Back pain is a common complaint among many adults. Some estimates say that more than three-quarters of all adults will experience some pain related to back discomfort. While special shoes and inserts can help alleviate pain while standing or walking, many encounter problems with sleeping due to their pain.
A mattress that doesn’t properly support the back or keep the spine in the ideal alignment can lead to persistent aches, pains, and a poor sleeping experience. Whether you are currently dealing with chronic back pain or sciatica or beginning to experience lower back pain, replacing your mattress with one that is friendlier to your back is a smart move.
How can you choose the one that’s right for you? That’s where the process gets tricky. Shopping for a mattress can seem like a stressful experience because there are so many options to consider. When you want to find the best affordable mattresses to help support your back and potentially reduce your discomfort, what should you keep in mind?
Most of us grew up sleeping on bouncy innerspring mattresses that rely on metal coils for support. Yet today, many people are choosing memory foam instead. Why? To put it simply, memory foam tends to offer superior comfort. However, spring mattresses still have their perks. Today, we discuss the differences between spring and foam mattresses to help you choose the right option for your preferences and needs.
If your mattress is showing signs of wear and tear, it’s probably time to invest in a new one. Sleeping on a comfortable mattress is paramount to getting a restful night’s sleep, preventing back pain, and waking up feeling full of energy. Use our buying guide to find the best mattress material, size, and firmness for your lifestyle.
At Home Zone Furniture, we love seeing people turn empty houses into comfortable, welcoming homes with furniture that meets their family’s needs. However, replacing old pieces can be costly. For example, buying a new living room set can cost over $1,000 — that’s where furniture financing comes in.
We offer three in-store finance solutions to help families procure the furniture they need, when they need it. Explore our layaway, credit card, and rent-to-own furniture financing options below.
Your mattress determines your comfort and the quality of your sleep. Sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress can lead to poor sleep, leaving you aching and unrested at the end of a long day. Your sleeping patterns affect every aspect of your life, including your emotions and moods, memory, and productivity. Shopping for a new mattress is the first step to a good night’s sleep and understanding your sleeping habits will help you choose the best mattress for you.
What is Your Ideal Mattress?
As technology advances, there is more variety in the mattresses available, and shopping for one can feel overwhelming at first. The perfect mattress supports your body in a neutral position — your spine should be relaxed and straight. Sleeping with your head to your heels in alignment is conducive to your spine health. You should feel weightless when you lie on a mattress that supports your spine in the proper alignment.
A mattress that is too soft won’t support the pressure points along your body, while a too firm mattress pushes on your pressure points and causes discomfort. Depending on your sleeping position, pressure points can include your ribs, pelvis, knees and ankles. A mattress that does not adequately support your pressure points causes your spine to lie out of alignment, often resulting in aches and pains the next day.
How to Test Mattresses
Investing in a new mattress means making a decision that will influence your sleep quality for many years. Take your typical sleeping pillow along with you when you go mattress shopping and spend ten to fifteen minutes lying on each mattress as you would at home. Relax and try to get into your normal sleeping position to test how comfortable each mattress feels. Ask a friend to join you when you go mattress shopping to check that your spine is aligned and evenly supported.
Lie on your back and slide the palm of your hand down under the curve of your lower back — your hand should slide easily between the mattress and your spine. A large gap between your back and the bed indicates that it is too firm, and no gap at all means it is too soft. Turn onto your side and make sure you can feel the mattress touching your body from your ribs to your pelvis.
Different Mattress Types
Innerspring Mattress
An innerspring mattress is made with the traditional construction method of a framework of metal wires and springs covered by your choice of cushioning material. Innerspring mattresses make movement more effortless in your sleep. Many innerspring mattresses, such as our Amber Mattress, contain individually wrapped pocket coils that reduce motion transfer between sleeping partners. An innerspring mattress offers the ideal support for back and stomach sleepers.
The coil count in a mattress should increase as the size of the mattress increases to offer adequate back support. The minimum standard coil count for full-sized beds is 300 coils, 400 coils for queens, and 480 coils for kings. Coils can only provide so much support, and high coil counts do not necessarily offer any more comfort than those at the end of the typical scale.
Memory Foam Mattress
A memory foam mattress offers a lot of cushioning for your body, and it is a popular choice for side sleepers. The memory foam molds to your body and eases the impact on your pressure points, making it the best mattress for people with muscle pain. The memory foam also absorbs movement, and it can be helpful for light sleepers with restless sleeping partners.
The foam softens with your body heat, and therefore, it can feel slightly softer in warmer climates and firmer in cooler climates. Our memory foam mattresses incorporate a latex-like gel memory foam to offer more support and temperature regulation than natural memory foam. These mattresses are made with numerous layers of supporting material.
Hybrid Mattress
Hybrid mattresses are multi-layered mattresses that combine memory foam and innerspring systems for maximum support and cushioning. A hybrid mattress incorporates the trusted and well-established technology of innerspring construction to provide adequate back support. It also uses the newer material technology behind memory foam and latex mattresses to provide plush cushioning for pressure points.
A hybrid mattress may be the ideal option for sleeping partners that sleep in different positions. The layers in the mattress can feel equally comfortable for side sleepers, back sleepers and stomach sleepers. All our mattress types are available in different comfort levels, from extra plush to extra firm, to support every type of sleeper.
Find Your New Mattress at Home Zone Furniture
No matter what type of sleeper you are, there is a mattress for you at Home Zone. We offer premium mattresses in a range of materials to suit your sleeping style and your budget. Our friendly team is always happy to answer any questions you may have and help you choose the best product. Contact us for more information or visit any of our Home Zone stores to put our mattresses to the test.
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