Buying a mattress can be quite a daunting task. With an endless amount of options, materials, and features available it can be difficult to determine which mattress is right for you. The average adult sleeps for eight hours a night; this means that you could be spending up to a third of life lying on your mattress, making this purchase all the more important.
The first question to ask yourself is, do you need a new mattress? The average lifespan of a mattress is 5-10 years. Many manufacturers will have warranties that extend beyond the 10-year range, but for most the 8-year mark is when it is time to look at replacing their mattress. However, if you wake up every morning feeling sore or with back pain that tends to resolve within 15-30 minutes of being awake, this could indicate that you should be looking to replace your current mattress.
Caution: I always have patients wait to buy a mattress if they are currently in an acute episode of pain. Often patients will come into our Boulder chiropractor office and complain of a lower back pain flare up or want relief from headaches. One of the first things they want to blame is their mattress. While that may be true, I would recommend coming in for a few weeks of treatment to get out of pain before replacing your mattress. This is because your preferences will likely change as you return to an asymptomatic stage. To learn about the best positions to sleep in during a painful episode, click here to read our Boulder Chiropractor blog.
Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all for mattresses. Everyone has a different body type, a different way to sleep, and experiences comfort differently. Some people will require a softer mattress and others will prefer a firmer mattress. In the end, this is personal preference and very subjective. We will provide you with some general guidelines to consider when testing out mattresses but there is no replacement for going to the store and testing out different options yourself. We recommend when testing mattresses, you lie on them for at least 10 minutes as this will give you a much clearer indication of its comfort level and how your body responds to its level of support.
Another factor to consider when purchasing a mattress is whether your purchase has a comfort guarantee. Even after doing all your due diligence and testing it in the store you may notice after a couple night’s sleep you will realize the mattress you selected simply is not right for you. Most companies offer a comfort guarantee in the event you decide you are not satisfied with your mattress (typically 90 - 120 day trial period). Every guarantee is different, and some have fees associated with the return. Therefore it is important to understand the fine print associated with any specific guarantee. This guarantee will protect your purchase and ensure that you will not be spending the next eight years waking up with a sore back from sleeping on the wrong mattress.
It is also important to understand the cost associated with mattresses. Prices vary widely and range anywhere from $200 to $5000 +. Unfortunately, price does not always correlate with quality or the right mattress for you. It is recommended that you budget at least $800-2500 for your new mattress. This budget should be enough to purchase a quality mattress that fits your needs but also one that is built to last you the 8-10-year range. When breaking down the cost per month over a mattress lifespan, it is quite cheap!
Once you determine your budget the next step is to figure out which style mattress best suits your needs.
Innerspring mattress: The innerspring mattress is also known as a coil mattress. It is arguably the most traditional style of the mattress and currently one of the most common mattresses on the market. It is typically a firmer mattress style, and the individual coils can offer quality support for your back. The “coil counts” on innerspring mattresses tend to indicate better comfort and support as the number increases. With that in mind as long as you have a minimum coil count of 400 the difference in higher count mattresses is typically nominal.
Memory foam mattress: Memory foam mattresses mold to the contour of your body better than any other type of mattress. This results in fewer pressure points when you are sleeping. These mattresses tend to be by and large a softer mattress, but that still depends on the model you purchase as some brands make firmer memory foam models. It can also serve to absorb movement, helping decrease the disturbance of sleeping with a partner. The main drawbacks of a memory foam mattress is that it tends to absorb heat and the foam tends to break down over time.
Hybrid Mattress: Hybrid mattresses are a combination of a coil or innerspring lower level that has a layer of memory foam on top. This is designed to be the best of both worlds. The memory foam top layer allows you to sink in for comfort while the lower spring level provides the support.
Pillow Top: A pillow top mattress does not indicate a type of mattress rather, it describes the addition of a soft layer sewn on top of the mattress. They can be any one of innerspring, hybrid, or memory foam mattresses underneath the pillow top layer. This results in a softer, more cushioned top surface with a firmer base of support.
Air adjustable mattress: These mattresses can change the firmness from firm to soft at the touch of a button by adjusting the air pressure within the mattress bladder. This provides you with the ability to try different levels of firmness until you find the right amount for you. Many of these beds also have adjustable bed angles which can further customize your sleep experience.
Now that we’ve discussed what styles of mattresses exist, the next step is determining whether you need a firmer or a softer mattress. Everyone’s preference is different however there are several factors that we can look at to help guide our decision.
The size of the individual sleeping on the mattress is the first important factor. If you are a lighter person, then a pillow top mattress is likely not a good fit. To maximize the pillow top, you must be heavy enough to compress the top layer to be supported by the underlying material of the mattress.
If you are a lighter individual, you will look for a softer top layer. That way you can benefit from the lower supportive layer of the mattress. Typically, the denser the top layer, the more uncomfortable a lighter person will be.
If you are a heavier individual, then you will aim for a thicker cushioned top layer and a firmer mattress. This is the case where a pillow top mattress may be a good option. For heavier people who are still looking for that soft feel while they sleep, they can look at a pillow top mattress, which offers the soft cushion with a firmer coil supporting them under the top layer.
The next important factor in choosing your mattress style is your sleeping style. Everyone sleeps differently, from side sleepers, to back sleepers, to belly sleepers (although this is not recommended for the health of your neck :)) everyone sleeps in a different position.
For a side sleeper, it is typically recommended that you look for a soft to the medium mattress. The mattress must be soft enough for you to sink in preventing pressure points in the shoulder and hip while also offering enough underlying support for the parts that don’t fully sink in.
Back sleepers tend to require a medium to a firm mattress. When sleeping on your back, it is essential that the mattress offers an adequate amount of support and firmness or you will run the risk of sinking in and sleeping in a poor posture. The worse your sleeping posture is the increased likelihood that you will wake up with back pain.
Finally, stomach sleepers tend to need the most support. This sleeping position puts the spine in a vulnerable position as the slightest angle from sinking into the mattress can lead to sleeping associated neck or back pain. Therefore, if you must sleep on your stomach, aim for a firm mattress that avoids any pressure points. If you are a stomach sleeper who constantly wakes up with back pain, we recommend trying to slowly change your sleep posture to your side or back. Although, it is never easy to make such a change, often this is the best option for the long-term care of your back.
These are simple guidelines that you can use to help decide on your new mattress purchase, but it is not a replacement for physically trying the mattress yourself. Comfort is always subjective, and you will not know what your style preference is until you try one for yourself. Remember to take your time and test as many options as possible, not only is it a financial investment but it is also an investment in your long-term health and well-being.
If you are dealing with pain in the morning upon waking, this is likely a signal to buy a new mattress. Before you rush out to spend a bunch of money, schedule an appointment for headache relief or back pain relief with a sports chiropractor or Boulder physical therapist.
https://www.mattressnerd.com/mattress-buying-guide/
https://sleepopolis.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-mattress/
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/mattresses/buying-guide/index.htm