Should the elderly sleep on a hard or soft mattress?
A suitable mattress not only helps the elderly avoid bone and joint problems but also helps improve sleep quality.
Elderly people often suffer from bone and joint diseases. Common symptoms include back pain in cases such as functional back pain or degenerative lumbar spine diseases, herniated discs; spinal diseases such as tuberculosis, osteoporosis, tumors compressing the spine, etc.
All of these diseases affect the patient, leading to pain symptoms. Therefore, in addition to treatment according to the doctor's instructions, the elderly should also pay attention to daily activities. Among them, there is an issue that many people are interested in: what mattress should the elderly choose so that the joints and skeletal system can relax when sleeping.
What type of mattress should the elderly use?
Elderly people should choose a hard mattress, not a soft mattress. Because soft mattresses will sag when lying down, affecting the elderly's spine and causing incorrect posture depending on the sag of the mattress.
However, a mattress that is too hard and not elastic can cause back pain, shoulder pain, and hip pain. Therefore, you should not choose a mattress that is too hard or not elastic.
Things to note when choosing a mattress for the elderly
To choose the right mattress, the elderly can consult doctors and base on some of the following criteria:
- Thickness and height: Elderly people should not use mattresses that are too high because it can lead to risks of falling and injuries. Mattresses that are too high or too low can affect movement when getting in and out of bed.
The elderly should choose mattresses from 10-15 cm, while ensuring ventilation and moisture. Because ventilation limits sweating and heat in the back, which will affect the quality of sleep.
- Mattresses should be chosen from reputable manufacturers to ensure quality. Elderly people and their families can consult the market or relatives to choose the right mattress.
- Do not choose mattresses that make noise like spring mattresses. Because the noise can cause sleep disorders in the elderly and greatly affect their health.
Choosing and using the right mattress helps the elderly sleep deeper and better, and also helps to fix their sleeping posture, avoiding and improving bone and joint problems./.
