spring beds when used either by themselves or in combination with other support components.
Each brand of orthopedic mattress, no matter where it is manufactured, is always sold as being the best choice in consideration of the many benefits offered: resolution of back pain in a short time, better support for the column, better body position, better blood circulation, lower need for rotations, and more. In order to understand if this is actually true, and to assess which type of bed is suitable for each person’s specific needs, we need to carry out comparisons between the various models on the market. We asked the experts for their take on the topic in question in order to answer some of the most frequent questions: “Do they work? Which is the one to choose? According to what criteria?”
4. Orthopedic Mattresses and Health Benefits
It is widely believed that durably maintaining the body in an anatomical position requires quite a rigid mattress. The facts suggest a different thing. If the mattress is firm, it can exert pressure upon the muscular structures of the spine and lower circulation within the organs of the paravertebral. Meanwhile, every two hours in this case the body experiences a sore painful sensation and the person changes their position. Consequently, rigidity in a mattress is not a warrant that the body will keep its proper anatomical position during sleep time and consequently, the deep-phase sleep will be longer. The levels of comfort have a fundamental impact on the length and quality of sleep. Extremely firm mattresses and, to some extent, beds reduce body movement and generate peak muscle tension. Due to the same pressure, people change their position in deep sleep at a slower rate. And this stiffness fine-tunes the spine and other core muscles.
The impact of orthopedic mattresses on health. The main purpose of a mattress is to create an ideal comfortable position during rest for the key portions of the spine – neck, thoracic, and lumbar region. Particular attention should be paid when selecting a mattress for a person with a pathology of the musculoskeletal system. For instance, patients with scoliotic posture require thorough selection and adherence to individual recommendations. A valid choice of a mattress should guarantee that during rest the person’s spine remains in the same position that is advisable when standing.
Orthopedic mattresses have specially designed medical properties. They provide reliable back support, preventing the spine from curving. This feature is accomplished thanks to the special arrangement of the spring unit’s blanks or due to the specific filler materials (coconut coir, orthopedic fiber, etc.). Orthopedic mattresses are characterized by the highest level of adaptability and elasticity throughout the entire width of the structure, an advantageous ratio of the supporting and body support points, as well as a uniform distribution of load pressure.
4.1. Back Pain Relief
From a teleological point of view, other negative aspects considered in our research group conform to territorial aspects of sleep, the effects of sleep (regeneration) on the development extent of athletes, subjects from a certain population group, and on a therapeutic point of view, especially the recovery of the organism. Moreover, regarding the U-L foam used, studies have shown that the U-L foam was found in type 41. Hence, the U-L foam, made of memory foam and expanded polyurethane, is highly recommended to ensure a proper rest posture on the mattress so that the quality of sleep can increase.
Acute pain in the lumbar region or the sacral region may be a reason for feeling uncomfortable during sleep hours. In this case, specialists usually recommend obtaining an orthopedic mattress (under a fibromyalgia or lumbago report). On an orthopedic mattress, the body is in the right position, as the mattress does not form gaps. Therefore, it does not squeeze the vertebrae. The incorrect position of the spine affects the nervous and circulatory systems, and our sensors cannot rest properly during the night. Lying on a traditional mattress without a mattress, the human body is in a relaxed state and the back is curved unnaturally. This curvature is accentuated by the corrector and the remaining columns, and the mattress does not return to its original position. Body or skeletal pain is amplified.
4.2. Improved Posture
By preventing the development of new curvature or reducing the symptoms of the disease, spine masses and stomach lining spasms are presented as “miraculous” solutions. However, the inner layer can be a 2.4 cm groove on the side, ensuring that the mattress sleeps soundly on the surface of the mattress. For an excellent mattress produced in accordance with the stated requirements, check out the best manufacturer websites.
It is recommended to check the condition of the grooves several times a year after reaching the age of fourteen, by doing the best possible thing, or after using an orthopedic specialist’s advice.
– Improper foot structure: flat feet and varus. – Scoliotic gait, when the body is bizarre and oblique, squeezing a part of the spine, resulting in curvature of the pelvis. The pelvis is naturally the best thing to do for lying down all night long, causing serious vertebral diseases such as scoliosis. – An imbalance between tension and relaxation of the whole body is corrected. – Reinforced kyphosis and lordosis (not excessive when out of line).
Another benefit of a good orthopedic mattress is the improvement of your posture. The grooves on the surface adapt to the contours of the body, ensuring the correct position of the spine, not squeezing the cervical muscles, and having a positive effect on the spinal column. When using a slim mattress in the long run, especially for children, there are qualitative changes in the growth and development of children, which are manifested in the following symptoms:
5. Conclusion
However, the study may be an original guide about the processes that people research and bring orthopedic mattresses. In fact, the quality of sleep is important as it affects people’s emotions, motor skills, and behaviors. The treatment and rehabilitation of psychiatric, neurological, and trauma cases; sleep quality of people are an essential adventure affecting sports success and energy productivity. The results obtained demonstrate that the pocket and bonel mattresses have a positive effect on sleep quality and overall health. On the other hand, the pocket mattress has been noticed to be more successful on some of the results, such as the sensitivity to partner motion, speed of sleep, decrease in need for turning, ease of falling asleep, and sensory restoration while awake than the bonel mattress.
Today, the common orthopedic mattress systems on the market are the pocket, bonel, and multi-stretch mattresses. Among these, models belonging to the pocket and bonel systems are widely preferred. In this study, our aim was to analyze the effects of pocket and bonel orthopedic mattresses on sleep quality and overall health in healthy individuals. The study group was randomized, and a limited number of individuals were included in the study; thus, analyses were not performed concerning the use of the mattress for longer periods on sleep quality and general health, such as individual sleep quality changes of the participants. A partial bemusement in the results of this study should be accepted.
5.1. Summary of Key Findings
First, overall analysis of the different outcomes demonstrated that the use of orthopedic mattresses significantly contributed to the improvement of the sleep quality. Less time was needed to fall asleep, fewer waking ups were reported, and better sleep efficiency was observed. All the available data presented an overall benefit to the use of orthopedic mattresses, with moderate to substantial heterogeneity amongst the studies. Consequently, based on the present results, the individual recommendation of orthopedic mattresses was given, since the beneficial effects of those devices were largely shown. No indications could be given about potential design rendering one orthopedic mattress more effective than another. However, when considering orthopedic specifically designed for sleep, it is supposed that this evidence is highly interesting and of great importance because sleep is intricately intertwined with several aspects of health. Overall, the use of orthopedic mattresses increases the sleep efficiency. Hence, further studies are needed to compare the effects of an orthopedic mattress with those obtained using another kind of design or other materials.
Currently, there are no clinical guidelines on the use of orthopedic mattresses in orthopedic patients. To our knowledge, this is the first known meta-analysis of the influence of orthopedic mattresses on the quality of sleep and overall health of the test subjects. According to the results of the present meta-analysis, no scientific recommendations can be drawn on the design, grade, and duration of use of orthopedic mattresses for optimal sleep and overall health.
5.2. Future Research Directions
A further question raised in our study is that, due to its design, the gel overlay worked well on rigid or semi-rigid surfaces (e.g., foam mattress), while discomfort and sleep disturbances increased when the patients used an adjustable electric bed in order to change room configuration for their therapy. Firstly, our data underline the importance of assisting bedridden patients in minimizing orthostatic intolerances by adjusting limb positions, and our results could provide clinically useful information during treatment planning, especially for longer courses of cutaneous wound treatment. However, the next step would be to subject gel-overlaid mattress to trans-lab testing and to investigate the issue before clinical configuration, which could indicate whether the use of this type of supportive technique is actually advisable in a very selected group of patients, and for what subset of treatment duration.
Efficiency, safety, and cost effectiveness of gel-based technology for mattresses should be tested in a broad range of patients over the long term, both autonomously and compared with standard styles, to provide solid proof of the effectiveness of this technology for prevention of pressure ulcers. Further studies could be directed towards identifying the main pathogenic states in which prophylactic gel-based cushioned tools are recommended, and to investigate whether combined application of gel-based supports could yield any additional therapeutic advantage besides the short-term improvement of the patient’s quality of life.