Mattress Comparisons – Comparing Different Mattress Types
There are many different types of regular and several specific types of orthopedic mattress on the market today. Most are designed for general use, some are designed for orthopedic purposes, and some seem to fall somewhere in between as if by accident, but then refined to become more orthopedic support oriented.
The desire for an orthopedic mattress is stronger today than ever, as it is recognised that as well as providing support for the body in its optimum muscular skeletal shape, it also provides a superior level of comfort and thus enhanced quality of sleep too.
In this mattress comparisons article, let us look at the different types of mattresses (or beds as some of these varieties are called) available to buy today, with an additional emphasis towards those mattress types that provide orthopedic qualities too.
Mattress Comparisons – Comparing Different Mattress Types
Spring Coil Mattresses Mattress Comparisons
Not originally designed to be an orthopedic mattress, but the technology is used in some of today’s orthopedic mattreses, and so this is the first type of mattress in this mattress comparisons article. This is the type of mattress that most people will have slept on at some time in their life, because they are cheapest to manufacture and for people without any muscular skeletal issues, they get the job done. There are two varieties of this type of mattress – open coil and continuous coil. The difference is in how they are manufactured. Open coil mattresses will have up to 300 coils all abut 6 coils high, with a rod attached between the top and bottom for added strength . Continuous coil is a single piece of wire interwoven to create coils. Either version can have the level of firmness adjusted by the thickness and number of springs used inside the mattress. These types of mattresses come with a filler and extra thick cotton surface to piece it all together.
Water Beds / Gel Beds Mattress Comparisons
More for fun and pleasure than for use as a permanent sleeping bed, the water bed is the second type of bed in our mattress comparisons article. However as water is the main filler of these beds, they are never-the-less great at contouring around the body. To add further support for the body and less annoyance, many gel filled versions of these beds have started to appear, providing enhanced support and getting rid of the ripple effect that is a natural characteristic of water.
Air Beds Mattress Comparisons
These have gained somewhat in popularity. In part for their convenience. A bed that is otherwise compacted when not in use is a great space saver for use when you have a friend or two around. However, there are some advanced air beds on the market too which are enhanced for orthopedic use. These employ a multiple air pockets within a mattress which serve to allow for inflating different parts of the mattress to custom levels of support, hence some people will go for these types of beds or mattresses over a memory foam or latex foam mattress.
Magnetic Mattress / Magnetic Pad / Magnetic Topper Mattress Comparisons
Actually the name mattress is a misnomer. These are common mainly in the form of mattress toppers that sit on top of your regular mattress. Magnetics toppers work as you can probably guess by generating a magnetic field. As you may have seen from endless advertisements of magnetic bracelets, it is strongly believed or at least strongly promoted that magnetic energy can provide pain relief as well as provide a number of other additional benefits. In this case, you should also get an enhanced quality of sleep. Fact or hoodlum? Guess you will just have to decide whether you wish to try one of these out if you are looking for a topper option rather than a complete mattress.
Latex Foam Mattress / Dunlop Foam Mattress / Talalay Foam Mattress Mattress Comparisons
This type of mattress material is also popular. Latex is a material manufactured from the natural latex found in the sap of rubber trees. It offers similar benefits to memory foam and is hence the main alternative to memory foam. However there are a few differences too. Latex foam has a spongier and bouncier feel to it, which may be preferable to some people. While it does also react to body heat, unlike one of the main complaints raised about memory foam, it does not lock in what can sometimes be an uncomfortable level of heat. Instead, it provides a cooler sleeping experience. However, memory foam technology has and is always improving too, so do not be put off by this. Another difference is that memory foam is entirely chemically manufactured rather than coming from a natural source. Some people may prefer a natural sourced product or simply wish to avoid the chemical smell that a fresh memory foam mattress emits for a while after unpacking until thoroughly aired out.
Memory Foam Mattress / Visco Elastic Foam Mattress Mattress Comparisons
This is the most popular type of material that comes to mind when people think of an orthopedic mattress. Also known as visco elastic foam, this material had its origins as part of a NASA space experiment for use in aircraft. The technology quickly became recognised for the benefits that it could provide for people suffering from arthritis, joint pains, back pain and other muscular skeletal conditions. And memory foam soon became firmly established in medical institutions like hospitals for treating patients on because of the comfort and support provided by this material. It is called memory foam for a very good reason. When a person puts their body weight upon it, it will mold and contour itself around that weight responding to both the weight and the body heat. This is how it provides superior comfort and support to the ordinary spring foam mattresses; it supports the body instead of simply providing resistance to the weight. And the memory part comes into play in that when the person removes his or her self from the foam, it will “remember” its original shape and restore itself to that shape. Voila – all like new, every time you use it. Some of these mattresses will even come with long manufacturer’s guarantees to back their products up. To this day, memory foam remains the material of choice for people suffering with orthopedic complaints and those simply looking for a superior sleeping experience.
So that’s the end of this mattress comparisons article, the most popular types of mattress on the market today. But for muscular skeletal comfort and support now and for the long term, it is clear that memory foam remains the creme de la creme orthopedic mattress.
