Mattresses For Athletes That Encourage Rest And Recovery

Athletes need to ignore the jargon associated with mattress descriptions and get down to what really matters. Mattresses for athletes have very particular characteristics and features that you should look out for. It's always sensible to read recovery mattress reviews and find out what other athletes have to say about a particular product. Here are the main things that you should consider.

The mattress type is important when it comes to choosing a product for active people. Athletes need a memory foam mattress that contours to the body. Several comfort layers that help with pressure points are ideal. This will support core muscles as you sleep and is especially important for side sleepers. Pressure relief is important for athletes because you don't want to put any more strain on muscles that are already working very hard. However, the potential disadvantage of some memory foam mattresses is that they can retain heat. Therefore, your top option is a mattress that has cooling technology. This can be introduced by the shape of the structure of the memory foam or by the type of foam. Copper is often added to the foam because it has heat conducting properties and will keep you cool.

The second option would be innerspring mattresses. These have a coil system that offers support and plenty of push back against your body as you sleep. They 'feel' bouncy which is preferred by some individuals. Also, they make it easy to move around thanks to the spring system. Modern springs are encased in fabric so that they are comfortable and do not make a noise. They are very good at keeping the spine aligned so that your posture is maintained as you sleep. A coil mattress does not trap heat like memory foam and therefore there is no problem with getting too hot as you sleep which is important for athletes.

If you like the features of an inner spring mattress but also want the comfort of a memory foam mattress, hybrid mattresses would be a good option. They combine the features of both. They offer athletes the additional support that they need and are especially good for spinal alignment offering a therapeutic rest. The foam is there to cushion sore joints and muscles. However, they have the temperature regulation and support of innersprings.

There are other alternatives such as an air mattress or a latex mattress. Air mattresses allow you to customize your sleeping experience as your needs change. Latex is a natural material that cushions sore joints as you sleep.  

A mattress for athletes can be made from a range of materials - it is just a case of picking one that suits your particular needs. The most common, however, is memory foam.

Memory foam is a polymer (you may see this described as a hyper elastic polymer) which just means that it is made up of a lot of smaller molecules. It's a very versatile material and is used in many other household items such as sofas and insulation. Foam mattresses are made from a special type of high density foam called 'viscoelastic' which is a combination of two polymers. This is why memory foam is both viscos and elastic. It resists shape change and does not transfer energy readily. This allows it to support core muscles and gives it motion isolation properties. It also provides a comfort layer as it molds to your shape. However, due to the 'elastic' properties, it returns to its original shape when the force is taken away. There are three different types of memory foam but some mattresses use all three types combined in layers:

• Traditional: This was the original memory foam used for beds. It molds very well around the body but has a tendency to retain heat. This is a major issue for athlete's sleep. When you work out, your core body temperature increases and this can take several hours to cool down. If you go to bed before your body has cooled, you will become too hot and will not be able to sleep. To overcome this sleep problem, manufacturers started adding additional materials to the foam.
• Open-cell. This type of foam has the same chemicals as traditional memory foam however, the internal structure has been altered. Open-cell memory foam has pockets that allow air to flow around and moves heat away from the body. This keeps you cool as you sleep. Modern technology allows these pockets to be constructed without compromising the firmness of the mattress.
• Gel. Many modern memory foams incorporate gel into the polymer. It is usually pumped in as microbeads and creates pockets of material that absorbs heat from your body and then releases it away from where you are sleeping. Copper is often used in the gel because it helps with heat-dispersal as it is so conductive. It also helps with moisture wicking.

Increasingly, consumers are looking for products made from materials that are sustainable and that do not damage the planet. You may want to look out for an eco-friendly product or one that is made at least partly from recycled materials. Other athletes will want a product that is hypoallergenic if they suffer from allergies.

A must-have recovery mattress is one that will contour to areas of your body that require particular support such as the lower back. Zoned support is important for athletes as they sleep and this is largely down to spine alignment.

Athletes (and other people with a very active lifestyle) place significant stress on the bones and connective tissue of the spine. This is a particular problem for athletes who lift weights or who run for long distances (marathon runners). It is essential that they maintain spine alignment as they sleep. When you sleep, you place a lot of pressure on the lumbar spine region. This is true whatever your sleeping position.

If your mattress maintains your spine in a neutral position as you sleep, there is a reduced strain on the lower back and you are more likely to maintain a healthy posture. Experts agree that spine alignment is one of the key features to look out for in a mattress. For athletes who already have some tension and strain in their spine from training or competing, this is even more important. They need one that contours to their body shape and not one that lets them sink - pulling their spine out of alignment.

If the product description for the mattress includes a figure for contouring, you should be looking for at least an 8.5 out of a maximum of 10. This mattress will keep your spine aligned as you sleep and will prevent discomfort.

Memory foam mattresses come in many thicknesses but the greatest ones tend to be thicker. This is because they need to have several layers. There will probably be a comfort layer and then several support core layers made out of different types of foam.

Mattress thickness can vary from as little as 2 inches to over 16 inches. Athletes require a mattress that is thick enough for all necessary layers to be included. The very slim, low profile mattresses are not thick enough to accommodate the 2 to 3 inches of comfort layer that are needed.

Athletes with a larger build need to sleep on thicker mattresses so that they don't sink. This will put too much strain on their injured joints. Athletes that sleep on their sides, require more cushioning and need to sleep on a thicker mattress. Also, those who sleep on their backs, need a mattress that is around 10 to 12 inches thick to prevent spinal misalignment and reduce back pain.

Athletes who sleep on their stomach need a mattress that is about 10-inches thick so that it will resist sinking at the abdomen and maintain alignment of the spine.

Mattress firmness is a critical feature for athletes. Active people need to sleep on a surface that supports a neutral spine alignment to maintain a healthy posture. Above all, they must not feel that they are sinking into the bed as they sleep.  

The mattress must be firm enough to pushback to align the spine and support major joints. This prevents aches and pains and reduces pressure on the lower back. For most athletes, a medium to firm mattress is ideal as it balances support with comfort.

However, the firmness required can vary from day to day and this is why a mattress that can be flipped over may be a good option. On training and competition days, an athlete's body will be put under considerable stress as they run, jump, lift weights and so on. On these days, they require a softer surface to sleep on to support their joints. This allows them to sink into the surface and get some pressure relief that is helpful for muscle recovery.

For rest days, athletes often prefer a firmer surface that offers more support - this is especially true for back and stomach sleepers. On these days, you would flip over the mattress and use the other side. An alternative, is to use a mattress topper.

Foam mattresses are particularly effective at pressure relief. They relieve pressure points which helps to reduce joint pain. They do this by distributing the weight of the body across the surface. This reduces the strain on sensitive pressure points such as the hips and shoulders.

Look carefully at the mattress description and choose one that scores at least 8 out of a maximum of 10 for pressure relief as this will cushion the sensitive joints. When joints are cushioned, they are less likely to ache and you are more likely to get the restorative sleep that will support athletic performance.