These types of mattresses offer a variety of other benefits, as well. These top 5 will help you understand why added firmness is helpful.
Better Support for Your Neck and Back
Medical research has shown that over 80% of the population will suffer from lower back pain at some point in time. For those that have lumbar pain, a firmer mattress can provide relief.
Studies have shown that mattresses classified as medium to firm can improve sleep quality and reduce stress. These beds provide better support for your spine. As a result, you have fewer aches when you awake.
Maintaining your spine well-aligned during sleep can improve breathing. It also helps improve circulation, which can eliminate the problem of numbness and tingling upon waking.
Optimal Weight Distribution
Softer mattresses allow you to sink deep into them. This can make it difficult for some people to get out of bed. It can also make you feel too warm at night.
Sinking into the mattress means your spine is not held in alignment, and you can wake with aches and pains. The best mattress for you is one you can relax on without falling into it.
Firmer mattresses also allow you to sit or lie at their edges without the danger of falling off. Avoiding the risk of a fall can be a good reason to choose one like this.
Motion Isolation
If you share a bed with someone, you know that their movements affect you. If one person is a heavy sleeper and moves around a lot, it can keep the lighter slumberer awake.
Physics teaches us that shock waves from our movements travel through different substances in varying ways. Thus, the type of mattress you have will make a difference in how much you feel your partner change position during the night.
Firm mattresses absorb the energy of motion. This prevents the transfer of movements from one side of the bed to the other. Thus, if you have to get up in the middle of the night, a firmer mattress will keep you from disturbing your partner.
Reduced Pressure on Muscles
Some people often wake up feeling tense and stiff. This can be the consequence of sleeping on a mattress that is too soft for you. This tension in your body can make you feel that you have not rested well and can affect your health and performance.
A soft mattress can cause too much pressure on your body while sleeping. As a result, you curl yourself into unusual positions to increase support. This can provoke muscle strains and tension.
Firmer mattresses counteract this tension and allow your body to relax more. The result is a more peaceful, restorative sleep.
A Good Fit for Many People
The following people often experience good results with a firmer mattress:
- ⬥ Back sleepers – Keeps the spine aligned.
- ⬥ Stomach sleepers – Prevents the belly from sinking into the bed.
- ⬥ People who feel hot at night – Keeps you cooler because you’re on, not in, the mattress.
- ⬥ Babies and small children – Reduces the risk of SIDS.
- ⬥ Heavier Individuals – Keeps the person from sinking too deeply into the bed.
- ⬥ People with Arthritis – Can help relieve joint pressure and pain.
- ⬥ People with Back Pain – Aligns the spine to reduce stress on back and muscles.
If you are buying a mattress for someone in one of these groups, a medium to firm one is probably the right choice. If the person sleeps on their side and has a low BMI, a softer one may be better.
Conclusion
There are many health benefits of using firmer mattresses. They provide better support for your back and neck while optimizing weight distribution. They also isolate movement to keep you from disturbing your partner.
Firm mattresses reduce muscle tension and are a good fit for many groups of people. Make sure you do your research and test several ones to find the one that is the best fit for you.
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