Can Side Sleepers Use Adjustable Beds?
Adjustable beds are great for side sleepers because they allow fine adjustment of the sleeping position. Even a minor angle adjustment for the upper body can relieve pressure on the shoulders, neck, and hips.
Side sleepers often complain about shoulder and neck pain; an adjustable bed helps alleviate this problem.
In 1997, researchers also found that sleeping on your left side can cause noticeable changes in the heart; it can reposition the heart and restrict blood flow, which causes discomfort — the same problem does not exist if you sleep on your right side.
An adjustable bed can comfortably angle your body, reducing pressure on your heart, whichever side you sleep on.
Adjustable beds for side sleepers
It’s a common misconception that adjustable beds are unsuitable for side sleepers.
On the face of it, it makes perfect sense. Sleeping on your side with a firm pillow aligns your neck and spine, so how could an adjustable bed improve this?
The answer lies in pressure relief.
When you sleep on your side with your upper body slightly elevated, your weight is shifted to your core, reducing pressure on your shoulders, neck, and hips.
Think of it this way – when you lie on a flat mattress, all the contact areas of your body take the pressure of your body weight. When you lie in an elevated position, pressure shifts onto your core, alleviating pain in other areas of your body.
A slight incline for your upper body when sleeping on your side can yield good results, helping you get comfortable, sleep better, and wake up fresher.
How to use an adjustable bed for side sleepers
To sleep on your side in an adjustable bed, follow these instructions:
- Raise the head of the bed to the same height as two firm pillows
- Raise the foot of the bed to the same height as one firm pillow
- Sleep on your side so that your bum and hips are in the middle dip, with your legs positioned slightly elevated
This bed position is also known as the zero-gravity position. Here’s an image illustration:
As you can see, the head is elevated higher than the feet, but both elevations are subtle.
Adjustable beds and health benefits
When you sleep on your side, you can wear out the muscles in your arms and shoulders, giving you numb arms and aches. Worse still, incorrect positioning of your legs and hips can offer you lower back pain.
Adjustable beds relieve pressure on your lower back when sleeping on your side and help to improve blood flow to your arms and shoulders.
Ultimately, this will help you sleep better.
The health benefits of adjustable beds for specific medical conditions are well known. For instance, elevated sleep is beneficial for sleep apnea, snoring, and oedema (swelling of the feet).
If you have low mobility, an adjustable bed could transform your life. Elevated sleeping positions make getting in and out of bed more accessible, and an adjustable bed lets you lift yourself, making getting out of bed a piece of cake.
How Do I Choose an Adjustable Bed?
Adjustable Beds have been on the go for quite a while, and we probably associate them with hospitals or illness.
That is not true, as anybody can have one, as they offer the user the ability to customise their sleeping positions and enjoy a good night’s sleep. You need to know what you are looking for.
You have now decided that you are going to buy an adjustable bed. There are a few things you need to think of first:
- Your current health needs/future health needs
If you have a medical condition or know it will change, the best thing would be to ask for advice from a healthcare professional about the best bed ideal for you.
The size of bed you want
What size do you want? Is it just for yourself or you and your partner? You then must ensure that it will go through the front door and into the room of your choice. Also, check the weight limit, as some beds have maximum weight limits, so check before choosing one.
- The budget you have
We all have a budget when buying anything. So, when purchasing an adjustable bed, you must consider they cost more than a standard bed. The bigger the bed and the more features you have on it, the more expensive. Are you just buying the base or a mattress or do you want a headboard and storage?
These all must be thought of when budgeting for your bed.
- Features
When buying an adjustable bed, check that the one you want to buy has all the features you will need, that is, now and for the future. You can ask a healthcare professional what features you will need so you know that you have purchased the correct bed.
- Mattress and Base Compatible
Adjustable beds need special mattresses as sizes are not just standard. So, if you are buying an adjustable bed, you must check that the mattress you have or buying elsewhere will suit the bed.
Is this a load of money for little benefit?
Adjustable beds are much more expensive than regular beds, so concerned about wasting your money.
If you sleep with pain or benefit from greater mobility, an adjustable bed is worth the money to improve your bedtime experience.
Adjustable beds are more expensive than regular beds because they have a costly motorised system that moves the mattress base. It consists of an electric motor and a series of connectors that attach to different bed parts.
An adjustable bed might be overkill if you already get a good night’s sleep on a regular bed. You may need to upgrade your mattress instead.