Firm vs soft in an effort to confirm that hard mattresses exert a positive effect on the sleep of people with chronic low back pain as is commonly believed participants in a study tested bedding with varying degrees of firmness.
Do i need a firm or soft mattress.
If it s too soft those pressure points won t be properly supported so.
Typically best for side sleepers under 130 pounds.
When shopping around lay on a variety of mattresses with different firmness levels and prior to making a decision be sure the manufacturer offers a trial period that s long enough for you to get a good.
Soft mattresses can reduce back pain and help aging individuals deal with joint pain and problems 2.
This means there s lots of choice which can be both a positive and a negative.
Whether you need a soft or firm mattress will ultimately depend on your body budget and personal preferences.
Additionally mattress firmness is often linked to pricing and performance factors like durability and pressure relief.
Consider your body type.
Lightweight back sleepers may do well on a soft mattress.
Your preference on a soft or firm mattress is often rooted in your sleeping position with stomach sleepers often preferring a firmer mattress side sleepers enjoying a soft mattress and back sleepers opting for medium firmness.
Beyond these factors selecting a firm or soft mattress is up to your preferences.
If the mattress is too firm it will push on those main pressure points and take you out of alignment shamie tells webmd.
Firmness levels that seem to combine firm with soft like relaxed firm and firm pillow top typically combine the support of a firm mattress with the comfort of a soft mattress.
Slimmer lighter people can sleep on a medium firm mattress and enjoy the plushness without sacrificing spinal support 3.
It s important to note that mattress feel is not just split into two categories it s more of a spectrum.
2 3 10 soft the body will sink in significantly.
The right firmness level for a given sleeper varies by height weight and sleep position.
The study a randomized controlled trial was published in the april 2008 issue of spine.
You can easily have a rather soft mattress which offers a lot of support or a firm one which is also supportive but it creates a lot of different pressure points which makes it counterproductive.
Conversely heavyweight side sleepers may find the contouring they need in a medium or firm mattress.
A firm mattress is more rigid to the touch and has less give.
It is possible to have a soft feeling mattress that provides the body with proper support as well as a firm feeling mattress that offers improper support.
The firmness of a given mattress is typically measured on a scale of 1 to 10.
Very few mattresses are made this soft.
1 10 extremely soft the body will sink in deeply.
Keep your size in mind when shopping too.
4 10 medium soft a plush surface with good conforming and less sinkage.