There is a popular misconception that a firm bed is best. In the past, mattresses were made of materials that would shift and compress, leading to a mattress that would sag at the middle. As a result, back and neck pain was a complaint. To remedy the sagging, people began to suggest putting a board under the mattress for support. Thus, the myth of the firm bed was born.
Mattresses are a major part of our lives, but how hard or soft they are can play a significant role in sleep quality. Getting a good night's rest depends on many factors – comfort, mental stressors, environment – but to begin, one has to start with the essential, and a bed that supports you correctly is the first component to restorative, healing sleep.
Many boast the fact that they sleep on a firm mattress and view it as a sign of strength, but what many people are unaware of is the way that a firm bed can detract from quality sleep, performance, and mental sharpness. Arya Nick Shamie, MD, associate professor of orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center states that, “the mattress needs to support your body in a neutral position, one in which your spine has a nice curvature and your buttocks, heels, shoulders, and head are supported in proper alignment.” This kind of dynamic support means fewer pressure points and less tossing and turning during the night, which interrupts the deep sleep stage when the body is trying to repair itself.
A mattress that is firm does not support the spine in a natural and relaxed position, but rather works against a relaxed body, preventing your shoulders and hips from sinking in. When you consider this, it’s not difficult to imagine what happens to the middle back – it collapses into a curve, resulting in tension and possibly lower back pain. The main source of this pain stems from the fact that the lowest four vertebrae of the spine are fused and resistant to being curved. Your muscular system tenses, in an effort to make up for the support its lacking, and the result is disrupted circulation, unexplained tightness, or back pain.
Not everyone will experience back pain as a result of a firm mattress right away, that is true, but there are other ways in which the body may be suffering as a result of improper support. Structural imbalance in the body also effects breathing, which, in turn, affects sleep quality. When our spine is in its natural position – a position in which the head, shoulders, and hips are in good alignment – our lungs are able to hold more oxygen. Appropriate intake of oxygen during sleep assists smooth functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system, which induces and promotes relaxation, leading to deep sleep.
During periods of deep sleep, the bodies energy goes into recharging and repairing your systems: the kidneys get to work cleaning our blood, the organs detox, cells are replaced and renewed, wounds heal, muscle tissue restore, and your brain consolidates memories as well as eliminates toxins. Get too little deep sleep and your immune system weakens. This is because it is during deep sleep that the immune system really does its job. If you aren’t achieving enough deep sleep, in time you may suffer fatigue, mental fogginess, or any other host of health issues.
To help the body obtain enough deep sleep you need a mattress that provides dynamic support, helping the spine rest in a natural and relaxed position. The DUX Bed’s continuous-coil spring system is flexible enough to let your shoulders and hips sink in, yet resilient enough to rise up and support your lower back. Vital pressure points — especially your spine — are supported in the most ergonomically healthy positions possible, letting your blood circulate freely while your muscles completely relax.
We feel The DUX Bed is the best bed for back pain, not only because it aligns your spine through dynamic contouring support, but also because the support can be customized to your specific body size, shape, and weight. Should you need more support in a certain area, the DUX bed’s component system can be easily configured to your individual needs, even those that change over time. If at any point in your life you find your needs are different, you can adjust your support as needed.
When you consider the constant stress your spine endures every day you owe it to yourself to protect it at night.
