General Advice

Choosing the right size bed

The right size bed is also dependent on the right size mattress. Choose a mattress that is at least 4 inches longer than the height of the tallest person sleeping on it. Then choose a bed design that will fit the mattress; and finally choose a design, size, and scale that fit the room. The standard sizes for mattresses are as follows:

LOOK AFTER YOUR BACK, CHOOSE THE RIGHT BED

"I never realised how important a good bed was until I got a bad back”.

Over 1,400 members of BackCare, the national organisation for healthy backs, responded  to our Back Your Bed survey  - the first of its kind to explore the views on beds of those who suffer from bad backs and the experts who treat them.

SUMMARY OF THE BACK YOUR BED SURVEY RESULTS

-    Buying a good bed is one of the most important purchases you can make when it comes to back pain relief.  Nine out of 10 say their bed is more important to them since they developed back pain; 98% agreed that a good, supportive bed could help a bad back. 82% of experts felt that the right bed could help prevent back pain.

"If you cannot rest properly and sleep well, this hinders recovery from back problems."

-    A firm, supportive bed, not a hard one, can do wonders to ease and even prevent bad backs. Only 22% of sufferers had bought a bed classed as ‘orthopaedic’; while 28% describe their bed support as “medium”. Only 6% of experts would recommend an orthopaedic bed to patients.

-    Three quarters would be prepared to spend more than £500 on a new bed: compared with just  36% of the ‘normal’ population.  Nearly one in 10 would pay more than £2,000 for a new bed to get the comfort and relief they need.  

-    Back pain sufferers are twice as likely as the rest of the population to own a new bed - 50% have beds that are less than five years old compared to the national average of 24%.

-   88% are satisfied with their choice – but 16% said they would get a better quality one next time; while 9% would opt for something firmer; 5% said they would choose a softer bed and 4% wanted a bigger one.

-    Sufferers are three times more likely to replace their beds when they no longer feel comfortable  (65% compared with just 20%).

-    31% own a king size bed compared with 11% generally.  Separate mattresses zipped together are also popular with couples whose support needs differ or who are easily disturbed by their partner's movements.

TIPS ON BUYING A NEW BED

“It can be intimidating to try out a bed in a store – but your pain could be far more intimidating if you don’t,”

-    Solutions vary widely.  Water beds, adjustable beds, pocket spring beds, foam, latex or visco-elastic beds, divans with sprung bases, bedsteads with slats, separate beds, king size beds - they all have their advocates

-    Different back problems require different solutions and the best approach is to research the options carefully, take time to try them out and choose what you find supportive and comfortable, regardless of labels or even price tags.

-    Lie on each bed you are considering in your normal sleeping position for a minimum of 5-10 minutes.

-    Check out bed height  - ensure you can get in and out of bed without pain or discomfort.

-    Don’t just buy a bed because it says it’s good for your back.

 -   Bear in mind that the term ‘orthopaedic’ generally just means an extra firm bed; it is not based on any medical or other common standard

-   Firmness is not determined by price, although comfort, luxury and durability do improve with better quality, more expensive beds, while additional features such as adjustability obviously cost more.

 -   Buy as big a bed as possible, especially if two of you are going to share it. You need to be able to sleep without being disturbed (and vice versa).

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