Which mattress would you recommend?

How old is your mattress?

It’s a common question I ask as an osteopath to my patients at Get Strong physiotherapy & osteopathy. Many of us lose track of how old our mattress really is. When we think back to when we bought it, we realise that it maybe time to replace it, as it has been well over the recommended 8-10yr life cycle of the mattress.

It can be a daunting task when looking for a new mattress. Commonly patients will ask what I would recommend. Most of the time I ask them what they have been using already, and whether they find it comfortable. In some cases it might be worth buying the exact same mattress again!

The mattress that will be best suited for you, will mainly depend on how heavy you are, as well as how you sleep. The heavier you are, the firmer your mattress needs to be so it can support you while you sleep. It’s normally advised you get a medium-firm to firm mattress. Its important to ask to try the mattress on a similar bed to the one you will put the mattress on, as this can drastically change how a mattress feels!

A Mattress should be BOTH comfortable and supportive. Not just one of those things.

A good thing to do when mattress shopping, is have someone take a photo of you while you lie in your preferred position. You want to look for your spine being aligned, and relatively straight without it bowing down too much if you're on your side. If you sleep on your back, you don't want to be rounding, with your hips and lower back sinking into the mattress.

If you lie on your side predominantly you may want to have something that has a bit of padding on the top of it, whether that be part of the mattress itself, or as an additional topper. This is particularly helpful for patients who suffer with hip problems.

Pocket sprung, Latex, Memory foam, Combo. There are lots of different types of mattresses out there, and which you choose, will come down to personal preference. Memory foam or latex mattresses may feel comfortable, but if you’re someone who gets easily hot at night, it might not be the best for you. Most people will suit pocket sprung mattresses best, and although they generally cost a small amount more they tend to last longer.

I always advise patients to get the largest bed that they can fit into the space allocated for their bed. Even if you don’t share a bed with a partner, having a bigger bed will create a healthier sleeping environment. If you do have a partner you’re sharing with, it will also make it less likely that you disturb one another during the night! If you and your partner like very different beds, look into options of ‘zip and link’ mattresses.

Take your time when choosing a mattress. Don’t rush into a decision to buy a mattress based on lying on it for a few minutes, and don’t be tempted to just buy a mattress because its on sale and cheap, or that it’s the most expensive in the showroom! Most companies will offer a descent trial period before needing to return it if you happen to buy one you don’t get on with. Just make sure before parting with your money! Remember however, that you will spend more time on this piece of furniture than any sofa or car most likely, so it is important to get the one that will help you sleep best.