We spend so much time in bed that it’s important we don’t just think of sleep as “something we all do” or “time spent in bed”. It should be more a question of when, where, why and how we can all sleep better.
A recent survey found that almost 23% of adults in the UK only get between 5 and 6 hours of sleep per night. Studies show that a lack of sleep can be detrimental to both physical and mental health. But instead of worrying about sleep, you may be able to improve your sleeping patterns simply by replacing your mattress. Scientific research underpins the development of certain mattress technologies, such as those used for Sealy Posturepedic mattresses. Scientific rigour is combined with years of sector experience to create products that allow you to stay relaxed and enjoy a better night’s sleep. Just what the doctor ordered.
In fact, Sealy’s new Posturepedic mattress range was developed in collaboration with researchers from the Orthopaedic Advisory Board. The findings from this world-leading group of surgeons and academics, who are experts in spinal research, established two pillars of knowledge. The pillars inform how Sealy continues to develop their new and patented technologies in products across the world.
The Posturepedic Principle
The ideal sleeping position for the body is the same as a person's standing position. A mattress is considered to be orthopaedically correct when it supports the body in this alignment.
To provide the best support, your mattress should allow your spine to maintain its neutral posture whilst you sleep. This will help to reduce muscular tension and strain.
The Posturepedic Support Criteria
These criteria define the ideal range of movement for male and female sleepers on their back and sides. The criteria are designed to eliminate misalignment, improve sleep and help reduce backache.
Ultimately, technology such as that seen in Sealy’s Posturepedic mattress range has been developed to help people get a better night’s sleep. They can do this by using products that are based on real and applicable scientific research and knowledge. This technology provides correct support by aligning the body position during rest, helping prevent aches and pains.
What we lose when we lose sleep
As we’ve mentioned, a lack of sleep can have a very real, physical impact. A poor sleeping environment not only risks back and neck issues, the body also requires time spent sleeping so it can regenerate tissue and grow muscle. If we don’t have adequate time, our ability to perform everyday tasks can suffer.
A lack of sleep can even have a financial impact. Research shows that 200,000 working days are lost each year in the UK due to workers not getting enough sleep.
And of course, both a lack of sleep and the consequences of losing sleep can directly affect mental health, leading to stress, anxiety and depression.
New coil design supports better sleep
Sealy’s latest piece of design engineering, the AlignSupport® Coil, is based on the Posturepedic Principle. It was developed by radically improving the coil architecture that sits inside the mattress. After 21 prototypes and 26 months of testing, Sealy's experts created the technology in their new Elevate and Elevate Ultra collections.
Daniel Green, the Research and Development Manager at Sealy, explains:
“Coils are important because, at the heart of your sleep system, you need a layer that can intuitively adapt to your weight and varying pressure points from head to toe. It does this by first supporting your weight and adaptively pushing back with resistance that is perfectly matched to your body… a system that is designed to help keep you in better alignment and wake up rested, full of energy and refreshed to take on the day.”
“We created a new coil design that would more precisely support the body. In addition, we achieved our initial goal of providing a more seamless transition from comfort into support. The result is a noticeably better comfort feel for anyone who lies down on the Elevate mattress versus previous models.”
“We wanted to bring a new amazing product to the market and show consumers that not all beds are the same. It can be hard to understand what makes one bed different or better than another. Support, comfort and durability are still the ingredients to a great product and through testing, we’ve been able to demonstrate that our Elevate mattress delivers this better than any product before.”
New technology of the kind offered by mattress pioneers such as Sealy combines the latest research with generations of specialised knowledge to create sleep innovations that we can all enjoy and benefit from.
Find advice on how to sleep better with our Mattress Online article Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep, as well as how reduced sleep affects health in our blog post 'Do I Really Need 8 Hours’ Sleep?'. Why not browse some of Sealy's other ranges, including its Ortho, Posturepedic and Classic collections.
