Mattresses: Normal or Memory foam Mattress : How to choose the best matress

The right mattress can be an important tool in getting a good night sleep. Many people underestimate its importance and therefore don't give much thought with the exception of maybe price. In my opinion, there are a few items you need to know to make the right decision. Spend some time, do your research because you will be doing your body a big favor in helping it get the rest it needs every night.

Many of my patients ask me which would be a better mattress product for their spine, one that is soft or one that is firm? The simple answer is the one that feels good to you. Each can produce a good nights sleep for you. Now with that being said, I will throw in a couple of exceptions you should be aware of.

Don't use a mattress that is so old or soft that an outline of your body has permanently formed into it. If you think about it, your body will only be in a good postural position in one direction. When you flip onto your other side or switch positions, the mattress will put pressure and stress on parts of your body because you no longer match the outline.

Another mattress to stay away from is the one that is as hard as the floor. This will not let the heavier areas of your body like your pelvis, sink into the mattress. This will cause your head, neck, shoulders, pelvis, and knees to not be in a straight line and will result in muscle strain. You sleep 8 hours per night, so you don't want to put unneeded stress on your muscles. Most coil or spring mattresses, no matter what the sales person says, will eventually fall into one of these categories. So I believe that your decision should be to look for something that doesn't changes shape over time.

Mattresses: Normal or Memory foam Mattress : How to choose the best matress

The two best choices for you on the market today is either memory foam or adjustable. They both adhere to the principles I just talked about. They are neither too hard nor soft. The support that they provide stays consistent over time. Lastly, both allow your spine to be properly aligned to prevent joint and muscle pressure.

A memory foam mattress will mold to your body when you lie on it. What is good about it is that when you get off of it, the mattress springs back to its original shape. The adjustable mattress is made up of a series of air chambers which you can inflate or deflate to meet your needs. Whenever it feels too hard or soft just adjust the air valves and you make your mattresses perfect again.

Either one of these would be a good choice to purchase. The difference will come in price and trial period. The memory foam tends to be a little more expensive. On the flip side though it usually comes with a 90-120 day trial period as opposed to 30 days for the adjustable. This way you can really give it a good test before you purchase it.

Choosing the right mattress is definitely one of the key elements of a great nights sleep. Go to a few mattress stores and due your due diligence. Purchase something that will last a long time and enhance your health.