Why is Choosing the Right Mattress Important for Spinal Health?
Orthopedic and Traumatology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akif Albayrak stated that when the human body enters sleep mode, it repairs the micro and macro damage that occurs during the day. To facilitate this, men and women with different body types need to choose mattresses that are suitable for them.
Maintaining the posture the spine adopts during the day is also crucial for spinal health during sleep. Therefore, the chosen mattress must be conducive to sleep positions that place the least load on the spine and discs. Highlighting this point, Orthopedic and Traumatology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akif Albayrak emphasized that the mattress we sleep on is very important because it is when the body enters sleep mode that it repairs the micro and macro damage accumulated throughout the day.
"Every Person Has a Specific Mattress and Firmness They Find Comfortable"
Noting that he frequently encounters the question of whether a "soft mattress" or a "hard mattress" is better for spinal health, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akif Albayrak continued his words as follows: "Frankly, we cannot say either is definitively correct. A medium-firm mattress will be the most suitable. However, this can vary from person to person. People adapt to the hard or soft mattresses they have slept on for a long time, and their bodies often reject a different mattress, leading to complaints like 'I slept but didn't feel rested.' Our bodies are adapted to our own beds. Every person has a specific mattress and firmness level they find comfortable. It will be beneficial to determine this on an individual basis."
"We Increase the Firmness of Our Mattress Proportionally Over Time"
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akif Albayrak stated that the same mattress is not suitable for everyone due to differences in body types: "In mattress selection, factors such as our body's fat-muscle ratio, the shape of our spine, lumbar curve, etc., are influential. Therefore, the same mattress cannot be suitable for everyone due to differences in body types. To exemplify this, softer mattresses are preferred for children, but this changes as we grow and our weight increases. Over time, we proportionally increase the firmness of our mattress. With this awareness, the mattress industry also produces personalized mattresses."
"Sleeping on the Right Mattress is Essential for Body Health"
Albayrak stated that spinal structure varies from person to person, and there are even significant differences between men and women, concluding his words as follows: "Every person's muscle structure, lumbar curve, and thoracic kyphosis can be different. Therefore, we adopt a personalized approach in everything we do. For example, when we need to adjust a brace for an orthopedic problem, the person's measurements are taken, and a product is designed accordingly. Or, for my patients who have undergone scoliosis surgery, their backs become sensitive; therefore, I recommend they sleep on a medium-firm mattress that facilitates lying down and getting up easily, with a height appropriate for the patient's stature."