If you’re a side sleeper, you know how important it is to have the right mattress. The wrong mattress puts pressure on your hips, shoulders, and other areas, leading to pain and discomfort. The right mattress, however, perfectly contours your body shape and alleviates these painful pressure points. Read on to learn why side sleepers have unique needs, what causes pressure points, and how to pick the best mattress for side sleeping.
Proper support matters for side sleepers
When you sleep on your side, only your shoulder and hip carry the burden of supporting the weight of your body. It concentrates force and tension into these high-pressure areas much more than if you were sleeping on your back. Over long periods, poorly supported side sleeping strain muscles and joints and even alters the spinal alignment. It is why proper mattress support is so crucial for side sleepers.
Without adequate reinforcement for protruding and heavy body zones, best mattress for side sleepers feel uncomfortable pressure leading to tossing and turning. A too-soft mattress allows hips and shoulders to sink in too deeply. But one that is too firm won’t cushion them enough. The ideal mattress provides customized support precisely where side sleepers require it. This tailor-made support cradles curves instead of fighting them – a more comfortable and healthier night’s sleep.
What causes pressure points for side sleepers?
They are and hips serve as the foundational pillars that bear the brunt of your body weight when sleeping on your side. However, these protruding and heavy areas were not designed to handle so much concentrated force. The blood vessels under areas of focused pressure flatten or occlude. It prevents normal blood circulation resulting in oxygen loss and nutrient delivery.
The primary reason for tossing and turning is the discomfort arising from these poorly supported pressure points. While repositioning brings temporary relief by shifting pressure to other areas, the underlying problem remains unsolved. Over years of inadequate support, pressure points negatively impact joints, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. Let’s analyze how the neck, shoulders, hips, and spine – the most affected zones for side sleepers – develop pain and problems over time.
Neck support
The neck curve must maintain proper curvature without twisting the head up or down. Without support in this neutral alignment, stiffness, pinching, and nerve issues flare up over time.
Shoulders support
The shoulder carries a large share of your upper body weight if it sinks too far into a mattress without reinforcement. This strains the rotator cuff muscles causing immobility and joint dysfunction over time.
Spinal alignment
A dipping or curved spine loses its ideal shape leading to back issues and pain. For proper spinal health, side sleepers need a flat and neutral spine.
Hip support
A major trouble spot, the protruding hip easily sinks too deeply into soft mattresses. This twists the lower spine and strains surrounding muscles leading to worsening pain. Natural latex prevents excessive sinkage through slight springiness while contouring closely around pressure zones. Advanced compression relief comes from the aerated solid core or latex layers wrapped around firmer coils. Latex resists impressions and dust mites while sleeping reasonably cool for most thanks to ventilation. Long-lasting latex makes a wonderful pressure-relieving choice for side sleepers wanting consistent comfort. Potential drawbacks include natural latex’s high cost and weight. Synthetic blends run cooler and cost less but contour less effectively.
