Bedding Myths
by Don Williams
At this time of year, we find lots of people are thinking about new beds. It might be something to do with new years resolutions. For whatever reason, a new bed could be a good idea if your old bed is getting on in years.
I thought I might cover some of the Bedding Myths and “marketing hype” that we see in the industry.
Firstly, do I need a new bed?
How old is your current bed? Most modern beds will last 10 years. In fact, almost all new beds have a 10 year warranty. Usually, once the bed is getting over 15 years, or it has big furrows or stains, it is time to get a new one.
How do I know if my bed is causing my back/neck pain?
Try sleeping in a spare bed. Are you better? Then go back to your bed. Is your back/neck sore again? We often find that patients start to question their own bed when they go on holidays and their back pain goes away. The bed could be the issue; however, it could also be a variance in the activities that you do in your normal life. Our tip, use this as an excuse for a weekend away.
Non-flip
There is a tendency to see a lot of non-flip mattresses now. While I acknowledge that better quality materials and manufacturing can mean better mattresses, simple physics dictates that you only have one surface to wear out. So a one sided mattress will last less time. It is cheaper to manufacture a non-flip mattress and marketing tells us it saves your back because you don’t need to flip it. Our experience is it won’t last as long. Our suggestion…. Always buy a flip-able mattress for longest mattress life.
Pillow tops
All the rage at present! A pillow top feels luxurious; however, this would be the greatest source of complaints about mattresses. The pillow top will generally wear out before the support characteristics of the mattress (furrows and ridges) and it seems this is very difficult to rectify or address through a warranty claim.
The biggest issue with a pillow top is that if the bed is too soft, it is very difficult to make it firmer. The best solution is to buy a mattress without a pillow top and if it is too firm, then buy a great overlay. We normally suggest a gel infused memory foam overlay as they are cool, comfortable and when they wear out, it is simple to throw it away and get a new one.
Latex is hot
Generally this is not the case. Good quality latex beds are core drilled and are a natural fibre. They breathe well and conform well to the body, meaning generally no pressure points.
At Institute of Sports and Spines, we stock and sell high quality memory foam overlays, latex mattress and both memory foam and latex pillows.
If you think you need a new mattress, pillow or overlay, talk to us and we can recommend and let you trial them at the clinic to identify what is the best solution for you.
Recent Comments