Are Memory Foam Mattresses Good for Your Back?

If you have problems with your back then you may find it difficult to get a good nights sleep. Memory foam mattresses are often talked about as a remedy for bad backs and some people say that they have made a real difference to them. However other people have not had such a good experience. If you are thinking about purchasing a memory foam mattress then you may find the information in this guide useful.

What Is Memory Foam?

Memory foam was developed by NASA during the 1960s for use in their airplanes. The foam is made from a material called viscoelastic which is soft to the touch and able to absorb a great deal of energy. When you sit or lie on memory foam it will be molded to your body as it responds to pressure and the heat from your body. Once the pressure is removed then the foam will return to its original shape.

The material became very useful to NASA because as well as protecting against impact it was also very comfortable. As well as being used in seating it was also used inside helmets and shoes to provide cushioning. It also began to be used by the medical profession as a material used to make prosthetics. It can also be used to prevent pressure ulcers in disabled patients who are bed bound or confined to a wheelchair.

Today it is commonly used to produce mattresses, mattress toppers and pillows. The amount of memory foam that is used to make these products can vary in terms of depth and density.

What Are The Benefits Of Memory Foam Mattresses?

The use of memory foam to produce mattresses is still fairly new and there have been no conclusive studies about whether it can improve sleep for those who suffer with their back. Sleep studies are expensive to run and if a company who produce memory foam mattresses were to commission a study then there is a good chance that any results would be perceived as being biased.

Another problem with sleep studies that test a particular sleeping surface is that the results can be very subjective. The volunteer would be monitored and things such as their heart rate would be used to determine whether they really did get a good nights sleep. However, these results may not match with the actual experience that the volunteer had.

However, per getbestmattress.com,despite there being a lack of scientific evidence that memory foam can help improve sleep, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence from people that feel it has really made a difference to them. The theory behind how memory foam works also suggests that it can be very useful in eliminating back pain. When you lie on a memory foam mattress, your body weight is distributed evenly across the mattress. This means that pressure on your back and other joints is alleviated which can help to relieve the pain. When your back has supported throughout the night you may also find that when you wake up the next day the pain is eased throughout the day.

Memory foam molds to your body shape and therefore you are less likely to move around during the night. Too much tossing and turning during the night can aggravate back pain and by reducing the amount of movement you are preventing a potential cause of back pain. If you usually move around a lot during the night, then using a memory foam mattress may also mean that your partner gets a better nights sleep.

Memory foam provides support to all areas of your body. It also helps to keep the spine in proper alignment and this can be very useful at both alleviating pain and preventing it occurring in the first place. Back pain can also be caused by other areas of your body becoming out of alignment. Stress on your hips and shoulders, in particular, can lead to problems with your back but when you use a memory foam mattress then these are also both kept in alignment.

Are There Any Disadvantages?

There are some disadvantages to using memory foam which explains why some people do not find them as comfortable as others. The structure of the memory foam makes it difficult for body heat to be dispersed. That’s why some mattress manufactures like Ghostbed and Purple produced hybrid mattress. This means that it could be uncomfortable during very warm nights, although using thinner blankets could help with this issue. This issue is also less noticeable when you are using a memory foam topper which is something that you may want to consider.

You may find that there is a slight chemical smell to a memory foam mattress when it is first purchased. Most people will hardly notice this smell but other people find it quite unpleasant. Letting the mattress stand for 24 hours before it is placed on the bed is recommended as this will help the smell to disperse before you are ready to sleep on it.

Should I Purchase A Memory Foam Mattress?

If you are considering purchasing a memory foam mattress, then it may be a good idea to visit a store that sells beds and mattresses even if you are planning to buy online. These stores will usually allow you to lie down on the mattresses so you can get a sense of how they feel for you. It would not be the same experience as having a full nights sleep but it should give you an idea of whether memory foam is right for you. You may find that a mattress topper brings you the benefits that you need without having to buy the full memory foam mattress.

As with most aspects of sleeping, memory foam can be a very personal preference. However, there are many people that swear by it because of how the quality of their sleep has improved since they have been using it. There certainly seem to be more advantages than disadvantages and if you have been living with back pain for a while then this may be just the change that you need.