Adjustable beds are fast becoming more and more present in the modern bedroom. There are many reasons for this development. The Dutch, for instance, have been partial to the adjustable bed frame for far longer than anywhere else. They can be found in over seventy percent of homes in the Netherlands. They must be on to something if this type of sleeping surface is so popular.
There are many reasons why such a bed is desired. For one, they are good for your health and sleeping comfort, and people in the US have caught on. With an adjustable bed, you are able to move the mattress into the perfect sleeping position that suits your needs. With just the tap of a button, the body is shifted so that pressure is taken off the joints and muscles resulting in near perfect alignment for the back.
However, the bed frame alone is not sufficient. You need the best mattress that works great with adjustable bed to get the most out of it. We are going t take a look at our top bedding picks and detail the benefits of sleeping with almost unlimited flexibility.
Do you need to upgrade your adjustable bed? Read our top overall adjustable beds buyer’s guide.
Tips to Purchasing the Top-Grade Mattress?
Thickness
When you are considering purchasing a top grade mattress for your adjustable bed, the thickness is the number one consideration you should be making. Of course other things like sleeping comfort, hypoallergenic properties and cost are important, but none of that will help you if the sleeping surface is not compatible with the frame.
You need the highest-quality mattress in its class and one that can be moved around without slipping or breaking when it is bent into another shape. Thickness hinders this act simply due to the inflexibility and sturdiness of the mattress.
This is less the case for memory foam, but even more so the case for innerspring. But we will look into the various mattress types a little later.
Once upon a time, the thickness was vital for a mattress’s comfort and support levels. However, thanks to great strides in technological development this is no longer the case. A good sleeping surface is based upon entirely different criteria.
Flexibility
Naturally, a bed for your adjustable frame should be as flexible as possible. Some structures are able to shift the entire piece of furniture and almost convert it into a chair. For this reason, the sleeping surface needs to be very flexible and adjust to be able to do this. Also, you don’t want something that gets damaged because of a few moves.
Fortunately, memory foam fits the bill concerning flexibility. Thanks to the material makeup, it is very adjustable. It has to be to adapt to the shape of your back when you are lying on it. You will also see the incredible versatility when your memory foam bedding is delivered to you – in the shortest of time, it unfurls and retakes its original shape.
Pressure Point & Pain Relief
Pressure point and relief are paramount in the modern mattress. If you suffer from back pain, this is even more important. What you need is bedding that adapts and contours to the shape of your body. It all depends on the position you sleep in but more on that in the next section.
The bed needs to be able to add pressure to those parts of the body that are not protruding so that they are supported and held in place for the best spinal alignment. A good mattress does this by continually maintaining a certain degree of pressure to those areas.
When you suffer from back pain, pain relief is made easier when the affected area is no longer under strain. The muscles and joints must be supported to relieve them of their constant pressure. The right sleeping surface does precisely that. If you have something adjustable, it is even better.
Sleeping Positions
We all have our preferred sleeping position. Most of us like to sleep on our sides in the fetal position. This comes from the fact that we adopted that very same position, as we tasted the first fruits of life in the womb. In the second place, enter the back sleepers. And last but not least those of us who prefer the stomach.
Each individual position needs a particular kind of mattress to make it work the best so as not to aggravate any pain. An adjustable bed can help in that quest. It makes backing sleeping far better for example.
Only on the back are we able to recreate the zero-gravity effect by elevating the head above the heart and lifting the legs for optimal blood circulation. It will almost give you the feel of floating in the air – hence the name.
Sleeping on the side (read about side sleeper beds) in the fetal position can be easily attained and maximized on a regular mattress without the adjustable frame. What is needed is adequate pressure on the hips to keep them in place and sufficient sinkage to recess the shoulders into the bed so that the spine is aligned.
On your tummy, the arc of the back must be supported by pressure and the chest needs to be cradled for the same reasons as above.
Highest Quality Mattress Material for Adjustable-Beds
Memory Foam
We have already touched on the merits of memory foam as a material for the mattress in the reviews and in other sections.
As you are already aware, this material adapts to the contours of your body thanks to the viscoelastic composition of the surface of the bedding – body heat is used for adaptability. Thanks to great strides in technological development, the temperature is no longer retained as it used to, no longer making the sleeper sweat during the night.
Memory foam is your best option for the adjustable bed due to its flexible nature. Delivery of such bedding shows just how moveable it can be. The mattress unfolds in a matter of minutes and is ready to use. Also, you can keep this surface in an unnatural position longer than others.
Latex
Latex instead of regular foam is much heavier. This does not mean that latex is not suitable for a movable bed. In the case of this material it is vital you do your research to ensure that you pick the top-quality mattress for the frame.
But that should be straightforward because latex is bendable and adapts to the shape of the body like latex, allowing for excellent sleeping comfort, support, and pressure.
It is important to be aware of the fact that latex is derived from two different sources that may affect your decision-making. Firstly, there is synthetic latex made up of petroleum-based materials. Then, you have natural latex sourced from the sap of trees via the Dunlop process for example. The latter is eco-friendly but may be unsuitable if you are allergic to the material.
Note: latex mattresses are more expensive than other types.
Innerspring
The innerspring is made out of various pockets that contain springs that add pressure and adapt to the shape of the body. The good thing about innerspring is the edging. They are generally the best bed to sit on.
We have all encountered the innerspring because it is the most traditional bed on the market. Our parents most probably swore by them because they did not have the choices we have today – and they are good, there is no question. But cleaning them can be difficult, and also dust mites tend to prefer them because they are not hypoallergenic like latex and foam.
Now, you may think that the innerspring is entirely unsuitable for an adjustable bed. That is not exactly true.
If the innerspring is not too firm, you can efficiently use them. Just be aware of the fact that they are not as durable because the springs tend to wear more quickly because of the movement, check our innerspring options if you want this type.
Airbed
Some of us love the airbed because you are able to adjust the firmness by only alternating the air pressure to create something cozier. The various cells inside of the mattress are the motors that add pressure and adapt to the shape of your body. Also, an air mattress is ideal if you are on the move a lot. The air can be removed from the bed thus reducing it in size for easy transportation.
Also, you will never have to worry about getting hot during the night as the air maintains a cool temperature that is pleasant to sleep on. However, if the room temperature is too low, this can be transferred to the mattress making it too cold.
Airbeds are not very durable. They do work with an adjustable frame, but they are not ideal because the air cells are not conducive to strain.
Benefits of Sleeping on Adjustable Mattress Bed
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea affects millions of people. It is a life-threatening condition that you will notice by loud snoring and breathing during sleep. Many of us who are affected are often blissfully unaware of these characteristics.
About 2 to 3% of the adult population suffers from sleep apnea syndrome. With increasing age, the likelihood of getting sleep apnea increases, affecting mostly men. Sleep apnea means “respiratory arrest during sleep.”
The respiratory tract of those affected is so narrow that breathing is not only much more difficult but even wholly suspended. Snoring can in some cases reach a volume of up to 90 decibels, which roughly corresponds to the volume of a jackhammer. The typical sounds of snoring, alternating breathing pauses with violent snaps of air, acoustically reflect the onset of breathing.
An adjustable bed can help a great deal to counter this affliction by raising the head so that the airways are freed. Just be sure to get the right mattress.
Acid Reflux
Acid reflux refers to the backflow of gastric acid juice into the esophagus. Heartburn is the leading symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease. A precursor is a reduced state of tension of the lower sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus.
The reflux of acid into the esophagus is normal and frequent to some degree. You usually won’t feel it. The longer and the more often gastric juices impact, the lower end of the esophageal mucosa, the more likely you are to suffer from discomfort
If the pressure in the abdominal cavity increases, it reduces the tension of the sphincter muscle. This is the case with obesity and also during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the unborn child causes an increase in pressure. Furthermore, a pregnancy hormone (progesterone) has a muscle-relaxing effect on the sphincter; this increases the permeability.
Lifting the head with a movable bed can reduce acid reflux to some degree by reducing pressure on the stomach with proper body alignment.
Snoring
Snoring is a widespread phenomenon, which depending on your age, effects of about a third to possibly half of the population. Exact numbers are unknown.
Snoring increases with age. Snoring arrives much earlier among men (about the age of thirty) than in women. Women often only have a snoring problem after the menopause. The female hormones protect the mucosal tissue from premature relaxation.
A snoring sound is always a sign that the airflow in the nose, throat is obstructed. Due to the narrowing in the airways, the circulating air comes into turbulence and generates a noise-generating vibration of soft tissue, usually in the soft palate and sometimes in the base of the tongue and the throat.
The best way to counter snoring is to lift your head so that it is no longer flat on the mattress. In so doing the tongue can no longer slide to the back of the throat.
Edema
The term edema comes from the Greek word: ‘oidema’ meaning swelling. It is an accumulation of watery fluid in the body tissue that causes swelling. It can be confined to certain parts of the body or distributed throughout the body, which is also known as dropsy.
You can get edema for very different reasons. They are usually the result or concomitant of a previous underlying disease.
In the case of various organ diseases, either too much tissue fluid accumulates, or it is difficult to carry it off, and the fluid subsequently accumulates. Conditions that can lead to edema are, for example, heart or kidney weakness, drainage disorders of the venous blood in the legs, protein deficiency, disorders of lymph drainage or allergic diseases.
The ideal way to counter edema is to make sure that the legs are lifted from the mattress by elevating them, with an adjustable bed. This allows for the blood and fluids to circulate better.
Fibromyalgia
Your head, stomach, and your arm hurt, but there is no organic cause. People with fibromyalgia syndrome often rush from one doctor to another for years until their diagnosis is confirmed. The disease cannot be cured. Sport can help!
Most people are similar: they hear about the disease ‘fibromyalgia’ for the first time at the time of diagnosis. Even if the term sounds almost mysterious, but fibromyalgia is not a rare disease!
Literally, fibromyalgia means fiber-muscle pain.
The name thus describes one of the main symptoms of the disease: pain in the muscles close to the joints. However, most sufferers come to a variety of other complaints that are initially not associated with the pain. Sleep disorders, fatigue, and concentration problems are particularly common.
Women are significantly more affected than men. Fibromyalgia is particularly prevalent between the ages of 40 and 60 years, but already children and of course older people can get sick.
Top Adjustable Bed Mattresses Reviewed
Nectar – Perfect Comfort
Features:
- Sleep sound surface
- 365-night home trial
- Individualized sleeping surface
Our Ratings: 9.6/10
It is no secret that memory foam mattresses are top-rated for an adjustable frame. For one they quickly adjust to the new position because of the flexible materials that are a part of the makeup. On that note, Nectar has an excellent all-in-one solution of memory foam and gel and Tencel cooling cover that is sure to keep your body at the right temperature during the night.
Nectar only uses the high-grade materials that are certified by CertiPUR-US for eco-friendly and healthy bedding. What we also found while testing this product is that you hardly notice your partner tossing and turning – the bed immediately absorbs movement, ensuring a relaxing night’s sleep.
The Nectar offers perfect comfort on your adjustable delivered for free right to your front door. If you are still not sure, you get the 365-night trial and a forever warranty.
Want to see our complete overview? Go to our Nectar assessment.
Puffy – Best Value
Features:
- Firm support with pressure relief
- Cooling Cloud technology for the perfect body temperature
- Optimal Puffy firmness level
Our Ratings: 9.5/10
The name says it all. But we had to take a look and test this mattress to see if it really delivers on its promises. This time, we had one more thing we needed to do. We wanted to be sure that the Puffy mattress is suitable for a movable frame.
Sleeping on this bed is all that the website claims. The firm core support foam coupled with the Cooling Cloud offers durability, comfort and the perfect body temperature through the night. It was like sleeping on thin air or maybe a plush puff that carries you off to dreamland. In conjuncture with the bed, it worked perfectly and adapted to the new position with ease and a total lack of tension.
The Puffy is practical too. The zip and wash cover is excellent for that spring-cleaning as it washer proof. You also don’t have to worry about the material composition because everything that goes into the Puffy is certified by Certi-US.
See our complete tests and a full overview of Puffy here.
Layla – Easy to Adjust
Features:
- Two surfaces – two comfort levels
- Copper cooling
- Four layers for the best comfort
Our Ratings: 9.4/10
This mattress has been voted as the best-rated by many reputable organizations. Go to their website and check it out. These accolades sure piqued our interest. We also wanted to see how well it worked on an adjustable bed.
We were not disappointed. It sure is easy to adjust thanks to the multi-layered memory foam interior. The base is firm allowing for optimal shaping and firmness. The other layers are infused with copper for rapid heat transfer. Besides, the mattress is anti-microbial.
What we also found pleasing is that the Layla sleeping surface has very limited off-gassing upon delivery and unpacking. Thanks to the materials used in its composition it’s made of all the right stuff, and you can almost immediately dive on and catch some ZZZ’s.
Unboxing and setup were comfortable too. All we had to do was remove it from the box, and the mattress unfurled to its usable size. And it works with all bases also, including the adjustable bed.
Want more info on this model? Go read Layal analysis and tests over here.
Our Final Thoughts
Certain things just work better together like toast and peanut butter or a sunny day and the beach. The same is true for the adjustable bed and the mattress.
We have seen what works here and also we have seen how useful a movable frame can be when used to alleviate specific problems like the ones mentioned in this article.
The way you sleep is also influenced by the state of your sleeping surface. By just shifting the bedding around a little, you can reduce ailments such as snoring to a bearable level. It’s good to have so many options out there – all you have to do is experiment a little. So now you should be armed and know which type of mattress is the best for an adjustable bed.