Orthopedic mattress or orthopedic effect?
About half a century ago, in the wake of the revolutionarymedical discoveries and developments, many furniture manufacturers thought about how to improve their products and gain an advantage over competitors. This is how the idea of a mattress that would differ from others from a medical point of view was born. The result of scientific research conducted in this direction was the so-called orthopedic mattress. However, there are still no state standards that would allow mattresses of a certain type to be officially classified as orthopedic. This is where the confusion in terms arises, when an ordinary buyer, choosing a mattress, is forced to rely only on the advertising of manufacturers who claim that only their products are “the most orthopedic”. Real orthopedic mattresses are made according to the prescription of an orthopedic doctor, since their purpose is to treat diseases of the joints and spine. They are made taking into account medical indications, body type and parametric data of the future owner. So in the store you just buy a hard mass-produced mattress, even if it has an “orthopedic” sticker on it. It cannot, for example, cure a sore back or relieve you of joint pain. Therefore, when talking about the advantages of the so-called "orthopedic product", it would be more correct to use the expressions "orthopedic effect" and "anatomical effect". The orthopedic effect means the degree of firmness of the mattress, and the "anatomical effect" implies the ability of the mattress to follow the contours of the sleeping person's body. Such products help relieve fatigue and tension in the spine, providing optimal support throughout the night and reducing the load on problem areas of the back. The spine is thus in a position as close to natural as possible. The orthopedic or anatomical effect can be more or less pronounced, depending on whether you choose the right mattress or not.
Hard, medium or soft?
It is logical that when choosing a mattress, you should take into accountthe weight of the person who will sleep on it. If the sleeper is a slender person, an excessively hard mattress will not bend under his weight, and the spine will be in a curved state. If the sleeper has a solid build, a mattress that is too soft will simply sag. It turns out that in order for the mattress to allow the spine to be in its natural state and repeat the shape of the body, the load must be distributed evenly over the entire surface. Therefore, it is better for overweight people to choose mattresses with increased rigidity: either spring (with reinforced springs) or springless, which are made of dense materials. Thin people will benefit from spring mattresses without coir (i.e. pressed coconut fibers) or latex springless models. People of average build sleep best on mattresses that use a combination of coir and latex. In addition, we recommend choosing products with different rigidity zones, since they have the highest anatomical effect.
Different kinds of mattresses
Below we will tell you about what types existmattresses, and briefly describe the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. If you want to buy a really good product, then you will have to take into account several characteristics at once: the material of the elastic part, the filler and the upholstery. These characteristics affect the quality and, of course, the price of the product. The main criterion that helps to classify a mattress as one type or another is the material from which its elastic part is made. According to this feature, springless (water, latex and air) and spring mattresses are distinguished. Springless mattresses: air and water These types of mattresses have the highest anatomical effect. Air products, as the name suggests, are filled with air. The shell of air mattresses is made of rubber materials. They perfectly support the body and optimally distribute the load. Moreover, double air mattresses have two compartments to allow each of the spouses to pump up their side in a way that would be comfortable for them to sleep better. A special compressor is included with the product for filling it with air and pumping it up if necessary. Water mattresses contain a special liquid made from ordinary water. Water mattresses allow the spine to take an anatomically natural position, which helps to relax the back muscles. They are equipped with a special heating system and reliable protection against punctures, so you should not worry about freezing in your sleep or flooding your neighbors below if the liquid spills out. Pregnant women sleep very comfortably on water mattresses: manufacturers claim that expectant mothers can sleep on them even on their stomachs. As we can see, air and water mattresses have undeniable advantages. Why have they failed to conquer the market? Probably, their specific features prevented them. For example, the noise from the working compressor of air mattresses will not let you fall asleep, and the rubber base of the shell does not absorb moisture when the sleeping person sweats. The price of a high-quality double product is “biting” - about one hundred thousand rubles. As for water mattresses, problems with stagnation and subsequent replacement of the liquid may arise. And since the heating system is electrically powered, a good water mattress will not only be easier on your back, but also on your wallet.
Springless mattresses:Latex Latex is a material obtained by special processing of the juice of the rubber tree. In its structure, it is similar to a honeycomb with many air cells. These cells allow the latex to "breathe" and give it elasticity and durability. Non-uniform perforation of a block made of latex allows you to vary the degree of rigidity in different areas of the mattress for different parts of the body. Latex mattresses do not deform, so it is very comfortable to sleep on them. They are hypoallergenic, since dust mites cannot live and reproduce in latex. Mattresses made of natural latex with non-uniform perforation are quite expensive (on average, 50 thousand rubles), but they are the best you can buy. Uniform perforation will cost less. An alternative can be products made of foam rubber (artificial latex), but over time it will begin to crumble. There are also mattresses in which latex is combined with other materials, such as coir or horsehair, which somewhat reduces their price. Spring mattresses These are the most affordable and, therefore, the most popular mattress models. A spring mattress should be selected taking into account the number of springs per unit of surface area. The presence of a greater number of springs affects one of the main orthopedic characteristics of the product - point elasticity, i.e. the ability of the mattress to bend only in places of load. If the product has low point elasticity, depressions are formed on it and it cannot effectively support the body. It is even better if the product is made of springs with varying degrees of rigidity: this enhances the anatomical effect. The spring block can be solid, or it can be made of separate (independent) springs. In the first type of mattresses, the springs are fastened to each other. As a rule, a solid block uses two-cone "Bonnel" springs of 4-5 turns, up to 150 pieces per m2. Such products have a low orthopedic and anatomical effect. They do not have zones with different degrees of rigidity, so you should choose a dependent spring block only in accordance with your weight. Over time, the springs may begin to creak (the effect of "fatigue" of the springs). The price of mattresses with a solid spring block is low - this is their main advantage. An independent spring block uses cylindrical springs; the main thing is that each of these springs is in a separate bag (pocket), which are connected to each other. Such blocks can use up to 600 springs per m2, which improves their orthopedic and anatomical properties and inevitably increases the price. These mattresses are more durable than "bonnel" ones. If you choose a spring-type product, we recommend that you keep in mind that its interior is not accessible for cleaning. Consequently, over time, a large amount of dust and microorganisms will accumulate in them, and the mattress will have to be replaced. The approximate service life of any spring product is seven to ten years.
Fillers for a mattress
Filler is the material found betweenupholstery and a spring block. It is designed to redistribute the load and give the product additional rigidity or softness. A high-quality filler can make up to half the cost of the product. When choosing a mattress, be sure to check what filler was used in its manufacture. The lowest-quality filler is considered to be batting - due to its low elasticity and tendency to roll. Another filler - foam rubber - is characterized by fairly high elasticity and flexibility. However, if the manufacturer used low-density foam rubber, such a product will not last long: it will "sag" very quickly. The best fillers that provide maximum anatomical and orthopedic effect are latex and coir. There are fillers made of horsehair, also distinguished by high strength and elasticity, but they are not suitable for allergy sufferers. Some manufacturers of elite mattresses use sea grass as a filler. Their feature is a combination of a high anatomical effect and aromatherapy.
Upholstery
The most durable and wear-resistant upholsterymaterials - these are jacquard fabrics. They have a very high thread weave density, and this is what makes them durable. Fabrics can be natural (cotton), synthetic and mixed (the most optimal combination of cotton and synthetics is 60% to 40%). We do not recommend choosing a mattress with a completely artificial upholstery, since you will not be comfortable sleeping: it will not "breathe". When choosing a cover, you may have another question: which cover - removable or non-removable - is better? A removable cover is more practical, since it can be removed to wash or dry clean, but the tightness of such a cover to the product is not great, which will ultimately affect the service life of the mattress. It happens that after washing, a removable cover shrinks, and it will be impossible to put it back on the base. As for a non-removable cover, it is tightly sewn and evenly stretched over the entire surface of the mattress. This increases its durability, but cleaning such “stationary” covers is extremely difficult. So, when buying a mattress, remember that you are buying comfort, support and space. This means that a really good mattress should be as comfortable as possible, support your spine in a natural position and give you enough space to sleep. All these properties of the product affect its price. How much are you willing to spend to sleep better? The choice is yours.
