How Sleep Affects Athletic Performance

What makes a mattress good for athletes?

Some mattresses are designed specifically with athletes and other physically active people in mind. They are constructed with pressure-relieving comfort layers, support materials that won't sag too much, and innovative covers engineered to alleviate aches and pains even after your toughest days at the gym.

What are the benefits of athletic mattresses?

Athletes and those with active lifestyles will likely benefit from the bed's mixture of contouring comfort and sturdy support, which helps relieve pressure and keep the spine in a neutral position.

What kind of injuries can mattresses help with?

Back pain is one of the top reasons that people begin to lose mobility in middle age. Pain can keep people from engaging in physical activity, making it more difficult for them to maintain a healthy weight and keep up their strength, stamina, and balance as they age. So treating and managing back pain that results from injuries or health problems is crucial for staying on the path of a healthy and active life.

Considering that most people spend roughly a third of their lives lying in bed, choosing the right mattress is essential for managing low back pain. It can make the difference in whether you can sleep at night and function the next day.

Are orthopaedic mattresses the way to go?

Orthopaedic is a medical term. It relates to the field of orthopaedics, which looks specifically at the function of the spine and other joints. Orthopaedic specialists help to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal issues that affect the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Orthopaedic mattresses are commonly used by people who suffer from back problems.

However, over the years, orthopaedic mattresses have been designed to become more than just a solution to back pain. Specifically designed to offer excellent support and comfort, an orthopaedic mattress provides many benefits.

• Maximum support
  The firm surface of an orthopaedic mattress means you get optimum push-back for the perfect sleeping position. This will reduce tossing and turning and help you to wake up feeling refreshed.
• Even weight distribution
  An orthopaedic mattress evenly spreads your body weight to prevent the build-up of pressure points, particularly in your neck, back and hips.
• Correct spinal alignment
  Orthopaedic mattresses ensure correct spinal alignment to help alleviate stress on the spine and reduce back pain.
• Healthy posture
  An orthopaedic mattress helps you to adopt the correct posture as you sleep, promoting healthier blood circulation throughout the night.

What is the best mattress for athletes?

If you are physically active, then you understand the importance of a good night’s rest. Whether you run, bike, swim, or lift weights, a mattress that reduces pressure in your most sensitive areas and helps your body recover overnight can be an invaluable investment. And if your bed does not share these qualities, you might wake up feeling stiffer and more strained than before you turned off the light.

Some mattresses are designed specifically with athletes and other physically active people in mind. They are constructed with pressure-relieving comfort layers, support materials that won’t sag too much, and innovative covers engineered to alleviate aches and pains even after your toughest days at the gym.

What is the best mattress to aid muscle recovery?

Many people with chronic pain have repeatedly been told they need to sleep on a firm mattress to reduce pain.

Although there isn’t a large body of research on the subject of chronic pain and mattresses, one study indicated that a hard mattress may not always be the best choice when trying to improve your sleep quality and decrease pain.

During the study, more than 300 people with low back pain slept on mattresses that were categorized as either “medium-firm” or “firm.”

Following the completion of the 90-day study, participants who had slept on medium-firm mattresses reported less pain while lying in bed and during waking hours than those who had slept on the firm mattresses. It’s important to try out beds in store if you are able to, our sleep experts can help you find the right support for you and level of firmness to suit your needs.

Will a gel or cool foam mattress help?

It certainly makes for a comfortable and refreshing nights sleep and is great for those who struggle with the heat.

Is firmness a factor?

It’s often assumed that only a firm mattress is needed for support but there are so many different options available now offering so many levels of support and comfort it’s a great idea to talk to us in store to explore your options. We always recommend trying out the mattresses and discussing your requirements.

Is weight and height a factor?

Humans come in all different shapes and sizes. Tall, short, fat, thin, we have different weight distribution and therefore different needs. So when it comes to something like a mattress, something we spend a lot of time on, it’s important that we don’t take for granted that all sizes fit all. Lots of mattresses are designed and tested on men and women of average weight, but that doesn’t mean they are suitable for everyone. Sleep is very important for health, and an unfit mattress can be detrimental to that. It can also cause injuries.

Mattresses are meant to support our weight whilst we are at our most vulnerable. They’re essential for our comfort. Sleeping on the wrong mattress can negatively impact our posture moving forward, and by the time we realise something is wrong (usually when we show symptoms), it can be too late to correct the damage we have done. If you have a BMI of 25 or above, it is important you consider the thickness of your mattress. Mattresses are available in a range of thickness, from 6 inches to 16 inches or more. The heavier you are, the more likely your mattress is to sink when you are on it, so if you want long lasting and durable comfort, you’ll need a mattress that is on the thicker side. As a rule of thumb, the heavier you are, the thicker your mattress should be. People weighing between 250 and 400 pounds should look for a mattress at least ten inches tall. Those heavier than 400 pounds should aim for a mattress 14 inches or thicker.