Are Adjustable Beds Good for You?

By Maurice

Are Adjustable Beds Good for You

Adjustable beds aren’t just comfortable and luxurious – they can be very beneficial for your health! You can experience deeper, more restful sleep and wake up feeling less stiff and more energized, simply by using an adjustable bed.

In this article, we break down all the different ways scientific research has proven that adjustable beds are good for your health. Let’s get started:

How are Adjustable Beds Good for Your Health (Overall)?

In the United States, one-third of adults do not get enough sleep or a lower quality of sleep. Adults need at least 7 hours of sleep a night to prevent diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and mental health issues. Using an adjustable bed to get into the optimum position for your body can change the way you sleep and therefore the way you live!

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Side Sleepers?

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Sleeping on your side with an adjustable bed can help keep pressure off your hips, shoulder, and neck. This is helpful to keep your spine in alignment. You can adjust the head and foot of the bed to achieve the optimal sleeping position for you.

If you are a side sleeper, you may find that adjustable bed positioning just isn’t for you. Sleeping on your side when the bed frame has your back and legs elevated probably won’t be the most comfortable way to sleep. But, an adjustable bed can still be good for side sleepers for two reasons:

1Head Tilt: The head tilt function available on premium adjustable bed frames can help you treat neck pain and acid reflux caused by sleeping on your side.
2People Who Shouldn’t Be Side Sleepers: Though side sleeping is the most common sleeping position in the world, it isn’t good for everyone. If you have lower back pain, acid reflux, or sleep apnea, using an adjustable bed to force yourself to sleep on your back in a reclined position could be exactly what you need.

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Your Back?

One of the best positions for back pain relief is the zero-gravity position, and this is something you can take advantage of by using an adjustable bed. NASA created this position for astronauts as a way to balance the weight of the body during take-off. It can help you by positioning your body during sleep to reduce pressure and pain.

When you are in a zero-gravity position, your head and knees are lifted slightly above the heart and your torso and legs form a 120-degree angle. Your body will have a slight “V” shape and your back will soon start to feel relief. The weight of your body will be evenly distributed across your back, reducing pressure on sensitive areas and letting you sleep peacefully.

Anyone who experiences chronic back pain can benefit from using an adjustable bed to find the position that feels the most comfortable. If you have osteoarthritis or spinal stenosis, an adjustable bed can be great for you, too!

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Sciatica?

Adjustable beds aren’t designed specifically for sciatica, but they can be useful for positioning your back in a comfortable place as you sleep, as well as for pain management during the day.

When your sciatica is acting up, your sleep can be disturbed. For some people, lying in a flat position can actually activate their sciatica, making your sleep even worse. And, when you get up the next day, your sciatica symptoms will be worse than before because you got poor sleep and your back muscles tightened up even more!

According to the Cleveland Clinic, positioning your body in a “bent-forward” posture while sleeping can relieve sciatica pain. This is easily accomplished with an adjustable bed – simply raise the back and leg portions of the bed to a comfortable angle and let the pressure melt away from your sciatic nerve!

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Sleep Apnea?

Best Pillow for Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea obstructs your breathing, restricting the amount of oxygen you get while sleeping. This can happen continually and get progressively worse, to the point that it will eventually affect your heart and brain function. Sleeping on an elevated surface can help your breathing system open up its passageways, preventing some of the most devastating effects of sleep apnea from touching you.

The worst position for those suffering from sleep apnea is the supine sleeping position – laying on your back. Sleeping on your back puts your tongue and throat in a relaxed position, which is a major cause of sleep apnea. Sleeping at an angle or with your head raised at 15 degrees can help eliminate some of the risks for back sleepers by leveraging gravity to keep your airways open, even though you are still on your back.

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Snoring?

Snoring has a lot in common with sleep apnea, especially as it relates to sleeping position. Research has shown that elevating the head at a slight angle, roughly 15 degrees, while sleeping can drastically reduce snoring. This means that anyone who struggles with snoring (or listening to their partner snoring) can benefit greatly from using an adjustable bed.

Just be sure that the adjustable bed you purchase has a “head tilt” function so that you can raise your head without having to raise your entire body. If the bed you’re looking at doesn’t specifically mention the “head tilt” function, you may be sorely disappointed.

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Sleeping?

Adjustable bed platforms are great for sleeping at any angle. For side sleepers, they can align the back. For back sleepers, they can achieve the optimal zero gravity position. Stomach sleepers can benefit also. You can find the position that is best for you and help what is ailing you so you can get the best sleep possible.

The best adjustable platform is the type that can fully adjust the head and foot. Even better is one you can preset so you don’t have to keep adjusting every night. The best is one that allows you and your partner to adjust the bed for the best sleeping position for each of you.

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux, sometimes referred to as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), can be a nightmare to deal with at all times of the day, but it can be especially miserable during sleep. And, there are some people who suffer from acid reflux at night but never realize because they don’t have a severe enough case to wake up from reflux. This is dangerous because your esophagus can become scarred to the point that it causes significant issues, even cancer!

There are ways to help prevent nighttime GERD, including not eating at least 3 hours before you lay down, taking over-the-counter antacid medications, watching your intake of spicy foods or caffeine. But, getting an adjustable bed might be the most effective solution of all. Raising your head slightly keeps your stomach acid where it should be and allows you to enjoy the peaceful, rest-filled sleep that you’ve been missing.

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Neck Problems?

Seventy to eighty percent of all adults experience some type of neck and back pain in their lifetime, and this type of pain is unlikely to go away on its own. Even worse, neck and back pain can be aggravated during sleep, prolonging your recovery.

Using an adjustable bed can help take the pressure off your neck that one can experience from sleeping on your side on a flat mattress. Sleeping at a 45-degree angle helps relieve compression on the lower back and supports the neck better than stacking multiple pillows would.

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Posture?

Posture is an interesting thing – most people don’t have very good posture, but they don’t realize the effects that poor posture has had on them until they’ve started to develop lingering pain. Using an adjustable bed during the day, not just at night, can help your body decompress and loosen up, which promotes better posture when you’re up and moving.

While using an adjustable bed won’t teach your body to have better posture, it can support those efforts by reducing pressure points and helping muscles/tendons loosen up. Furthermore, you can articulate the adjustment points on your bed frame in many different ways.

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Parkinson’s Patients?

The main benefit of an adjustable bed for those suffering from Parkinson’s is that it is easier to get in and out of the bed. It works like an adjustable chair to help move the patient into a sitting position making it easier to move your legs to the floor and just stand up.

There are even adjustable beds specifically designed to benefit Parkinson’s patients, such as the Theraposture bed, which rotates as it lifts to move patients to their feet in the safest way possible!

You can also use an adjustable bed like a recliner chair, removing the need to move from one piece of furniture to another on days when that much movement might not be safe. Having an adjustable bed won’t make everything better, but it will be a boost to the quality of life for a Parkinson’s patient.

Are Adjustable Beds Good for Seniors?

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Absolutely! Seniors with many different conditions can benefit from an adjustable bed.

Here are just some of the ways that seniors can use adjustable beds for their own good:

They can adjust the bed to help ease the mobility of getting in and out of the bed more easily.
The different positions allow for a variety of relief from health conditions.
Edema can be relieved by raising the legs up.
Ease of digestion can be achieved by elevating the head and stomach.
Pain can be relieved by contour or zero-gravity positions, or any position that feels naturally comfortable.
Snoring can be reduced drastically
Sleep quality can be improved
General comfort at all times of day can be improved
Bedridden seniors can find different positions for improved comfort and a reduced risk of bedsores.

Wrapping Up: The Health Benefits of Adjustable Beds

Luxury adjustable bed platforms work best with hybrid or memory foam mattresses, and they have more than a few benefits for seniors. Being able to adjust the head, feet, or both can relieve pressure points and ease pain. They help promote better digestion and relieve acid reflux. No matter what your issues or needs are, it’s likely they can be met or at least served by an adjustable bed!

Need to find the best adjustable bed for your needs? Check out our adjustable bed buying guide.