Is a hard or soft mattress better?
How to choose the right mattress for you
Some time ago it was believed that a very firm mattress was good for or even solved the problems of back and neck pain.
Today, we dispel this belief: many medical researches show that problems such as insomnia, back pain and neck pain are due, in most cases, to the wrong choice of a mattress that is too hard, which does not perfectly accommodate the body, combined with a lack of culture of sleeping well.
If we keep in mind that we spend a third of our life sleeping, it is therefore important to choose a mattress that allows us to rest well, as well as guaranteeing a regenerating sleep.
Cervical and Back Pain: Blame the Hard or Soft Mattress?
How to tell if the mattress is too firm or too soft
A mattress that is too hard when, lying on the side, we perceive a sensation of pressure on the shoulder and side; this leads us to unnaturally arch the spine.
Another clear sign, evident in the supine position, is the incomplete support, especially at the lumbar level, of the spine on the mattress.
On the other hand, a mattress is too soft when, in the supine or side position, the pelvis (one of the heaviest parts of our body) sinks too much; in this case, our body does not have the right support and assumes an incorrect position during sleep, with deleterious effects on our health.
In both situations, we have a compression of the vertebral discs, which are unable to decompress and regenerate; in addition, the muscles remain in tension to try to keep the spine in the correct position.
In the long run, this causes annoying back pain, as well as the feeling of not sleeping well.
Another important aspect to take into consideration is that of the nerve bundles within the spinal column; these, with an unsuitable mattress, are negatively conditioned by incorrect posture.
What is the best mattress?
First of all, in order to rest well during the night, the body and spine need to release the tensions accumulated during the day. Based on this, it is important to choose a mattress that is suitable for our build, the way we sleep, which offers good support, which guarantees adequate adaptability to the different parts of the body and which does not create annoying pressure points.
So, what to consider when choosing a mattress?
Do you like to rest on a mattress that “welcomes” the body? Oriented towards models in memory, innovative water-based and thermosensitive foam. These mattresses allow the spine and joints to rest in a natural position, relaxing muscles and tendons. In addition, there is a more even distribution of body weight. Or would you rather be “supported” by your mattress? Choose the model with independent and pocket springs individually. This type of mattress represents the evolution of the classic rigid orthopedic, made up of traditional springs. The range is diversified into models with 700, 800 and 1600 micro springs, from the highest to the thickest, divided into 7 zones. These are designed to keep the spine in a correct position, and to facilitate blood circulation, distributing pressure points adequately. One last piece of advice… lie down on the mattress and feel the sensation it offers you.