Too soft, too hard, just right. That’s what mattresses can be. In the quest for the perfect mattress, it’s important to look for the level of support and comfort it provides. Too-soft mattresses don’t give proper support and can cause back problems in the long run. Since they’re plush, they may not last as long as other firmer mattresses either. On the flip side, too-hard mattresses don’t provide pressure point relief. They can’t contour to the body and areas like the lower back, shoulders, and hips can become sore. The sweet point is a medium-firm mattress. It strikes the right balance between comfort and support and promotes better sleep. Research supports this too – a study by Oklahoma State University of participants with minor pain and disturbed sleep showed that they slept better, had reduced back discomfort, and less stress when they used medium-firm beds.
Body mechanics, which refers to how you move when performing daily activities, play a role in determining the likelihood of injury and muscle fatigue. For instance, when lifting, you should use your legs and not your back. When sitting, shoulders should be pulled back, the knees should be bent at a 90-degree angle and the feet should be flat on the floor. Similarly, sleeping also requires that proper body mechanics should be maintained. While you don’t have much control over your body when asleep, the mattress you use can help significantly. A medium-firm mattress promotes spinal alignment as it contours to the shape of the body and prevents it from sinking in, which can cause lower back pain.
You’ve probably heard the saying that a hard mattress can reduce back pain. This isn’t true. In fact, sleeping on a mattress that’s too firm may exacerbate pain as it doesn’t have sufficient cushioning and can’t place the spine in a neutral position. A medium-firm mattress is an ideal choice as it gives the right level of support and prevents the spine from curving unnaturally. It also relieves pressure point discomfort on the shoulders and hips, which can otherwise make back pain sufferers feel worse.
Comfort is the first thing that comes to mind when choosing a new mattress. If you don’t feel good sleeping on it, you won’t be able to sleep through the night. A medium-firm mattress is neither too plush nor too hard. It’s soft enough that it conforms to each part of the body but supportive enough that you don’t feel like you’re sinking in. There’s no tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable sleeping position.
We really like our new mattress! I use to wake up every day with my back aching. But not any more, Nuvanna has made a difference. I would highly recommend this mattress.
David W | Published on Friday, November 14, 2018
Even weight distribution when sleeping is very important in order to prevent discomfort. A mattress that’s too soft doesn’t distribute weight equally and can cause pain in parts of the body that sink in. On the other hand, a hard mattress has very little cushioning so pressure points can be painful. A medium-firm mattress supports the entire length of the body. It doesn’t sag and each body part, whether it’s the head, neck, back or legs, is cradled properly.
Plush mattresses are especially unsuitable for heavier frames as they sag under the extra weight. Meanwhile, people with lighter frames will find hard mattresses very uncomfortable as there’s no contouring. Medium-firm mattresses are suitable for various frames as they aren’t too soft nor too hard. The balance of cushioning and support means that bed partners of different weights can sleep soundly without feeling like they’ve compromised on their comfort.
People with hip or joint pain can have a hard time getting up properly if a bed has poor edge support. Edge support refers to how much support the edge of a mattress has when you sit on it or when you get up. If there’s none, which is common among soft mattresses, you risk sliding off the bed and hurting yourself. A medium-firm mattress has much better edge support and allows you to sit up/down and get on/off with no trouble.
Nuvanna is a medium-firm mattress that has all the benefits of one. It’s designed by a mattress scientist with over 20 years of experience in the industry. It features a triple-layered construction with each performing different tasks. The top layer regulates body temperature by absorbing heat and dispersing it. The middle layer isolates motion so that you and your bed partner can move without disturbing each other. The bottom layer provides support to individual parts of the body and keeps the spine aligned.
Medium-firm mattresses are the way to go for anyone looking to improve sleep quality. They don’t trap heat like plush mattresses, they improve posture by reducing pain, and help you sleep better by eliminating discomfort. If you tend to sleep hot, have recently developed neck and back pain that you can’t attribute to injury or a medical condition, or suffer from joint pain that’s worsened by sleeping on a too-firm mattress, do yourself a favor and get a medium-firm mattress. You’ll sleep a lot better and have fewer complaints.