How Do You Choose a Mattress?
In the previous blog I listed a number of reasons why your body may be telling you it’s time for a new mattress or pillow. There are numerous other reasons to start fresh with a mattress or pillow, and hopefully the following information will help lead you in the right direction when making your decision.
I recently went to “The Mattress Lot”, locally owned and operated in NE Portland, and visited with the owners and employees to better understand the topic from the industry standpoint. The Mattress Lot has a selection of pillows in many varieties and mattresses locally made in the NW to match most individual’s needs. Your decision for a pillow or mattress should depend on; body type, sleeping position (side, back, front), and complaints of current mattress/pillow.There are 3 choices in mattress material type:
-Memory foam
-Latex
-Coils
Tempurpedic originally made memory foam popular but now there are multiple manufacturers with gel-infused, temperature-neutral, and varying densities. Latex is the only all-natural material (less toxic compounds), depending if it is 100% all natural rubber, or synthetic rubber. Latex tends to be more rigid, and “pushes back”. Coil mattresses are the most common type with springs within the layers. To complicate matters there are latex & foam hybrid or coil & foam/latex mattresses layered in each material. It is highly recommended that you try all 3 types, as each have a very different feel. Each mattress type may have a life span of 5-15 years, though it is important to understand that your body is not the same body it was even 5 years ago. As your body changes, and aging occurs it may alter preferences and needs in mattresses and/or pillows.
Here are a few tips from The Mattress Lot:
-Dress comfortably when trying mattresses.
-Try various pillow combinations with different mattresses.
-Don’t be pressured by sales. Many major manufacturers or stores work on commission. Take your time!
-Compare the extremes of soft/firm and materials latex/foam/coils.
-Test mattress comfort in all positions (side, back, front).
-Spend several minutes on your final three favorites.
-Go home and “sleep on it” for a night, then make your decision the next day
-Stay away from the extremely firm or soft mattress unless you are certain (the most common reason for customer returns or exchanges).
If you feel it is time for a new mattress or pillow ask your Chiropractic physician for some advice with respect to individual needs. The appropriate choice may alleviate unneeded stress on current injuries and allow for speedy healing.
