Orthopaedic mattresses are specially designed to offer support and pain relief to those suffering from back ache. Finding the perfect orthopaedic mattress can be life changing so it’s worth doing your research before investing.
Here we’ve laid out everything you need to know to help you find an orthopaedic mattress for back pain.
What difference does an orthopaedic mattress make?
Orthopaedic mattresses offer maximum support all night long and are normally extra firm to support your back properly. The firmer your mattress, the more evenly your body weight is distributed. This can help to alleviate stress on the spine and unnecessary pressure on the neck, lower back and hips.
Scientists estimate that we spend upwards of 26 years of our lives sleeping. So we should all be trying our best to make the most out of our sleep. Many people suffer from aches and pains that can find them tossing and turning all night. Orthopaedic mattresses are designed to prevent discomfort by providing improved support.
Should I get an orthopaedic mattress?
Before deciding on an orthopaedic mattress, consider what it is that’s disturbing your sleep. If it’s due to an aching back or joints, then more orthopaedic support could be the answer.
If you can’t try out one out in person, try reading orthopaedic mattress reviews. Reviews can be really insightful as they offer lots of impartial views. However, it’s worth remembering that every body is different. The perfect mattress for someone may not be right for you so we always recommend trying mattresses out in store.
Orthopaedic mattresses specially cater to people suffering from discomfort. So, whilst you may struggle sleeping, orthopaedic mattresses won’t help if the reasons for your tumultuous sleep aren’t physical. If you don’t suffer from any aches or pains then reconsider if what’s disturbing your sleep.
The reason you’re struggling to sleep could be diet-based or related to stress or anxiety. An orthopaedic mattress isn’t always the solution to getting a good night’s sleep. Consulting your doctor or a dietician could help address this.
Orthopaedic vs pocket-sprung mattress
Many people want to know what’s better between orthopaedic mattresses and pocket springs. Well, you don’t need to choose between them because many orthopaedic mattresses contain pocket springs. Pocket springs adjust and respond to the sleeper’s movement, helping to provide independent support and minimise roll together.
How firm should my orthopaedic mattress be?
There is no specific firmness that makes orthopaedic mattresses perfect. However, an orthopaedic mattress for back pain will tend to be slightly firmer. If you prefer the feel of soft mattresses but need firm support, then consider a mattress with a pillow top. This will give you a soft feel without compromising on support.
In general, our Sleep Team would recommend choosing your mattress’ firmness based on your weight. People weighing under 11st often opt for soft tension and those over 16st tend to find firmer mattresses more suitable. This may not be the case when looking for an orthopaedic mattress so check with our consultant for their recommendations.
Read How to Choose a Mattress and What to Consider When Buying a Mattress for more tips on finding the right mattress.
Did you know we’ve been making premium mattresses since 1810? Discover our mattresses here.
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Tips & advice
Choosing a mattress is a minefield of technical terms and personal preferences. Plus, being in the midst of a pandemic makes it even harder to make an informed decision. To help you make an informed decision that’s right for you, your needs and your body we asked our Sleep Team to lend a hand.
Mousami, Sara and Siria are normally based in store and are genuine experts when it comes to helping our customers find the perfect place to rest their heads. We asked them to apply their years of experience to help you choose the right mattress from the safety of your own home.
Why should I spend more money on a handmade mattress?
Sara & Siria: A hand-crafted mattress should last you longer. The tufts in a tufted mattress help keep all the fillings in place. Most of our mattresses come with long warrantees guaranteeing a quality product.
Mousami: The attention to detail and time taken to create a handmade mattress means a longer-lasting finish. Standard mattresses often use glue to hold the mattress together and over time this causes soft layers to fall apart. Plus, if a multi layered mattress is not tufted the materials inside won't hold together for long. The tufting technique keeps the materials for shifting and sagging.
Why are natural materials important in a mattress?
S & S: A number of toxic chemicals are often used in the production of a synthetic mattress, making these types of mattresses less environmentally friendly. Wool, for example, has a natural flame-retardant quality so it doesn’t need to be treated with flame retardants and is completely non-toxic.
Materials like cotton are longer-lasting because they are compressed and tufted, compared to synthetic memory foam which breaks down a lot faster because, like a sponge, it retains moisture. Natural materials are generally more breathable, which means they regulate your body temperature.
On the other hand, foam and memory foam are heat-activated and are designed specifically to retain and use your body heat in order to contour to the body’s shape. This causes your baseline body temperature to rise over the course of the night. Because of this, memory foam can make you toss and turn, reducing the quality of your sleep.
What are the benefits of a mattress with latex?
S & S: Latex is a natural material produced from the sap of the rubber tree (Heves Brasiliensis) and unlike cotton and wool has an in-built recovery memory keeping the mattress plump with a springy feel. It’s hypoallergenic and is naturally resistant to mould and mildew. A latex mattress also helps to minimise the stress on joints.
What is the difference between tension and feel?
S & S: Tension refers to the strength of the spring relative to the gauge of the coil. Feel is how the mattress actually feels when laying on it. For example, a medium tension in our Organic 1500 feels slightly softer than the medium tension in our Organic 3000. Most of the mattresses to tend to feel slightly firmer with a higher spring count.
Some mattresses also feel ‘softer’ – this isn’t to say that the springs are not as supportive, but the fillings create a more sumptuous feeling as if you are sinking into the mattress rather than sleeping flat on top of it and this choice is matter of personal preference.
M: The overall feel of the mattress depends more on the how the materials inside are layered on top of the spring pocket layer. The darker and wirier materials like horsehair and horsetail often sit closest to the springs to provide more spring, support and firmness.
The lighter materials like wool and cotton provide a cushioning feel so they are the outer layers. You can have two medium tension spring mattresses but topped with different materials will change the overall feel as this is the layer you’re immediately lying on.
What’s the difference between pocket springs and coil springs?
M: Pocket springs offer more support than coil springs. The individual springs that make up the mattress are housed in their own little pockets and are free to work independently of each other, unlike coil springs that are all linked together and tend to move as one.
On an open coil mattress, movement spreads across the whole mattress, so if your partner moves in the night you will move too. With pocket springs, because the springs are individually housed, movement is isolated to that specific area of the mattress. This makes a pocket-sprung mattress ideal for people with two different body weights because they reduce that roll together movement.
How many pocket springs should I get in a mattress?
S & S: The more pocket springs you have the more localised support the mattress will provide as the diameter of the coil will have decreased to fit the greater number of springs. As a result, you have more springs working to support and contour around your body.
However, I usually tell customers not to focus too heavily on spring count. The reason being is that some retailers will have mattresses with spring counts in the tens of thousands but these would be very tiny tightly packed springs with not much durability to them. We tend to focus on the quality of our springs rather than quantity.
M: Buying a decent quality pocket spring mattress you should make you have a minimum of 1000 pocket springs for a king size mattress. 1500-2000 is high springs count and over 2000 is very premium spring count.
What are micro pocket springs?
M: Micro pocket springs are smaller pocket springs usually used by manufactures to increase the spring count as customers associate the number of springs to the quality of a mattress. A full sized spring will be a lot more supportive than micro pocket springs because it has more suspension so this will even out uneven weights more effectively.
What is ticking?
S & S: Ticking is the fabric that is used to cover mattresses. This can be made from cotton, viscose, wool etc. Again, a natural fibre will help with comfort and hygiene.
M: The composition can affect your quality of sleep, as some ticking is more breathable, like cotton and linen. The composition of the ticking can also make the mattress feel firmer.
What is side stitching?
S & S: Side-stitching helps keep the mattress’ walls firmly in place. The stitches go roughly 15-20 cm into the mattress with the thread going around the pocket springs and fillings to anchor everything into place. Higher-specification mattresses have more rows of side-stitching to help contain all the extra layers of fillings and give the mattress edges increased structure and longevity. The side-stitching on most cheap mattresses is usually there purely for cosmetic reasons and does not have the same structural function.
How often should I clean a luxury mattress?
S & S: Rotate or flip it three or four times a year - every season is ideal. We would also recommend that you do this more often when you first receive it to help the mattress settle – like breaking in a pair of good quality leather shoes. You can vacuum your mattress to remove any dust, hair and other debris.
If there are any stains which have yet to set in, blot the area with a clean damp cloth. However, the best way to keep your mattress clean is with mattress protector – ideally composed of natural.
Finding the right mattress can be a real challenge, especially at the moment when trying one out in person is near impossible. We asked Sara and Siria, members of our Sleep Team, to tell us what exactly makes a good mattress. Sara and Siria are real experts, so hopefully their detailed description of the perfect mattress will help you to make an informed decision.
Mattress Size
First and foremost what size are you after? We always recommend that if you’ve got the space then go as big as you can. This will guarantee a good night's sleep, especially when sharing the mattress with someone as it minimises any movement you may experience from the other person.
With that being said, always make sure that you can get a large mattress through to your bedroom without bending or folding it. It’s vitally important to measure up for access as none of our mattresses come in a box and bending them would ruin the structure.
Type of mattress
You then might want to think about which type of mattress you would like to go for - i.e.: latex, memory foam, pocket sprung. If you’ve slept on a pocket sprung mattress your whole life and have been relatively comfortable with it then we would recommend sticking to what you know.
We wouldn't usually recommend a memory foam mattress unless you’ve tried one overnight before. It can be a bit hit or miss with memory foam mattresses as they do feel quite different to pocket sprung ones.
The memory foam conforms to your body’s contours throughout the night giving you quite a snug fit and reduces movement. It’s this characteristic which makes latex memory foam perfect for people with joint problems or mobility issues: moving during sleep might cause discomfort and wake you up. You don't want to buy a new type of mattress, try it at home for the first time and not like it.
Purchasing a mattress is a long term commitment (8-10 years minimum!) that you must get right. If you are after a more natural or organic product then it's best to go for a pocket sprung mattress in our Organic or Natural Sleep range. Most of these mattresses use all natural fillings with no foam or latex present. Here’s a tip: if you are moving home, remember not to bend or roll your mattress as it can damage the springs. Keep your mattress well-wrapped and laid flat while in transit.
Tension
The next thing to consider would be the tension. We would recommend you go by the weight guidelines. If you weigh roughly between 11-16st/70-100kg then we would say to go for a medium tension. Anyone weighing under 11st/70kg would be a soft tension and anyone over 16st/100kg would be a firm.
It’s a common misconception that we quite often get from customers that the firmer the better, or if you have any sort of back issue then you should go for a firm. This is quite the contrary and in some cases a firm mattress can do more damage than good. You're going to want a mattress that gives you support in all the right places.
It's always good to go for the correct tension according to your weight and, if after 30 nights it still doesn't feel right, then you can think about taking advantage of Heal’s Comfort Promise. If a couple is varied in weight then you can go for a zip and link mattress with two different tensions.
Try it out
On a normal day the best advice we can give is for customers to come into store and spend as long as they can on the mattresses. Laying on them, jumping on them, napping on them. We can also help assess their spine alignment. It truly is the best way to get a real feel for them.
When something has integrated LED technology it means that the LEDs are fixed and cannot be easily removed. LEDs are largely considered to be the future of lighting so they’re often integrated into modern lights.
However, many consumers are plagued by fears of longevity and their light becoming redundant once the LED module runs out. Here we lay out the pros and cons so you can decide if integrated LEDs are right for you.
Pro:
Creative freedom
Integrated LEDs can allow for more creative designs. In recent years LEDs have advanced to the extent that they are flatter, smaller and more pliable than ever before. This technological leap has liberated designers and allowed them to explore lighting like never before. Designs such as the Ribbon Pendant Light and Michael Anastassiades’ Arrangement series are perfect examples.
Con:
An intergrated LED has an expiration date
Integrated LEDs pendants will need to be replaced when the light stops working. However, with the increased use of LEDs, brands have begun offering replacement modules. For example, Tom Dixon’s LEDs are designed to be replaceable and Heal’s offers a five-year guarantee on all own-brand integrated LEDs.
Pro:
LED's last longer
LEDs last longer than standard bulbs and make an excellent choice over incandescent bulbs. According to DM Lights, the average LED module can last for up to 30,000 hours. This means that if you use your light for five hours every day it can last for up to 16 years. It is only after this time that your LED module will need replacing, giving it a very long lifespan.
Pro:
LED's use less energy
LEDs are renowned as a low-energy alternative to traditional halogen bulbs. Because they use less energy they are better for the planet and also more cost effective. As of 2018, the EU banned importing new energy-wasting halogen bulbs so it could be that in the coming years we see them less in our homes.
Con:
How sustainable is it really?
Yes LEDs use less energy, but how sustainable is something that may need chucking away at the end of its lifecycle? With more and more brands offering replacement modules this is gradually becoming less of a concern. However, it’s always best to check with the supplier if replacements are available.
Pro:
A more versatile glow
Lighting can really make or break a room and LED technology will definitely help. These state-of-the-art modules are often compatible with dimmer switches so you can change the room’s ambience to suit you.
Convinced by integrated LEDs? Discover our collection here.
Ordering a new piece of furniture often involves lots of research, preparation and organisation. To help you along the way, we’ll dissect one of the most commonly used terms.
Lead times include the time taken to order, make and deliver something to your door and it can be a confusing term.
Why is my lead time so long?
When you buy a piece of luxury furniture it’s often made especially for you and won’t be available immediately. The timeframe is carefully calculated based on the speed of a suppliers’ workflow, material availability and shipping. Take our Designed By You sofas for example.
On receiving your order, the frame is built, padded, the upholstery sewn on and sent to our warehouse before we can deliver it to you. It takes time to craft exquisite design, but it’s worth it.
Why is a lead time important?
If you are moving home or need your furniture by a specific date then you should time when you place your order. Use lead times as rough guides for when the furniture will be ready for delivery.
If you’re under time pressure then you may be better opting for stocked furniture that is ready for delivery. Most design houses and furniture retailers will have a collection of pieces that are available for swift delivery.
Can lead times change?
Here at Heal’s, lead times are always quoted in good faith, however some things are beyond our control. If one of our suppliers falls behind schedule or traffic delays delivery to our warehouse then timings can vary. If your lead time changes, we’ll let you know as soon as we do.
Can you speed it up?
Unfortunately, once your order is with our suppliers there is very little we can do to hurry it along. Each lead time is fully optimised to show you the most realistic timeframe and avoid disappointment. Please make sure you take your time to do a comprehensive access check before placing your order. There’s nothing more disappointing than waiting two months for a sofa to discover it won’t fit through your front door.
Check out this guide on how to complete an access check.
Whether you sleep on your back, stomach or side, the right mattress is essential to getting a good night’s sleep. Finding the best mattress for your sleeping position isn’t a speedy process. With thousands of different types out there, you’ll want to be sure of your decision before making a purchase.
To help you decide, we’ve created a practical guide, showing which of our mattresses may be best for you. Whilst this guide represents most sleeping positions, it’s important to remember that everyone is different. So, if you suffer from difficulty sleeping or neck and back pain, we recommend seeking medical advice before purchasing.
Back Sleeper
Sleeping on your back is a great way to ensure your spine remains in a neutral position when sleeping. As all your weight is resting on one plane, your mattress should be especially supportive.
A firm mattress, such as the Latex Pocket 3000 Mattress or the Memory Supreme Mattress, should do the trick. For added support, we recommend sleeping with a firm pillow beneath your knees to reduce tension on your lower back.
Side Sleeper
As the majority of adults in the UK sleep on their side, there is plenty of advice on finding the right mattresses. This sleeping position exposes more pressure points so it is better suited to medium soft mattress. Softer mattresses should provide more comfort to side sleepers by contouring to the body’s form.
If you have already invested in a firmer mattress, a mattress topper will add a little softness. Top Tip: Consider your sleeping companion when choosing your mattress. If you or your partner are a restless sleeper, it might be wise to invest in a wider bed. This way you can stretch, move and turn without waking them.
Stomach Sleeper
A front sleeping position can lead to overarching the spine, so it’s important to choose a mattress that provides proper support. There is a fine line between a mattress so firm it restricts the natural curve of the spine and a soft mattress that offers little support.
A medium firm mattress is often the right choice. For front sleepers, it is advised you visit one of our stores and try out the mattress in person.
Restless Sleeper
Many people don’t fall into one sleeping position category and finding a mattress to suit can be a challenge. Take time to consider which positions you sleep in most and err towards a mattress that suits them best collectively.
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