Inclined Bed Therapy 

What is Inclined Bed Therapy

The phrase “Inclined Bed Therapy” was introduced more than twenty years ago.  It arose as part of a series of curiosities and experimentation on the part of Andrew Fletcher.  Inclined Bed Therapy goes by many other names including gravity inclined sleeping and sloping bed theory.

The Mechanics of Inclined Bed Therapy

Gravity and differing densities within the human body collaborate for optimal circulation.  This is the basis of the theory of inclined bed therapy.  Comparison of the vascular system in plant life to that within the human body initiated the theory.  From there, research performed by Fletcher formed a baseline of evidence that suggested sleep at an incline could produce health benefits.  Personal testimonies from medical professionals further support the concept.

• Brain Cleaning:  An inclined gives you more benefits than better sleep. A lot of biological events happen when you are asleep. When you are asleep, a fluid in your brain called the cerebrospinal fluid or CSF flows around. The CSF acts like a cleaner as it flows. It washes away waste products and other bad stuff that you accumulated during the day. Scientists call this process glymphatic drainage. When you are asleep on a flat bed, the CSF distributes itself in your brain. That may sound like a good thing, but it is not. The CSF should be flowing, like a river. If it is under even distribution, it acts more like a lake. As a conseuqnece, it will have a hard time flowing and washing away all the waste. Sleeping on an incline, even by as little as 5 degrees, allows the CSF to flow and do its job.

Symphony Sleep 600E Incline Bed

Position: Reverse Trendelenburg Bed

Highlights

• Lumbar Support
• Elevation Feature
• 2 Programmable Positions
• 3 Preset Positions
• Zero Gravity, Anti Snore
• Sleep Enhancement Technology™ Massage
• Under bed Lighting
• USB Ports
• Zero Clearance
• Ships in 6 Business Days

The Symphony Sleep 600E can position the bed as inclined bed therapy suggests. The Symphony Sleep 600E is designed with the feature known as the elevation feature. The elevation feature allows the whole bed angle as the inclined bed therapy offers. The Symphony Sleep 600E also has the following features: underbed lighting, pillow tilt, massage, and many more.

Symphony Sleep 500E Incline Bed

Position: Reverse Trendelenburg Bed

Highlights

• App Control
• 2 Preset Positions (Zero Gravity, Anti-Snore)
• 2 Programmable Positions
• Sleep Enhancement Technology™ Massage
• Underbed Lighting
• USB Ports
• Zero Clearance
• Ships in 6 Business Days

The Symphony Sleep 500E can be positioned in the inclined bed therapy position. The Symphony Sleep 500E angles the bed at the angle where the head is higher than the feet, just the same as the Symphony Sleep 600E. The main difference between the Symphony Sleep 500E and Symphony Sleep 600E is that the 500E does not have a pillow tilt. The Symphony Sleep 500E is designed with many features, such as massage, underbed lighting, and many more features.

Other Benefits of Incline Bed Therapy

There are plenty of studies that show the benefits of inclined bed therapy. Going through all their details will take too much time. In summary, some other benefits are:

• Deeper Sleep
• Less headaches and migraines
• Lower blood pressure
• Lower water retention
• Improved memory
• Improved cognition
• Improved mental turnover

If you suffer from other health conditions, inclined bed therapy may help reduce it.

Inclined Bed Therapy for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or Acid Reflux

GERD or acid reflux happens when your stomach contents flow back into your esophagus. They can even reach your throat and mouth. Sleeping on an incline lets gravity pull down the stomach contents. This position prevents the backflow.

Inclined Bed Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

There are muscles that support your upper airway. Your upper airway consists of your nose, nasal cavity, and pharynx. OSA happens when these muscles relax too much. As a result, parts of your upper airway collapse, blocking your breathing. A tell-tale sign of OSA is loud snoring. People who suffer from OSA do not get quality sleep. They suffer from common effects of sleep deprivation. These bad effects include fatigue, low cognitive function, high blood pressure, and more. There are plenty of treatments for OSA. Some include complicated machines. But some studies show that sleeping on an incline can help. The incline can keep the upper airway from reducing and reduce sleep apnea.

Incline Bed for Coughs from Post-nasal Drips

The human body naturally makes mucus. During a respiratory illness, like the common cold or flu, the body makes extra mucus. When you lie flat, some of this extra mucus can drip down your throat. People call this even post-nasal drip. Post-nasal drip can irritate your throat and trigger coughs that can wake you up at night. Sleeping on an incline can help prevent post-nasal drip.

Inclined Bed for Varicose Veins

Arteries carry blood from the heart while veins return the blood. Varicose veins happen when vein walls become weak or damaged. As a result, these veins can get twisted and swollen. The blood can flow in the wrong direction or even pool. When you are upright, the veins in your legs have to work extra hard since they fight against gravity. Because of this extra effort varicose veins are common on the legs. Symptoms include aches in the parts of the legs. To relieve yourself from the pain, it makes sense to lie down so you can “take a load off your feet. This is counter-intuitive though. You already know by now that sleeping on a flat surface messes up the blood circulation in your head and legs. This is where sleeping on an incline can help. It can improve symptoms of varicose veins since it helps improve circulation.

This list may get longer as scientists continue to study inclined bed therapy.

How to Buy a Bed for Inclined Bed Therapy?

There are many options which are available when you are buying a bed for inclined therapy. The symphony sleep and transfer master has the capability of inclining into the positions as the inclined bed therapy suggests. Some of the considerations that you should keep in mind when buying an inclined bed therapy are discussed below.

• Which Beds Will Incline: Because the inclined position is a patent technique, it is difficult for individuals to obtain. Symphony Sleep has several inclined beds, and if a more hospital-style bed is required, the transfer masters brand provides inclined beds, as inclined bed therapy implies.
• Price: The price of the symphony sleep bed will depend on whether you are more of a hospital-style bed or a regular-style bed or the type of bed features. The symphony sleep is more affordable since it is not a hospital bed style. But if you want the hi-low feature, the hospital-style beds from the transfer master have those features. The hospital-style bed transfer master with a hi-low feature costs more.

Overview of Inclined Bed Therapy 

When it comes to your health, we recommend consulting with medical professionals for advice.  Inclined Bed Therapy proposes that sleeping in this manner can basically improve every system in the human body, potentially solving medical concerns.  Some scientific and medical journals have examined potential benefits for elevation during sleep.  For example, an elevated head during sleep may help acid reflux in children or sleep apnea.  However, the drastic assertions of IBT are largely unfounded at this point in time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there beds that Incline Bed Therapy position?

Yes, adjustable beds can be adjusted to an inclined bed therapy position. Symphony Sleep and transfer masters adjustable beds are the brands.

Who was the creator of Inclined Bed Therapy?

Andrew K. Fletcher created the inclined bed therapy.

How many inches does Inclined Bed Therapy have?

The inclined bed is about six inches.