Back pain and how an orthopedic mattress could help

A staggering number of people suffer from back and muscular pain every year. If you are in pain after sleeping, or if you do not sleep as well as you once used to, there is a good chance your bed or mattress is the cause. One remedy to this problem could be a new orthopedic bed.

Poor (or old worn out) beds are often the cause of aches and pains in our backs and body. Whether you already suffer from back pain, or are anxious to avoid suffering from this condition in the future, you should find out as much as you can about how beds and mattresses can affect our bodies. In particular, the problems that can arise in connection with the back and lumbar region and the larger joints like the hip.

For more information about back pain and the possible causes, preventions and manifestasions, click on this Back Pain link.

Can a bed or mattress cause back pain?

Most conventional (non orthopedic) mattresses, and especially those made with innersprings or coils, can produce discomfort and pressure points that cause the sleeper to lose sleep. They also result in disrupted sleep patterns that prevent the skeletal structure and muscles from the vital recovery and rest that they need when we are asleep. These problems are particularly true of older beds and cheaper beds where the cushioning and support has lost some of its integrity.

Orthopedic beds are designed to avoid localised pressure points by providing either, a consistent firm support that does not overly compress (conventional orthopedic), or a body contoured support (memory or Latex foam orthopedic) where the mattress moulds itself to the shape of the sleeper.

Different bed types are used to achieve these alternative results, but both can have massive health benefits on the entire body and aid restful sleep.

Is buying an orthopedic mattress really a good idea

A series of signals can often point to the need for a new bed, but they are frequently ignored by most people. The time to consider buying a new orthopedic bed is when -

• Back pain is experienced after a night's sleep
• Frequent poor sleep and unrest is experienced night after night
• A bed looks and feels like it has seen better days
• Lumps or distortions can be felt in a bed
• A better night's sleep is achieved at a hotel, or in an unfamiliar bed
• The refreshed and rested feel that your body used to experience in the morning is no longer there
• Joints and muscles ache in the morning and you feel "ready for a good night's sleep"

Is an orthopedic bed the solution

Of course many of the observations above can occur for any number of reasons, but equally, baring any obvious explanations, a problem with a bed or mattress is the most likely cause and also the easiest cause to remedy.

But a further problem, and one that gets many into long term spinal difficulties, is that if back pain is not experienced, it is assumed that the back is healthy and well. In many cases this is not true and the arrival of back pain is not the start of the problem, but simply a painful and obvious manifestation that arrives after the back has suffered (without pain) for some time. This is why having a quality bed and mattress is prudent, however well you believe your back and health to be.

As more than 50 percent of all people suffer from various degrees of back pain, it has become increasingly important to choose a bed and mattress that will help alleviate back ache and provide a good night's sleep. The best bed or mattress for this purpose is an orthopedic one - a sleeping system specifically designed to rest and support the most critical part of our body – all of it.

Is your current mattress causing you back problems because it is not performing correctly?

One common cause of back aches, stiffness and poor sleep is continuing to use a mattress that is past its best. A few mattresses may collapse, however most will gradually deteriorate over time and there may be no obvious signs of this deterioration – unless you check. If you suffer from an ailment like arthritis any discomfort will be exacerbated by the failings of any old or damaged mattress.

This page describing how to check a mattress for wear and damage will tell you how to check your mattress to ensure that it is still working properly. It gives pointers and tips that you can use to determine if your bed is still in tip top condition. If it is not, it may be the cause of your back problems.

If you have an interest in bathroom aids, then this bathroom aids and appliances page will provide you with some ideas on how a bathroom can be modified and up-graded to suit someone who is less able bodied, or who finds being mobile or standing up difficult or uncomfortable. There are many bathroom modifications that can make this important room easier to use for anyone who finds getting in to and out of a bath difficult, or who finds it tiring to stand in a shower or bend over a wash basin.