Mattress firmness is a critical factor in the ways in which a person sleep. The firmness of the mattress determine whether a person wake up with physical pain or without physical pains. Mattresses that are too soft allow the body to sink into the mattress in a way that can lead to misalignment of the spine.
Conversely, mattresses that are too firm allow the body to press against the mattress in ways that may create physical pain in areas like the shoulder and hips. Therefore, it is necessary for each individual to choose a mattress with correct firmness to maintain a straight spine while sleeping. A variety of factor influence the firmness of the mattress.
How to Choose the Right Mattress Firmness
One of the primary factor that influences the firmness that a mattress should have is the sleeping position of the individual. For example, individuals who sleep on the side require mattresses that allow the hips and shoulders of the sleeper to sink into the mattress to allow for proper alignment of the sleeper’s spine. If the individual does not sleep on a mattress that permits sinking of the hips and shoulders, the individual may feel discomfort while sleep.
Individuals who sleep on their back require mattresses that provide support to the lumbar region of the body, but the mattress should not be too soft to provide for proper support to the sleeper’s frame. Finally, individuals who sleep on their stomach require firm mattresses that prevent the hips of the individual from sink into the sleeping mattress; if the hips of the individual sink into the mattress while sleeping, the spine of the individual may arch which could lead to pain in the back of the individual while sleeping. In addition to the sleeping position of an individual, the weight of the individual also influence the firmness of the mattress.
Individuals who have a light body weight will feel more comfortable than individuals with a heavy body weight on soft mattresses. Individuals with a heavier body weight will compress the mattress more than individuals with a lighter body weight; a heavy person may sink through the soft layer of a mattress until they feel the mattress coils. Thus, the firmness of a mattress that feels medium to an individual with a light body weight may feel too soft for an individual with a heavy body weight, and the firmness of a mattress that feels firm to an individual with a heavy body weight may feel more medium to an individual with a light body weight.
Mattress firmness vary in the common choice of mattresses for medium firmness. Mattresses with medium firmness are often the most recommended for various reasons. People think mattresses with medium firmness provide support for individuals to maintain a neutral spine while sleeping; a neutral spine is one that does not sag into a U-shape as a result of sleeping on a mattress that is too soft, and which does not arch upward as a result of sleeping on a mattress that is too firm.
Mattresses that are too soft lead to a sagging of the hips while sleeping; mattresses that are too firm can lead to the development of physical pain in the shoulders and hips of the sleeping individual. Thus, medium firmness mattresses is considered to be a versatile mattress firmness for the average sleeper, but may not provide the best sleeping experience for every sleeper. For couples, it is important to consider the preference of firmness of each individual in the relationship.
For instance, one partner of a couple may prefer sleeping on a mattress that is soft to the touch, while the other individual in the relationship may prefer a firm sleeping surface. A medium firmness mattress is one that may work for both individuals in the relationship; however, the other individual on the mattress may feel the movement of one individual from sleeping. To avoid this movement between individuals in a relationship, recommend mattresses with foam layers over mattresses that contain only spring layers; foam layers absorb the movement of the sleeping individual, while spring layers does not.
Furthermore, mattresses with split-firmness, such as one side of the mattress that is soft to the touch while the other side of the mattress is firm to the touch, may be of benefit to couples with opposing mattress preference. Finally, it is important for couples to also consider the edge support of the mattress; strong edge support prevent individuals from sleeping on the edge of the mattress while sleeping. New mattresses may change over time after the individual purchase them.
When people purchase new mattresses, the materials that comprise the new mattress may initially feel firmer than they do after a few months of sleeping on the mattress. The materials that comprise mattresses may settle into the body of the mattress over time; the settling of the materials can lead to a decrease in the firmness of the mattress. Furthermore, memory foam mattresses are known to react to the body heat of the individual who sleeps on the sleeping surface.
As the temperature of the sleeping individual increase (and as the individual sleeps for longer periods), the memory foam mattresses will become softer. Therefore, a firm mattress that feels firm in a cool bedroom will feel softer in a warm bedroom. Additionally, mattress toppers can be use to add softness to a firm mattress.
Finally, when purchasing a mattress, an individual can utilize a checklist to determine the correct mattress firmness for that individual. For instance, an individual who sleeps on their side and weighs under 150 pounds should seek out a mattress that is soft to the touch for even weight distribution and pressure relief. An individual who weighs a significant amount of body weight should opt for a mattress that is extra-firm if they sleep on their stomach.
An individual who experiences back pain should sleep on a medium firmness mattress for an even 10-minute sleep position test. During this test, the sleeper should lie on the mattress in their sleeping position for 10 minutes; the true test of a mattress is to evaluate the sleeper’s body while they utilize the mattress. Overall, the goal for any individual selecting a mattress is to ensure that their mattress keeps their spine in a straight line throughout the night.
