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No More Counting Sheep, Part Two- Your Guide to the Perfect Mattress

6/10/2016

6 Comments

 
If you've already followed our guidelines to finding a perfect pillow, but are still not sleeping restfully, your mattress is likely the culprit.  Thankfully, our physiotherapists here at Granville Physio have simplified your mattress needs.  Read on below to discover which mattress types may be right for you, or click here to book in today with James Rowan, Jim Bowie, or Damien Wild for your one-on-one treatment. ​
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Support

In our opinion, the most important feature of your mattress should be the support that it provides for your spine. A good mattress will fully support the natural alignment and curvature of the spine, allowing for a comfortable and healthy rest. Your mattress should cushion your body in such a way that pressure points are minimized, the body relaxes into a position of natural and lengthened spinal alignment, and most importantly there is no soreness or stiffness upon waking.

Choosing the best firmness for you depends on mainly two factors: the preferred sleeping position and the shape of the individual.  Sleeping on your back will lend itself to a firmer mattress being more comfortable (this doesn't mean back sleepers want a rock hard mattress).  Side sleepers should have a mattress that allows the hip to sink into the bed enough that the spinal alignment remains neutral (adding a pillow between the knees can further help this).  Additionally, the shoulder should sink  into the mattress enough so that the neck and mid back are in the same line while the bottom shoulder is not rolled forward too far. 

We recommend that you try laying on any potential mattress for a minimum of 20 minutes before making a decision. This will allow your body to relax fully into the support each mattress offers, and much like Goldilocks, will enable you to rule out the "too hard" or "too soft" options before you commit to purchasing.  When shopping for a mattress you should also bring along someone to verify that your spinal alignment looks like the "just right" picture below.

Side Sleepers - The "Goldilocks Guide" to Mattresses

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"Too Soft"
  • Sagging spine
  • No back support, spine curves as a result
  • Spinal compression in sagging areas
  • Back pain upon waking

Picture

"Too Firm"
  • Mattress prevents spine from relaxing into a natural position
  • Spine is distorted upwards
  • Pressure is concentrated into the shoulders and pelvis
  • Back pain upon waking

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"Just Right"
  • Mattress fully supports the body in a neutral resting position
  • Spine maintains a natural and straight alignment
  • Optimal pressure distribution
  • Even blood circulation
  • No stiffness or soreness upon waking

Materials and Composition

One last consideration for a mattress is what it is made of, which will affect respiratory health greatly.  Remember that this is a place where you'll be spending almost a third of your life.  There are three main culprits that adversely affect your health.

In North America mattresses are required to be fire retardant.  For the majority of mattresses this means spraying them in a chemical soap to help "save" us in the case of a fire.  While this might seem like a good idea we, unfortunately have to breath in the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) that are emitted from the mattress as a result of this.  Additionally, many of the mattresses and pillows out there have glues that hold the mattress together, and these release VOCs as well.

The third respiratory concern is from dust mites, mildew, mold, and fungi.  Dust mite feces, rather than the actual dust mites, are the main culprit.   Common allergic reactions to these are sneezing, itching, watery eyes, wheezing, headaches, and fatigue. ​
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Coil/Spring mattresses are the least favorable for allergy sufferers because of their inner spring system.
The inner cavity of coil mattresses creates an incubator for dust mites and dead skin cells accumulate.  You'll often find mold and mildew within the cavity of a coil/spring mattress due to humidity caused by the transfer of body heat. This is why spring mattresses will typically weigh 10 times its original weight after 10 years of use.  Pillow Tops or Quilted Tops attract dust mites as well. With light, loose padding, these soft tops provide an ideal environment for dust mites to thrive in. Therefore, memory foam mattress and latex mattress without coils or springs are the way to go if you have allergies. 

If you have any further questions on mattress shopping, please do not hesitate to contact us! Click here to ask one of our physiotherapists your questions, or click here to book an appointment today!

Sweet dreams!

​ - Granville Physio
6 Comments
Weareseos link
12/10/2021 01:59:20 pm

Thank you for sharing your great post!

Reply
Learn more link
12/11/2021 02:19:27 pm

Temperature regulation is greatly enhanced through the use of scientifically advanced Serene Foam. Serene Foam provides the comfort of memory foam without the dreaded heat retention and painfully slow recovery.

Reply
Plumbers link
12/29/2021 11:06:29 am

What makes it The Perfect Mattress? Pressure-less support provides the ultimate comfort while maintaining proper spinal alignment allowing you to focus on what matters, sleep!

Reply
Landon link
6/25/2022 04:07:08 am

Very creative ppost

Reply
jaden industries link
8/23/2022 03:32:38 am

It's essential to know the best mattress for each individual's body and why people experience back and body pain despite spending a lot of money on mattresses. It's possible that your body doesn't require that particular sort of mattress. One who will lead you in this Where should you go to receive the right advice? Knowing what your body needs rather than wasting money is essential. All different kinds of mattresses, pillows, mattress protectors, and bedsheets are produced by Jaden Industries. They look out for you like your guardian, telling you everything there is to know about mattresses and what your body requires. The mattress is made to fit the needs of your body.
THE WEBSITE IS https://jaden.co.in/
To learn more, dial +91 8510005052.

Reply
James Johnson link
1/23/2023 07:24:55 pm

I feel pain in my shoulder right after getting up from sleep. Now I think it is because of the mattress. Thank you so much for the post.

Reply



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Directions to Granville Physiotherapy
Behind the Safeway at Granville and 70th.  Access from southbound lanes on Granville or off of 70th between the Royal Bank and BC Liqour store.  There is ample parking outside of the clinic.

We provide physiotherapy services for Vancouver and  Richmond including: Dunbar, Kerrisdale, Oakridge, and Marpole neighborhoods.
Granville Physio
8501 Saskatchewan Lane
Vancouver, BC,
V6P 0C7


info@granvillephysio.ca
P 604-630-0108

Marpole physiotherapy clinic