Patients often feel deflated when we don’t respond with the name of a specific mattress to purchase.
The reason? Everyone is different and there is no one mattress that will be a great fit for everyone. Mattress choice depends on your height, weight, primary sleeping position, and preferred feel. It will also depend on if you need to consider a sleeping partner, particularly if your partner is of a very different build to you.
What we do recommend, is some essentials to look for in a mattress.
A mattress should support your spine in a reasonably neutral position both when laying on your back or your side. So, if you are tall with broad shoulders, the tension/firmness of a mattress will generally be greater than for a petite person to obtain spinal support.
Essential things to consider when buying a matress
Look for a pocket spring mattress that has zoned spring tension.
These generally allow for heavier parts of the body like the pelvis and shoulders to be adequately supported. Pocket springs are both preferred for support and reduced disturbance from movement of your sleeping partner. Mattresses made only of foam or bamboo tend not to offer enough support for the average adult. However, if you have an issue with metal or certain materials, they may be a better option for you. As a general rule, we don’t advise sleeping on water beds as they fail to offer adequate spinal support.
Consider the materials
If you are a particularly hot sleeper, synthetic materials that are less breathable produce more heat. Ensure to ask about what options are available for hot sleepers.
Consider you and your sleeping partner
If you are quite different in size to your partner, you may want to look at a mattress that can be customised with different sides. Some stores offer customisation of the spring distribution as well as spring tension for customised support. Others offer different mattress toppers to alter the feel of the mattress if you prefer a different feel compared to your partner.
Also be sure to look at what happens if you don’t like the mattress after sleeping on it. While it may feel great in store, sleeping on a mattress for a few weeks may produce a different outcome. Some companies offer returns with certain conditions and time frames, while others offer different toppers that can be changed if you are unhappy with the firmness.
A good place to start is selecting 2-3 mattress outlets and visit each one. Start by testing mattresses with medium firmness. You can then test more firm or softer mattresses and keep note of which ones you prefer. Note down your top 2 for each store. Choose a different day to go back and re-test your top choices. It’s worth investing the time when you consider you will be sleeping on the mattress you choose for the next 10-12 years!
Mattresses for primary school aged children follow similar principles, however, due to the size of children the selection can be broadened somewhat as, depending on the age of the child, support can still be achieved with less rigid materials.
If you require more advice be sure to ask your chiropractor.
