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Stress free mattress shopping

So you want to get a better night's rest?

Stress Free Mattress Shopping

by Chelsey Brown, SPT

USC DPT Class of 2017

"I am not sleeping well; maybe it’s my position, my mattress or even my pillow? I want something healthy for my back but I am overwhelmed by the information."

Does this sound like you?

Then you have come to the right place.

We are going to spend the next few paragraphs outlining 1) why a good mattress is needed, 2) the levels of firmness and 3) the pros and cons of different mattress types to equip you for a more informed mattress-shopping extravaganza.

Why a good mattress? :

Let’s first think about the benefits of having a good mattress. They can be expensive but they are also a crucial foundation to facilitate your sleep and restfulness.

As your MD, PT or friends have probably told you, we all have natural spine curvature. So, finding a mattress that supports our natural curves is better in order to reduce muscle tension, joint pain, and malalignment when we awake in the morning.

A mattress that is too firm or too soft will either push on bony contact points or not allow us to have support for these curves.

If you are waking up with pain, and it takes a while to get rid of it. It may be time to switch out your mattress. Testing the mattress within the store is beneficial, however it can only give you a brief understanding of the possible benefits.

Helpful hint: Take your own pillow to the store so you can get a better understanding of how it would actually feel to be laying on it. Some stores will even let you try the mattress for 30 days.

But all of these types--it's so overwhelming!