Is Memory Foam Good for Your Back?
Memory foam mattresses are very popular but they call to question, is memory foam good for your back? Like most sleep products, mattress comfort varies from one individual to another. Evidence points to many orthopedic benefits of sleeping on memory foam though personal preference will play a part. There are also some things such as age and quality that will impact the answer. Memory foam can be good for your back provided it meets certain criteria. The important thing is that your mattress helps you achieve and maintain spinal alignment. This will be vital for pain relief and the overall enjoyment of your mattress selection.
Causes of Back Pain
Back pain can originate from genetics or be brought on by lifestyle. Some back pain has a medical cause while others stem from wear and tear. Stress on the spine from poor posture or overexertion can result in aches and pains. Lack of exercise can result in weak muscles without the strength to properly support the spine. Back pain is tied to neck, hip, and shoulder pain as well. We spend so much time in bed so the material and overall construction of a bed can influence pain. Is memory foam good for your back pain? It just might be, especially if it can reduce back pain.
Memory Foam Characteristics
The sleep industry has looked to NASA for more than one good idea. NASA developed Zero G, a position used on adjustable beds. It also first designed and used memory foam for seats. It’s the visco-elastic properties of memory foam that provide its main characteristics. This substance is why it softens with pressure and as it heats up. It’s also the main reason memory foam is able to bounce back to its original shape over and over again.
How Memory Foam Mattresses Work
As you lie on a memory foam mattress, it responds to the weight and heat of your body. A contouring effect cradles your body reducing pressure points. When sleeping on your side, hips and shoulders sink in and your body is more evenly supported. The adaptive support provides more even body weight distribution. Upon rising and removing body heat and weight, the memory foam material slowly returns to its pre-contouring state.
What Memory Foam Does for Sleep
Add up the benefits to see is memory foam good for your back. Lack of sleep is known to increase pain perception. Memory foam is soft and comfortable, which can help you relax and initiate sleep quicker. For those who are cold when sleeping, memory foam retains heat. If you are a hot sleeper, many memory foam mattresses have cooling gel which will keep you cool at night. This can help you stay cozy and sleep uninterrupted. Furthermore, memory foam absorbs movement leading to less motion transfer. This can also help you stay asleep longer, achieving a better quality of sleep. By reducing pressure points, the foam may lessen back pain as well.
What Memory Foam Does Not Do for Sleep
Finding a mattress that will improve sleep quality is important. Memory foam is one of many types of mattress that can help. However, many Americans struggle with sleep disorders. While memory foam might help alleviate some back pain, it is not a one size fits all solution for improved sleep. For example, a memory foam sleep surface cannot help with sleep apnea or other breathing disorders causing sleep issues.
What the Professionals Say: Is Memory Foam Good for Your Back?
Chiropractic professionals have performed studies to learn more about how sleep affects back pain and alignment. One thing they have learned is that by supporting good posture during sleep, you can develop better daytime posture. The opposite is true as well; poor sleep posture can cause back pain. Better posture equals less pain so the trick is to improve posture at night. Hybrid models that incorporate memory foam as well as other materials might be the best bet. Soft contouring foam encases the body and the denser under materials keep it from sinking too much. More dense memory foam can be used in the same way.
Is All Memory Foam Good for Your Back?
Mattress age and mattress quality makes a difference on is memory foam good for your back. The recommended useful life of a mattress is 8 years. After 8 years, memory foam mattresses lose 16.2% of their original resiliency. This can lead to unsupportive sagging. Lower quality memory foam mattresses can deteriorate quicker, putting undue stress on back muscles. The end result can be misalignment of the back. Is memory foam good for your back when it is old? The answer is no. Mattresses last a long time, but they aren’t meant to last forever.
Firmness and Back Pain
How firm a mattress is can affect is memory foam good for back alignment. According to Chiropractic Economics, a medium-firm mattress or firm mattress may reduce spinal stress. Memory foam density and firmness is noted by pounds per cubic foot. High density foam is firm, and includes any memory foam marked as 6lbs per cubic foot or higher. Medium has a 4-5lb range and soft firmness is 3 pounds/cubic foot.
Sleep Position
Assist spinal alignment using pillows in any sleep position to reduce back pain. Back sleepers can place a pillow under lower legs. Side sleepers use pillows between knees. Stomach sleepers can prop a pillow under the pelvic area. Done right, pillow use may help you maintain alignment of the spine. It can enhance your comfort, no matter what kind of mattress you use.
Other Uses for Memory Foam
Many industries are integrating memory foam into products nowadays. The soft, flexible foam is used in stadium seating, helmets and more. Sleep product manufacturers use it for more than just mattresses. You can also get memory foam pillows and mattress pads. Memory foam is extremely popular in shoes and slippers as it can reduce walking impact on the feet and back.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647070/pdf/main.pdf
chiroeco.com/chiropractic-mattress/
