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This page contains advice from Cocketts Beds third generation mattress makers to help individuals choose their mattresses. It is not for commercial reproduction.
When buying your mattress or bed set it is important to remember that it is for sleeping on. The bed has a job to do besides looking good. Remember, a good cover can hide a rubbish mattress. The job of a mattress or bed set is to support your back and body whilst you are sleeping.
It is important to note that a bad mattress can lead to back ache, lumbar pain and will not help medical issues such as sciatica, lumbago and arthritis. If you or anyone you know has suffered from chronic lower back pain then you will know just how severe the symptoms can be. One of the major causes of back pain is due to muscle strain or spasm caused by poor mattress support. However a properly prescribed mattress will relieve non-medical back pain. The correct mattress for you is a vital part of the management and treatment of back ache or medical problems such as sciatica, rheumatism or arthritis.
When lying flat on your back on a hard surface you will notice that your shoulders and hips touch the surface and the spine arches in between to form a bridge which carries the weight above. When you add the neck and legs the shape can be described as the letter W (see image above).
When lying on your side, again the hips and shoulders touch the surface but this time the spine forms a straight bridge parallel to the surface. This position can be described as the letter H. The spine forming the bar of the H (see diagram above).
The bed that you require, regardless of its construction or cost, is the one that allows the hips and shoulders to sink into the mattress to the extent where the whole of the back is supported.
Remembering the above letter shapes, a useful test for you to use to select the correct mattress is as follows:
When lying on your back slide your hand into the arch of your spine, this is your lumbar area. If your hand runs through too easily then the bed is too firm for you, your hips and shoulders have not sunk into the mattress and your spine is unsupported and forms a bridge for your hand to go under. If this is the case then prolonged use can lead to harm. The symptoms are pressure to the shoulders and hips that can lead to numbness as illustrated and aches caused from the muscles supporting the spine from the pull of gravity, represented by the arrow (see image below).
If, when you push your hand through and it is fairly difficult where you have to push the mattress down or your body up to make progress, the mattress has the right support. You will find that your hand is being squeezed between the weight of your body from gravity and the support of the mattress. You should be aware of continuous support along the spine.
If, when you push your hand through and it is difficult to do so, but you DO NOT feel the hand being squashed and the mattress also seems to dive down away from the body, then the mattress is too soft (see image below).
If this is the case the curve of the spine is lessed and the muscles will again tense up to protect the spines posture, also there will be increased curvature of the neck. The symptoms of a bad back or neck ache are cause by a bed being too soft as well as too hard.
When on a mattress that is too hard and laying on your side the hips and shoulders will not sink into the mattress or bedset as far as they need. The H shape of the spine is distorted creating an unrelaxed angle between the hips and the spine that the muscles have to fight against. There is again pressure at the hips and shoulders that can lead to numbness but also the hardness can cause the ball and socket joints of hips and shoulders to seperate which causes the muscles to tense up to prevent dislocation.
You may again pass your hand under the body it may be a litte difficult but your hand will not need to sink down under your body very far.
You can see from the illustration that when you sink into a mattress properly the H shape of your spine, hips and shoulders is not distorted. The mattress sinks for your pressure points and the mattress is strong enough in between to support your mattress in it's proper posture.
Your hand will be squashed and you will be aware of continuious support from hip to shoulder and a wrap of suport front and back.
From the diagram you can see the dangerous distortion of the spine. The softness of the mattress and gravity combine to curve you spine. The weakness of the support again means that your muscles have to strain to support your back.
If you push your hand under your body then it will sink away into the weak hole between the hips and shoulders.
Remeber if a mattress or bedset is too hard or soft for you IT IS riping your bones apart. Very slowly and your muscles work against it, but this is what happens.
This is another useful test. If you stand in a relaxed but correct posture, the position and angles of the spine and pelvis are as they should be when supported by the correct mattress for you.
When you test a mattresses and are lying on your back and it feels like your bottom is being pushed up out of the mattress, then your pelvis has been rotated to reduce the natural and relaxed curvature of your spine. This indicates that the mattress is too firm.
Repeat the exercise when on your side. When you do this your weight is concentrated this will mean your body should sink more deeply into the mattress. If your hips do not sink in then the pelvis and spine again will be forced to adopt an incorrect posture, which can lead to poor sleep and physical ailments.
The above tests are crucial. The price and quality of the mattress does not matter. If the support is wrong it will be wrong at a low price and a high price.
The weight of a mattress is important. The heavier the better. Mattresses with a high foam or polyester content will be lighter. Mattresses with foam or polyester upholstery alone will not be as durable as one with mixed or natural fillings.
Buttoned Mattresses are better than quilted top mattresses. The purpose of both these techniques is to keep the fillings in place. Quilted tops are sown by machine and there is a limit to the depth a machine can sow. Buttons have to be used on mattresses with more layers of filling. The Buttons also place the spring unit under tension strengthening the mattress and helping the spring last longer.
If the mattress comes with instructions to turn the mattress many times in the first month ie. 'turn once a day for a month' or similar then this is an indication that the filling on the mattress is insubstantial and will collapse rapidly. By turning the mattress the collapse of the filling is made more even so that it will not be noticed so readily. Avoid.
No Turn Mattresses
In layman's terms in place of this statement read 'can't afford filling on both sides'. This is fine to bring the price of a memory foam mattress down to an affordable level but if the mattress is not of this visco elastic type then it is a way to cheapen a mattress, bear this in mind when comparing prices.
For more in depth or specialist information please select from the menu bar or contact us directly or request a call back at a time of your convenience.
Consult the experts.
01227 375618
32 - 34 High Street
Herne Bay
Kent
CT6 5LH
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mattress [matress] n. from arabic via french, matelas: a place where something is thrown.
