Orthopaedic Mattress

When you sleep with back and joint pain, quality sleep can be few and far between. An orthopaedic mattress is designed to support your joints and body, helping relieve pressure in the right places to improve your comfort in bed.  

This article will reveal everything you need to know:

What is it?

An orthopaedic mattress is a mattress for people who sleep with pain in their joints, hips, and back, made from the same things as other mattresses, like pocket springs and layers of various density foams.

The critical difference between a regular mattress and an orthopaedic mattress is that it is engineered to relieve pressure on joints.

How does this mattress joint relieve pain?

The layers inside of the mattress are designed not to compress under your body weight, while the top foam layer offers a pliable surface for your body to compress into. This system keeps your spine and joints aligned while being soft.

A common misconception about this type of matress is that they are the firmest mattresses you can get.

This isn’t true - while orthopaedic mattresses are firmer than medium mattresses, the top layer is pliable. The pliable top layer relieves pressure, while the firm inner layers support your body.    

Should I buy one?

Anyone who sleeps with pain or suffers from a bad back or joints will benefit from an orthopaedic mattress. This type of mattress is no longer confined to nursing homes, and many young people choose them for extra support.

With more people hunched over computer desks than ever, it makes no wonder that orthopaedic mattresses are growing in popularity!

If you already sleep with a firm mattress, upgrading to an orthopaedic will improve your comfort and help you get more high-quality sleep.

How do I know if my mattress is orthopaedic?

On an old mattress, look for a label that says “orthopaedic”, “ortho”, “posture”, or “postural”. If you can’t find a label that says one of these, the mattress probably isn’t orthopaedic, but you could contact the manufacturer to be sure.  

What is an orthopaedic mattress made from?

Orthopaedic have either an innerspring system, a hybrid system or pure memory foam. Pocket spring mattresses are bouncier, hybrid mattresses are bouncy but pliable, and memory foam mattresses are pliable with no bounce.

All orthopaedic mattresses are designed to provide additional back, joint and hip support, so technology best depends on how bouncy you like your bed.

Do doctors approve? 

Unfortunately, orthopaedic mattresses aren’t regulated, so anyone can label their mattress “orthopaedic” and claim that it relieves back pain.

Orthopaedics is a medical speciality that focuses on treating injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Doctors recommend orthopaedic mattresses “generally”, so it is up to the consumer to choose an orthopaedic mattress that works.

Here are a few tips to make sure you land a good one:

• Choose a known mattress brand: Sealy, Silentnight, and Giltedge offer a range of orthopaedic mattresses. Choosing a known brand will ensure plenty of reviews online from real users.
• Look for a mattress with a sleep trial: Many brands offer sleep trials ranging from 14 days to over 100 nights. A longer trial is clearly better, but you should only need a few weeks to figure out if your new mattress is perfect.

Summing up

Orthopaedic mattresses relieve pressure on the hips, joints, and back. They are made from layers of springs and foam (or pure memory foam), providing firmer support with a pliable top surface. Anyone of any age can use an orthopaedic mattress, but they are most suited to people who sleep with pain from either injury or disease.

If you sleep with pain, an orthopaedic mattress could transform your sleep for the better, so why not give one a go and see what you think?

Related Pages

• How to Choose the Right Mattress – Virtuous Buyers Guide