Do I Need A Firm Or Soft Mattress

Soft mattresses can reduce back pain and help aging individuals deal with joint pain and problems 2.

Do i need a firm or soft mattress.

Firmness levels that seem to combine firm with soft like relaxed firm and firm pillow top typically combine the support of a firm mattress with the comfort of a soft mattress. The firmness of a given mattress is typically measured on a scale of 1 to 10. It is possible to have a soft feeling mattress that provides the body with proper support as well as a firm feeling mattress that offers improper support. Lightweight back sleepers may do well on a soft mattress.

The right support and comfort layers depend your individual sleep needs. You can easily have a rather soft mattress which offers a lot of support or a firm one which is also supportive but it creates a lot of different pressure points which makes it counterproductive. It s important to note that mattress feel is not just split into two categories it s more of a spectrum. When shopping around lay on a variety of mattresses with different firmness levels and prior to making a decision be sure the manufacturer offers a trial period that s long enough for you to get a good.

A firm mattress is more rigid to the touch and has less give. If it s too soft those pressure points won t be properly supported so. Keep your size in mind when shopping too. Consider your body type.

The study a randomized controlled trial was published in the april 2008 issue of spine. Typically best for side sleepers under 130 pounds. The right firmness level for a given sleeper varies by height weight and sleep position. A softer mattress will compress more easily when pressure is applied.

If the mattress is too firm it will push on those main pressure points and take you out of alignment shamie tells webmd. 1 10 extremely soft the body will sink in deeply. Conversely heavyweight side sleepers may find the contouring they need in a medium or firm mattress. Additionally mattress firmness is often linked to pricing and performance factors like durability and pressure relief.

4 10 medium soft a plush surface with good conforming and less sinkage. Slimmer lighter people can sleep on a medium firm mattress and enjoy the plushness without sacrificing spinal support 3. 2 3 10 soft the body will sink in significantly. Beyond these factors selecting a firm or soft mattress is up to your preferences.

Very few mattresses are made this soft. Firm vs soft in an effort to confirm that hard mattresses exert a positive effect on the sleep of people with chronic low back pain as is commonly believed participants in a study tested bedding with varying degrees of firmness. This means there s lots of choice which can be both a positive and a negative.