IS YOUR BED PROVIDING THE SUPPORT YOU NEED?

It’s interesting to note though that sometimes you’re doing the most damage while you are sleeping. Often people don’t realise that their back pain may be caused or aggravated by their bed.

A mattress will usually deteriorate up to 50% from its ’new’ state over the course of 10 years, through normal wear and tear. Mattress comfort layer compression, broken springs, and retention of moisture are all part of common wear and tear and ultimately all have a negative impact on the level of support and comfort your bed provides you while you are sleeping. It stands to reason then that this can lead to poor sleep posture. As a result, many people suffer from back pain, lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and hip pain, which their bed can exacerbate.

A good test is to think about how you feel when you wake after sleeping. Is your back feeling better than when you went to sleep or worse? If it often feels worse after sleeping your bed may not be providing the right comfort or support your body needs and could be leading to back pain or body aches.

If you need help selecting your perfect bed try our online Sleep Selector or talk to one of our in-store bed specialists via "Find my nearest Smiths City store."

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP POSTURE

It’s worth considering we spend approximately a third of our lives in bed and the quality of sleep you enjoy will have a significant impact on how you will feel when you are not in bed.

One of the best ways to improve sleep posture and help relieve any discomfort is to invest in a good quality mattress and pillow suited to your particular needs. While the mattress supports your body a good quality pillow supports your neck and head and helps with your spinal alignment. Research from the University of Virginia has found that side sleeping can benefit spinal health and brain efficiency.

A suitable mattress will allow for the curves of your body to be maintained rather than your body conforming to the mattress. A mattress that’s too soft or too hard for your body shape and weight can cause your spine to curve in an unnatural way. Thinking about the length of time people spend in bed is it any wonder you can wake up with muscles that are stiff and sore if your mattress is not suitable for your body shape.

Dr. Hayden Thomas, says many people don’t appreciate the value of correct support while they sleep. Sleep plays a vital role in restoring and healing the body:

“Often people suffering from back pain assume the firmer the bed the better which is not always the case. It’s important that your mattress and pillow together cushion your body to ensure your spine is kept in a neutral position while sleeping. Poor alignment can cause stress in all the wrong places. Factors such as your size, shape, weight and health will influence the type of bed most suitable for you.”

If you are waking up stiff and sore or if your pain is worse during the night while you are sleeping then it may be worth taking a good look at your mattress. It could help how you sleep and feel when you get up every day.

SUPPORTING SPINAL RESEARCH

To help support spinal research in New Zealand, Sleepyhead has partnered with the NZCA to raise funds for new research initiatives in New Zealand. For every purchase of a Sleepyhead bed, endorsed and referred by an NZCA registered chiropractor, Sleepyhead will make a donation to NZCA who direct the funds towards chiropractic research and education in New Zealand.

If you are interested in helping support spinal research to help all New Zealander's live healthier be sure to register your new Sleepyhead bed purchase

WHAT SLEEPYHEAD BEDS ARE COVERED IN THE PROGRAM?

The Sleepyhead Chiropractic and Sanctuary bed ranges are endorsed by the NZCA for providing outstanding support. As part of the program for every:

• Chiropractic bed sold and registered Sleepyhead will donate $10 to spinal research
• Sanctuary bed sold and registered Sleepyhead will donate $50 to spinal research

To ensure your purchase helps spinal research, be sure to register your product warranty and nominate your local Chiropractor.