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Is your bed helping you to get a good night's rest and to wake up refreshed,
or is it not giving you the support you need?
With up to a third of our lives spent in bed, it is worth
taking some time to choose the right bed for you.
Problems arising from the wrong bed
As osteopaths, we are very aware of the problems that
can arise from a poor choice of bed. The most commonly occurring problems
that we see from day to day arising form inappropriate beds are:
- Shoulder Pain
- Neck Pain
- Lower Back Pain
- Hip Pain
- Stiffness
Often, these symptoms will be worse first thing in the morning and will ease with movement.
It is equally important that people of all ages - children to the elderly - sleep on beds that give the correct support. The questions to ask to establish whether you need a new bed are as follows:
- Is the mattress more than ten years old?
- Is the mattress floppy, uneven or lumpy?
- Can you feel the springs easily?
- Do you and your partner roll together unintentionally?
- Do you wake up with any of the symptoms talked about before?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you may need to start
looking for your new bed.
Choosing the correct bed
A recent survey showed that 75% of the people of Rugby think a hard, orthopaedic bed is the best choice if you suffer from a bad back. This is not true! If you buy a bed that is too hard you will get a great deal of pressure building up on your hips and shoulders. Also, as your back tries to conform to the bed you will put strain on your low back and neck.
The correct bed for you will be comfortable and supportive, holding your spine level, allowing for ease of movement, yet moulding to the contours of your body and providing support for its hollows and curves.
When shopping for a bed try these tips:
1. Take off your outdoor clothes and lie on each bed you test for as
long as you can - twenty minutes or so.
2. Look to buy the mattress and base together. If not, make sure the mattress
is made for the type of base you already have - i.e. slatted or sprung
etc.
3. Take your partner with you as this can make a big difference to how
you feel about a bed when someone is lying next to you.
4. Larger beds tend to allow you more freedom to move around at night
and reduce stiffness and pain in the morning.
We have found that water beds and foam mattresses are not as comfortable and supportive as sprung beds. We recommend pocket-sprung beds with a medium to medium-soft firmness. Remember all manufacturers grade their beds differently so you must try them first.
We also recommend foam mattress toppers as these give an extra adaptability to the bed, especially for people with full hips but slim waists.
The mattress toppers tend to last for eighteen to twenty-four months
and can increase the heat generated through the night, so bear this in
mind when making your choice.
Once you have purchased your mattress, remember:
A majority of mattresses need regular turning (between every six weeks
to three months). Get someone to help you turn it.
Vacuum your mattress every week to help reduce the build-up of allergens,
eg flaked skin.
Remember that there is no absolute best choice of bed. Be satisfied that it is right for you before you buy, as it may be difficult to change it afterwards.
Remember that the word orthopaedic is meaningless - and generally means that it is too hard!
Good luck
Deluxe (3" thick) Mattress Toppers are available to order from
the Rugby Osteopathic Centre:
36" (single)
54" (double)
60" (king)
72" (super king)
£44.00
£60.00
£65.00
£76.00
