Mattress Guidelines for Sleep Comfort

Mattress Guidelines for Sleep Comfort
By: Richard A. Staehler, MD

        The right mattress can really help one have a good night’s sleep and wake up feeling rested and refreshed. Sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause sleeplessness, back pain, and overall aches and pains. For people with a back problem, a mattress that isn’t a good fit can make the pain worse.

   This article outlines a number of useful guidelines for selecting a mattress or bed - as well as suggestions for sleep positions and use of pillows - for a number of specific back conditions.

Mattresses are a personal choice

       When searching for the best mattress, it is important to remember that mattresses are largely a matter of personal preference. There is no single type of mattress or bed that works well for all people, and there is no best mattress for back problems. Likewise, there is no single sleep position known to be best for all people.
This is due to several factors:

    * There are many causes of back problems, and different back conditions may respond better to specific types of beds, mattresses and sleep positions.
    * There is a high degree of personal preference for mattresses, and what works well for one person may not work well for another.
    * There is very limited scientific study published on mattresses and back pain, and findings from the studies that have been completed are inconclusive.
    * Overall, the causes of back pain can be quite complex, and it’s difficult to isolate whether or not a person’s mattress has played a significant role in improving the pain or making it worse.
    * The bottom line is that the type of mattress that is best for any particular person is really a matter of personal preference.