Extra firm mattresses come with a variety of benefits which can help to give you a fantastic nights sleep, but they are not for everyone. The following points should provide some guidance to help you figure out if an extra firm mattress is suitable for you.
A firm or extra firm mattress is beneficial to the health of your back by providing a level surface to the whole of your body while you sleep. This extra support helps your body maintain good posture and prevents your back from curving, which can happen on softer mattresses.
Larger or heavier people would benefit from an extra firm mattress as it provides the additional support that a larger body needs to prevent it from sinking down. The further your body sinks into a mattress, the more it will curve your spine. Smaller and lighter people need less firm support as they do not sink as much into a softer mattress.
If you sleep on your front then an extra firm mattress would provide a great level of support, as there are less pressure points on your front than on your back or sides. Those who do not sleep on their front might want to consider a firm or medium firm mattress, as their increased softness puts a little less pressure on your body. If a mattress that is too hard it could cause aches and pains in pressure point areas such as the hips or spine.
The increased stability offered by a firm or extra firm mattress has several other practical benefits for those who share a bed. Firstly, it means that you won’t roll towards the centre while you and your partner are sleeping. It also means that the whole bed doesn’t bounce nearly as much when you move, so you won’t disturb your partner if you move about in the night.
What About Back Pain?
Those who suffer from lower back pain could actually benefit from a little less firmness for a more comfortable nights sleep. In this case, a medium firm mattress would be best suited as they provide sufficient support to the spinal area without putting it under too much pressure. This balance between support and softness means that medium firm mattresses usually provide more back pain relief than an extra firm mattress would.
Even after taking all of these factors into account, everyone finds different levels of firmness and softness the most comfortable. It really is down to the individual. The best way of working out is an extra firm mattress is for you is to test one out for yourself.
If you think an extra firm mattress is for you then check out our selection, which includes a wide selection Hypnos mattresses, here.