subject: Why Does Memory Foam Provide Pain Relief? [print this page] Feeling lower back pain or stiffness on a given morning is not all that uncommon even for those in good physical condition. Innerspring mattresses are the culprit most of the time. They push back against your body, creating pressure points and decreasing circulation. This pressure partially explains the amount of tossing and turning that we have to do each night.
Those who suffer from pain will have a hard time sleeping on innerspring mattresses because of the pressure it creates.
I recently dealt with some lower back pain because I had rotated my torso for an extended period of time. It affected me most while sitting and sleeping on my innerspring mattress because it caused a good deal of discomfort and pain. In the morning, I would feel very sore. My back is now 100% again, but I still occasionally wake up feeling stiff.
What separates memory foam from every other mattress is its temperature sensitivity. It softens when exposed to warmer temperatures, and firms up in cooler conditions. Therefore, it contours to our body when we lie down on it for a few minutes.
So instead of it rebounding against our body, it gives away. This is why memory foam all but eliminates pressure points, and why those who suffer from pain could find some relief.
Everyone, regardless of whether you suffer from pain or not, can gain from not feeling pressure points. Tossing and turning won't be as frequent, and the quality of sleep will likely improve. Not to mention that they will likely wake up feeling better.
Now, there are no guarantees when it comes to getting pain relief from memory foam. It certainly can help, but there are many reasons why someone experiences pain in general.
In other words, while a mattress certainly plays a role in the quality of sleep we get, it's not likely to be the sole reason why anyone has pain or trouble sleeping. Other reasons could include stress, anxiety, a poor diet, weak core muscles, and a lack of fitness.
How much you can benefit from a memory foam mattress also depends on the state of your existing mattress. The worse shape it's in, the more a new mattress will help you get a better night's rest.
If it's still in decent shape, then the gains won't be as much. An alternative is to buy a memory foam topper if you don't want to get a new mattress. It's a lot less expensive, plus you'll get some of the benefits of memory foam.
