broadway @ yew chiropractic



 

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Guidelines for Buying a Good Mattress

As Chiropractors we are always being asked, "Do I need a new bed?" If you are waking up with low back pain on a regular basis, and have been to see a chiropractor already and it's still occurring, it may be your bed. It's so common that we wanted to put the information together and offer it to patients to find there way through the maze of beds out there.

  1. A good mattress will last around 10 years. Some have warranty for this long and some do not. Essentially after 10 years there is very little support left in the foundation and materials that support the spine during sleep.
  2. A medium to firm mattress is best because it provides support while still being comfortable. The mattress is suppose to rest the spine and the support structures, which means it cannot be too soft so the spine sags in any way.
  3. Be careful about getting too thick of a pillow top. The softness of these don't support the spine and it's structure as per above. Often these structures can be up to 4 inches. We recommend only 1- 1 ½ inches.
  4. When shopping for a mattress one needs to spend a minimum of half an hour trying the bed ie. napping or relaxing enough to see if it's comfortable for you. Therefore, it's a timely errand to shop for try out many beds, so be sure to allow enough time and not be rushed.
  5. Lastly, ensure that there is a good return policy and warranty. A good standard is a 60 day return ie. you can try it out and if it doesn't work you can exchange it.

Are you getting new pillows too??


Guidelines for buying pillows

  1. Pillows, like beds, should be medium to firm.
  2. You should use only 1 pillow underneath your neck. A second can be added between your knees if lying on your side to support your low back.
  3. The cervical lordotic pillows (the ones with curves) are best for people that go to sleep and stay asleep in the same position. If the curve of the pillow get misplaced while tossing around it can cause problems with the support of the neck.
  4. Foam and feathers are both fine. We do not recommend water or bean pillows.

For more information please contact info@vancouverbackpain.com