As the name suggests, adjustable beds may be adjusted to several positions. For people with certain types of back problems, sleeping on an adjustable bed that is at a slight incline may be comfortable, with the upper body positioned higher up than the lower body (as when sitting in a recliner) and some support under the knees to bend the knees at a slight angle.
Combining upper body incline and knee support can help relieve stress from the lower back. Provided the patient is comfortable sleeping throughout the night, this position can support the spine’s curves and ease pressure on the entire body.
In addition, after having low back surgery, some patients feel that an adjustable bed is more comfortable than a flat mattress. Like most choices for mattresses, this is primarily a matter of personal preference.
In general, it is reasonable for a patient to consider the option of an adjustable bed if they feel better sitting in a reclining chair with the knees supported.
Or he is slightly elevated, and if they are having trouble getting a good night’s rest on a conventional flat mattress.
Using pillows to prop up the upper body (being careful to support the lower back) and placing a pillow beneath the knees is also possible.
Adjustable beds can be more of a medical choice of bed or a lifestyle one.
You can buy one to watch TV in that extra bit of comfort or to help relieve some of the aches, pains, or other health problems you may suffer as you age. It’s a question of knowing what you’re buying and how to choose the right bed. This guide looks in-depth at adjustable beds so you can make the decisions before you buy, starting with why you might consider buying one.
Potential benefits of an adjustable bed
An adjustable bed can help anyone who feels more comfortable in an inclined position (such as sitting on a recliner with the feet up) rather than lying on a regular flat mattress. The following provides examples of certain back conditions and how an inclined position in an adjustable bed can sometimes help the patient feel more comfortable.
Degenerative spondylolisthesis. For some people with degenerative spondylolisthesis, sleeping in a reclining position with support under the knees can reduce pain and discomfort in the lower back, making it easier to sleep through the night.
Osteoarthritis. Individuals with osteoarthritis in the spine, or facet joint arthritis, often feel stiff and sore in the morning. Sleeping on an adjustable bed may provide better support and decrease irritation by minimising joint compression.
Spinal stenosis. People with spinal stenosis often feel more comfortable bending forward instead of standing straight. Likewise, sleeping on a flat mattress can sometimes be less comfortable for people with this condition than sleeping in a reclining position, such as that afforded by an adjustable bed. The patient’s preference should determine the choice of bed and mattress.
Remembering the patient’s preference for sleep comfort and back support should determine which bed or mattress is best. There is no single type of bed or mattress that works for all patients, and there is no actual medical evidence that supports that an adjustable bed is a preferable option. The bottom line is that whichever bed or mattress allows a patient to sleep comfortably without additional pain or stiffness is the best choice for that individual.
Why should you buy an adjustable bed?
Adjustable beds are a lifestyle choice if you want extra comfort. You can position yourself to sit up and watch TV at just the right angle for you. You don’t have to worry about propping yourself up constantly.
It’s not just the comfort that adjustable beds offer, though. If you’re suffering from sciatica, backache, circulatory problems, or difficulty breathing, an adjustable bed can help. Acid reflux and snoring are two issues to which an adjustable bed can provide a solution.
Besides offering comfort and the chance of better sleep, the bed features such as massage units lend even more to the therapeutic function adjustable beds can perform. Adjustable beds can make the task safer as we age and struggle to get in and out of bed.
Sleeping in an adjustable bed
Adjustable beds allow you to sleep comfortably in your chosen position. More importantly, they will enable you to sleep in the best place for your spine (the spine isn’t flat; it’s naturally curved) and enjoy the proper support.
On an adjustable bed, you can sleep in the following positions:
- On your side: Adjusting your bed’s top and bottom sections will allow you to align it correctly with your spine and rest comfortably on your side. The position will relieve pressure on your hips and other areas. If you suffer from acid reflux, sleep in a good position.
- Contour position: This position relaxes the body. The head is elevated slightly, but the feet more so, creating a contour shape that allows you to adopt a fetal position, only on your back and not your side. This position of the bed supports the whole body evenly.
- Raised head and feet: Raising the head and feet will help you if you have mobility problems. You can swing your feet around much easier to get out of bed. It’s a comfortable position, too, for reading a book or watching a movie.
- Feet raised only: This is the perfect position if you’ve been on your feet all day or have swollen legs or feet. The position directs fluid away from your feet, relieving you temporarily.
The main features of an adjustable bed
As you might have guessed, an adjustable bed isn’t just a regular bed with unique features. Expect to find the following on an adjustable bed:
- Motorised action so that you can lift your torso or your legs independently.
- A handset, so all you have to do is push a button to adjust your bed.
- Additional optional accessories such as massage units, headboards, or drawers.
Adjustable beds consist of varying numbers of adjustable parts. Beds that only elevate the upper torso will suit people looking for comfort from their beds. They’re more of a lifestyle choice. They contrast with beds with more than one adjustable part ― for instance, some of our adjustable beds ― which provide comfort and perform a more therapeutic function.
Adjustable bed sizes
We sell a range of different bed base sizes to suit your needs. You’ll find adjustable beds in the following measures on our site:
- Small single
- Single
- Double
- Kingsize
- Super kingsize
The beds have different bases. If you’re sleeping alone, you’ll likely prefer a single or double bed that moves as one. If you’re sharing the bed with a partner, note that our kingsize beds and super kingsize vary —some move as one when they elevate simultaneously.
Others consist of dual beds which operate independently. You may prefer a double bed to manage your side without disturbing your partner.
When choosing an adjustable bed, you should consider whether the bed will fit in your room and if you can get it through the door. Check that the retailer will deliver it to you, including the room you want them to do so.
The older you get, the harder it can become to lift yourself out of bed, so your bed must be at the right level to get in and out comfortably. Is the bed so low that you must push yourself hard off the mattress to get up? That’s not the right bed for you.
Is there a weight limit?
This is an important question because some beds will have a weight limit. Check this in the specifications; if you’re unsure whether it does, contact the retailer. If you’re buying a bed for someone who weighs 18 stone or more, you should do this. Many standard beds will set this weight or a similar one as the maximum for their beds, and you may have to invest in a specially designed heavy-duty adjustable bed instead.
Choosing a mattress for your adjustable bed
It’s possible to use a regular mattress with an adjustable bed if compatible. The best mattresses with adjustable beds are latex, memory foam, and pocket spring. If you decide to go with an innerspring mattress, be aware that the standard open-coiled mattress, in which all the springs are linked, creates pressure points, which is why pocket sprung mattresses are the better option of the two.
Do adjustable beds ruin mattresses? Not if the mattress is compatible. However, avoiding using an air mattress with an adjustable bed would be better. The mattress’s bending and flexing can obstruct the airflow and make it feel much harder than usual.
What type of mattress works best with an Adjustable bed?
You can use a regular mattress with an adjustable bed if compatible. The mattresses that will work best with an adjustable bed are those made from latex, memory foam, or those containing pocket springs.
Memory foam and latex are usually the best choices as they are flexible enough to match the curves of the bed base. The standard inner-sprung or open coil mattresses are not ideal as they do not flex very easily and can create pressure points. A pocket-sprung mattress is a better option than an open coil.
It is crucial to consider both flexibility and durability when choosing a mattress. You must select a mattress that can cope with the demands of raising your head, feet, hips, and changing positions.
It would be best if you also considered the thickness of the mattress. The best mattress for this type of use would be in the range of 20 to 35cm. A mattress that is too thick could hinder the function of the base and limit the number of positions available.
Before putting a mattress on an adjustable base, ensure the warranty covers this use. The flexing and adjusting can cause excess wear on a product not intended to move that way.
The best choice is a mattress that is specially designed for adjustable beds. Sleepeezee has developed a range of adjustable mattresses suited to all electric adjustable beds.
What to consider when choosing your mattress
Flexibility and durability will be the two main factors when choosing a mattress. Depending on the number of parts that make up your bed, you’ll be able to raise your head, legs, hips, and feet, so you need a mattress that can cope with all the different demands you’ll be placing on it.
Mattress thickness is another aspect—a mattress between 20 and 35 centimetres (8 to 14 inches). A thicker mattress could hinder the base’s function and limit the bed’s range of positions. If the mattress is firmer, thinner is better, but this should not be at the expense of comfort and support.
To say on the safer side, choose an adjustable bed mattress. The manufacturers design these mattresses, especially to go with adjustable beds. They can also save you some time and trouble when replacing your mattress. Adjustable mattresses may be a no-turn, so check the specs if you’re trying to get that little bit longer out of your mattress. Please don’t neglect your well-being by sticking with a mattress that’s past its best.
Styles and designs
You can choose from various colours when buying one of our adjustable beds. From sophisticated black and clean and fresh-looking white to flexible beige or brown, we have shades from more neutral grey and silver to suit your tastes and requirements. We also offer a selection of fabrics, including plush velvet and elegant Sierra.
Our bed bases come in two main styles: legs, which give the bed a more traditional look, or the popular divan bed style, which consists of two major parts and is extra practical if you opt for storage drawers.
Several of our beds are five-part, allowing you to raise or lower different parts of the bed as you, please. The more features the bed has, the better if you’re buying your bed for therapeutic purposes.
Podded frames
The term’ podded frame’ may sound like the bed has its little cocoon, but this isn’t always the case, depending on the retailer. In our case, the term refers to the frame’s pods, which replace the traditional slat-type structure. These pods help the bed distribute the user’s weight evenly across the bed, easing pressure on the mattress and keeping it intact for longer.
Massage units
This is a unique feature of our adjustable beds. The massage unit can relieve tension and stress and help you to address aches and pains. Combining the ability to adjust your bed into one of several positions for the utmost comfort makes for a more energising, rejuvenating sleep.
Not only this, you save yourself some time and money on regular trips to a massage specialist. That’s not to mention saving yourself the awkwardness some people experience when they visit a massage specialist and must remove some of their clothing. In the privacy of your own home, you can use the massage unit as little or as much as you like without feeling any embarrassment.
TV beds
An adjustable TV bed is more cocoon-like, thanks to incorporating the headboard and footboard, and has the features to set up a TV at the end of the bed. TV beds may come with a remote for the TV and a side section to store additional devices. You may also choose your mattress and add a massage unit for comfort.
Can you put a headboard on an adjustable bed?
The short answer is ‘Yes.’ We want you to be as comfortable as possible in your bed and sell a selection of different headboards. You can customise your adjustable bed and make it as stylish as comfortable. Choose from fabrics such as plush velvet, a lightweight Verona, cosy wool, or a more distinctive hopsack, to name a few.
What are the health benefits of adjustable beds?
There are many health benefits to sleeping on an adjustable bed. Let us look at some of these:
Many people snore and suffer from obstructive sleep Apnea, which can cause sleepless nights for the person sharing your bed, not to mention the effect it has on your sleep quality. Snoring is one of the most common sleep-related problems; many people do not realize they snore. Sleeping on an adjustable bed can help reduce snoring.
Many people suffer from digestion problems, and an adjustable bed can help with heartburn and GERD. Heartburn is often worse when lying down. Sleeping in an elevated position can help the acid to remain in the stomach, and it can also assist with digestion. Sleeping in an upright position can be incredibly beneficial for your digestive system and help with these symptoms and conditions like GERD.
Adjustable beds can be great for side sleepers and stomach sleepers. Sleeping on your stomach can be unhealthy, but an adjustable bed can help you to change your sleeping position. Elevating the bed can reduce the pressure on the shoulders, hips, and neck.
Restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes the person to move their legs when the body is constantly resting.
An adjustable bed is suitable for circulation, so it can help ease the symptoms. Maintaining good circulation throughout the body is especially important for your health. With an adjustable bed, you can assume sleeping positions that will reduce pressure allowing for increased blood flow.
Another benefit to owning an adjustable bed is back pain. Sleeping on an adjustable bed means you can adjust your position to match the contours of your body and help maintain spinal alignment. An improved sleeping position can help alleviate back pain and prevent and reduce sciatica. If you suffer from herniated discs, it can make sleeping more difficult. An adjustable bed can help with this, making your symptoms more manageable. Along with other solutions, an adjustable bed is an effective way to treat back pain, making a recovery much quicker.
In summary, whether it is health-related, injury, or age-related, it will give you greater independence as they are so easy to get in and out of. Help to melt away those aches and pains. Swapping to an adjustable bed has so many benefits. It could be the answer for you.
What is a Zero Gravity bed?
A Zero Gravity bed is an adjustable bed frame that places the body in a zero-gravity position.
But what is the zero-gravity position?
When you hear the term “zero-gravity,” you may well imagine astronauts floating around in space, which is why Nasa invented the zero-gravity position – a neutral body posture to ease the pressure on astronauts’ bodies launched into space.
How you position yourself determines how the pressure is spread throughout the body, which has many health benefits, such as easing back and neck pain, assisting digestion and breathing, and improving blood circulation.
So how do we achieve that feeling from a bed?
Many come with a zero-gravity pre-set button, so you push the button and are set in the perfect position.
Some adjustable models may not have this pre-set feature. However, manually setting your adjustable frame to zero gravity is pretty simple.
The detailed recommendations from NASA are 128° (+/-7°) between the torso and thigh and 133° (+/-8°) between the hamstrings and calf. While this may sound complicated, setting your bed to zero gravity is relatively straightforward.
To set your adjustable bed to zero gravity, lift your upper body to a 120-degree angle with your thighs. Angle your knees to remain slightly bent while remaining above your heart level. This, in turn, will reduce pressure on your neck, back, shoulders, and legs. Once you’re in this position, you’ve officially achieved zero gravity.
How much does an adjustable bed cost?
Adjustable beds are more expensive than standard beds. The bed’s size and the features you choose can make your bed cheaper or more costly. A small single bed costs £539.00 or more, whereas a super kingsize bed costs more than £1 600.00.
This doesn’t mean you should rule out buying an adjustable bed if you want but are on a budget. Depending on the circumstances, we can match a flexible bed price if you see it somewhere at a lower price. We also offer financing options, so you don’t have to miss out on the comfort you need. You pay an initial deposit and then spend the remaining amount in installments.
A final note on adjustable beds
Adjustable beds provide much comfort and will be worth the expense as you grow older and struggle to get in and out of bed with the same ease as you did in your younger days. They’re not just about comfort, though. The more parts they have, the more you can contour them to the position of your body and make the most of their more therapeutic function.
If you’d like help or extra information on adjustable beds or any other beds, please call us at 01423 863914. We’re happy to help or take your order. If you know what you want from your bed and have seen one you like, you can save time and order your bed online. We can deliver the next day to waste no time enjoying the comfort you deserve on some of our models.