Memory foam is gaining in popularity not just as the valuable component in an orthopedic mattress for people suffering from back pain and other spinal issues, but also for the quality this material offers for people looking for a different kind of mattress.
It’s famous for its properties, it is firm, which provides support for people with back or spinal problems, yet it also has the ability to mould its shape to accommodate the weight of the body laying on it. It’s often been described as creating a kind of “floating feeling.”
It may therefore not come as that big of a surprise to learn that memory foam was created by NASA as a way to improve the safety of aircraft cushions used by space explorers. Ironically, memory foam was never used in the space program, but has instead become a very popular filler for orthopedic mattresses, hence its present day popularity.
The memory foam properties of orthopedic mattresses is designed to reach a compromise between the comfort of a softer mattress and the supportiveness of a firmer mattress, hence they are more expensive than traditional mattresses.
However, memory foam is a lot more durable than traditional mattresses, having the ability not only to mould itself around the body whilst in use, but to regain its original shape after use. An added bonus is it is also resistant to dust mites and mildew, and is hence this type of mattress is also sought out by asthma sufferers.
Firmness of memory foam is measured in density. At least 5lb density is considered of high enough quality for an orthopedic mattress.