Innerspring / Coil Orthopedic Mattresses – Open Coil / Innerspring / Pocket Sprung Orthopedic Mattress
The most popular type of mattress on the market today is of course those mattresses that have an innerspring structure to them. So it probably will not come as much of a surprise to know that the mattress type that people are most familiar with has been adapted to provide an orthopaedic solution for people that have musculoskeletal issues.
This spring coil mattress has for a long time enjoyed its position as the most affordable mattress option. Even though memory foam and latex foam mattresses are well-known for providing a very high level of orthopaedic comfort, they are also typically more pricier than a spring coil mattress. That’s not to say that a spring coil orthopaedic mattress cannot be expensive; indeed they can be quite expensive in their own right, it’s just that their price range is a lot more flexible across-the-board ban latex foam on memory foam mattress typically is.
One of the main issues with a spring coil mattress over an all foam latex foam or memory foam mattress has been the fact that it is the nature of springs to resist pressure, therefore the question arises “how can a mattress with springs inside provide the same ability to contour and support the body in the same way that an all foam memory foam latex foam mattress can?”
The problem of course with a traditional spring coil mattress is that if a spring is resisting pressure, then that resistance will aggravate any pressure points in human body. Thus the mattress can be quite painful to sleep on.
Sure enough, this was a big problem initially. However, due to ever evolving technology, these mattresses are not as rigid as they once were. So now, as well as getting firm innerspring mattresses, you can also get spring mattresses that have the ability to contour as well.
It is probably worth at this point taken a look at how a spring coil mattress is constructed.
Spring coil mattresses consist of a number of individual spring coil units each providing individual resistance to pressure. In an orthopaedic mattress the spring coils are connected to each other via the top and bottom of the coil in a mesh like pattern to provide the necessary level of comfort and support required of an orthopaedic mattress.
There are typically at least 3000 coils inside a double bed mattress; the more springs used inside the mattress is the better that the mattress will be able to contour around the body in order required places to provide an ample level of comfort and support. The coils will be of a smaller diameter, and last much more flexible in response to wait and pressure, but not weak because of their interconnected nature. The higher the coil count usually represents the higher the quality of the mattress.
Another thing that will affect the firmness and level flexibility of the mattress is the thickness of the coils themselves. This is alternatively known as the gauge in reference to the weight of the coils.
As you can probably guess, the thicker the coils, or the heavier the gauge, the more stiffer and firm the mattress will be, and of course in need, the scenario – having a lighter gauge, or thinner coils, the mattress will fill softer and more flexible, or more bouncy. So long as the mattress is orthopaedic, you can buy one that best fits your needs. You may wish to discuss this with your doctor in order to ensure that you get the best firmness level to support your body’s needs.
An ordinary mattress will not be able to do this, as its main function is simply to provide resistance to the weight and pressure placed against it and offset this by the surrounding foam; these mattresses are simply inflexible and inadequate for somebody require an orthopaedic comfort and support.
An orthopaedic spring coil mattress will have up to several layers of foam between the coils and the mattress surface in order to provide the level of comfort and support needed for resting upon the mattress.
In some mattresses this foam padding may include memory foam latex foam itself. In fact it is quite desired by many people looking for an orthopaedic spring coil mattress nowadays to include latex foam or memory foam inside the mattress because these are both very well recognised and known materials for providing orthopaedic comfort and support, not least because of the availability of all foam memory foam latex foam mattresses and the high price of these types of mattresses. As you may expect, these mattresses will typically have a premium included in the price to represent these more expensive, well-known, and reliable materials.
The main advantage of going for a spring coil mattress, rather than an all foam latex foam or memory foam mattress as you may have guessed is price. An innerspring mattress is very flexible with the price, whereby latex foam or memory foam mattress to enter prices starting from a more expensive level.
The main disadvantage then is that spring coils are not as supportive by their nature of providing resistance, than a latex or memory foam mattress will be. Also in the latter, you can commonly find warranties of 20 years, because a number of manufacturers are highly confident in the quality of the mattresses they produce that they feel comfortable in offering such a long guarantee of the quality of the mattress. A spring coil mattress, may exceed its life within a few years to 10 years depending on quality, weight, use etc. As the springs start to break down and the foam begins to flatten out.
And so it boils down to whether price or a mattress made from superior material is most important to you. When you weigh up the cost difference between a spring coil orthopaedic mattress, and a latex foam or memory foam mattress, you may actually decide that it might be worthwhile to pay more upfront for one of these latter mattresses, as they last longer, or it may more suit your immediate needs to pay less for a innerspring orthopedic mattress that can get the job done for a good few years.