Memory foam mattress research

[tezuga]

I am an occupational therapist volunteering in Israel's center for adaptive equipment. Do you know of any research about the difference between different foam mattresses? Is there research supporting the use of any one type of foam for pressure relief or investigating whether there is a difference between mattresses and overlays? Thank you!

Rachel

[DLF Team]

Hi Rachel,

We would recommend that you try searching for research articles on search engines such as MEDLINE, PubMed, EBN Online or Google Scholar. Type in relevant keywords such as foam mattress, pressure care, mattress overlays, pressure mapping, memory foam etc. Alternatively, you might wish to contact a library who may be able to carry out a search on your behalf.

The DLF has put together a factsheet on choosing pressure relief equipment, which provides basic information on the different types of materials used in mattresses and overlays. This may be a useful starting point.

I hope this is helpful.
DLF Occupational Therapist.

[merielflux]

Hi Rachel

have you looked on the MHRA site they did have something on matresses versus overlays as does the NHS PASA site

[Daisees]

Some few years ago, before it was made available on the market, a surgeon I worked with got a piece of what is now called Memory foam from a friend who worked for NASA! I was manager of an operating theatre at the time and got this piece made up into a specialised mattress for an operating table for fractured hips, mostly in the elderly. He used a special small pressure device under the patient's sacrum and took readings of the pressure at various stages through the operation. He also did the same with the ordinary matresses. The differences between the two sets of data was astounding!Sadly, though I tried my best to persuade him otherwise, he didn't feel the data he had acquired was sufficient to publish so I'm afraid you only have my word for it!

We carried on using this prototype mattress for sometime and there was a noticable fall in the incidence of sacral pressure sores for that period until the mattress wore out. Unfortunately, by then the doctor had moved on and I had no idea where to get a replacement.

Happily, since then, all manufacturers of operating table and hospital beds offer memory foam as an option and it is to be highly recommended as a preventative against pressure sores and aches and pains caused by bad mattresses. I have a 3" topper on my bed and it's bliss!

[thomspie85]

Hi,

I’ve tried memory foam mattresses and find them infinitely more comfortable
than their spring-based counter parts but I prefer them with a comfort cover
(much like those found on a regular mattress) as the enveloping nature of the
foam feels a little restrictive to me.

[Delf G]

These matts are undoubtedly very good but with the expansive choice seemingly available it's good to arm yourself with some facts about what to look for to meet your individual criteria.

I found this site very useful as it clearly explains the different factors involved without being difficult to understand: http://www.ergoflex.co.uk/memory-foam-mattress.php

It's a good starting point so hope it helps!

[Chris Day]

The determination of memory foam mattress is considered with use of Indentation Force Deflection (IFD) which is rating system. However, its precision has been notorious.

[inventive]

There is a lot of different between Memory foam Mattresses themselves and between memory foam mattresses and memory foam toppers.

Firstly , memory foam toppers don't have a firm base layer of normal reflex foam they just have 2-4 inches of Memory foam in density's from 40-80kg/m³ - depending on the seller.

Memory foam mattresses come in a range of different layer set ups - normally a memory foam mattress will have a memory foam layer on top of a standard firmer layer of reflex foam- so you could have 3 inches of memory foam on top of 5 inches of standard foam which supports the main memory foam layer , without this there would be no support. You can even get dual layer memory foam layers - so there will be a super soft memory foam layer on top of a firmer memory foam layer which is then on top of a standard foam layer to support the memory foam.

A standard density for Memory foam mattresses is around 60kg/m³ , 80kg/m³ is considered a firmer layer - recommended for heavy people or those with bad backs.

You can find out more about memory foam mattress and mattresses from The memory foam mattress firm.