Key Benefits

Provides unsurpassed body-conforming comfort and support -Memory foam mattresses conform exactly to your shape, and adjust when you move. Memory foam automatically adapts to support your exact body shape and sleep position. So whether you sleep on your back, side or stomach—or if you change positions during the night—the mattress fits you as you sleep. You get the support you need in any position.

Helps relieve pressure points - Pressure points are those places where your body presses against the mattress—including your shoulders, hips and the heels of your feet. This pressure can trigger discomfort in your body, and when that happens, you naturally shift position to relieve the pressure. If it happens often enough, you end up “tossing and turning“—and you don’t get the relaxing sleep you need. Memory foam supports you without pressing back. Without pressure points, your body can more fully relax—and you enjoy deeper, more rejuvenating sleep.

Promotes proper spinal alignment - Memory foam mattresses adapt to the curves of your body. That means that heavier areas, like your shoulders and hips, sink in further—while lighter areas sink in less. That keeps your spine straight—which is how it should be. With your spine more properly aligned, your body relaxes more fully—and you can experience your best night’s sleep.

Absorbs motion transfer between sleep partners - Memory foam absorbs your weight and conforms to your shape. So when two people are sleeping in the same bed, each is supported independently. No one rolls toward the middle, and there is virtually no body motion transferred between sleep partners. If one of you gets up in the middle of the night, the other is likely unaware. As you may have seen in our famous wine glass commercial, it really does work.
 

How Memory Foam Works

A good traditional mattress is perfectly adequate for most people, but if nightly discomfort is preventing you from getting a good night's sleep then a memory foam mattress might be the answer. Memory foam mattresses are made in a completely new way than traditional mattresses - which isn't surprising, since memory foam was originally developed by NASA.

NASA developed the first memory foam (also known as 'viscoelastic foam') in the 1970s to provide proper support for astronauts over extended periods of time, and also to relieve them of the tremendous g-forces they experienced during a lift-off. It's a unique kind of foam that conforms to your body's contours, and then 'remembers' it's original shape as you change positions. Viscoelastic foam is actually made up of a very high density of individual cells. The real key to how they work though is the fact that they're sensitive to heat.

When you lie down on a traditional mattress, some parts of your body will actually be closer to the mattress than others. Because the mattress is more or less rigid, and your body is not, different parts of your body will feel varying degrees of pressure against it. On a memory foam mattress these areas of pressure exert more heat from your body and help the viscoelastic foam to relax and give underneath you - but only where you need it. Every part of your body remains equally supported, and the foam actually conforms to your body. If you're like most people you probably change your sleeping position many times during the night, and each time you do the viscoelastic foam will 'remember' it's original position and spring back, rearranging itself around your new sleeping position.

For most people the pressure points affected by traditional mattresses don't pose any problem, but if you suffer from musculo-skeletal disorders such as back pain, hip pain, or sciatica, even this small amount of pressure can add up. Long before memory foam mattresses were available to the public, hospitals and nursing homes discovered that they were ideal for patients who were bed-ridden and spent a lot of time on their backs. Memory foam mattresses reduce skin pressure, which improves circulation and helps prevent pressure sores. Even if your needs aren't as severe as those in a hospital, anyone who suffers from back or hip pain will enjoy a better night's rest by sleeping on this space-age foam.

If your budget doesn't allow you to purchase a new mattress right now, you can still get some of the benefits of viscoelastic foam by buying a memory foam 'topper'. A topper is a much smaller thickness of foam that you simply lay over your existing traditional mattress, and it comes in twin, full, queen and king sizes. Toppers come in many different styles, and which one you choose will depend on your physical needs. Memory foam is measured by its density (weight) and thickness. Both of these measurements need to be taken into consideration when choosing a mattress topper, because a thick piece of memory foam can actually be made in many different densities. This density is measured in lbs., and can range anywhere from 3.3lbs. - 6.0lbs. Only your body can tell you which combination of density and thickness is right for you, but most people find they're more comfortable on a higher density memory foam topper.

Whether you choose a memory foam mattress or a memory foam topper, you're sure to notice the difference in your sleep quality. Your back will be supported in a more natural position, and your circulation will be increased by the decreased stress your body's pressure points. Sleeping on memory foam can bring significant benefits to your health - and that's enough to give anyone a good night's rest.


Memory Foam Mattress Construction
 
Made from polyurethane, memory foam is comprised of billions of little air-filled cells. Like a tiny balloon, each cell contains a small amount of air. However, unlike some other foam cells, memory foam cells actually decompress under pressure, particularly if the pressure is accompanied by heat. Thus, when you lie down on a memory foam mattress, the foam cells closest to your body slowly release their air, creating a unique melting effect and allowing the mattress to conform to the shape of your body. Similarly, when you get up, the foam cells slowly refill with air, which is why it takes a few moments for the mattress to return to its original shape

Memory foam mattresses can differ from one another in a number of ways, most importantly in the density and depth of memory foam used in the mattress' construction. With memory foam, density can be a determinant of feel, durability, and cost. In general, higher-density memory foams last longer and cost more, and sometimes (but not always) feel firmer. Memory foam density is measured by the weight of one cubic foot of the material — i.e., pounds per cubic foot (lbs/ft3). In mattresses, memory foam can most commonly be found in densities ranging from 2 to 6 lbs/ft3, with most high-quality manufacturers using memory foam with a density of 4 lbs or greater. Most mattresses have a core, or bottom layer, of regular polyurethane foam covered with a top layer of softer memory foam that is anywhere from 2 to 6 inches thick. In general, the thicker the layer of memory foam, the deeper your body will sink into the mattress, which is a matter of some personal preference. Conversely, the denser the memory foam, the less your body will sink into the mattress. Higher-end manufacturers tend to use a thicker top layer (e.g., 3-4 inches or more) of high-density memory foam (e.g., 5 lbs or greater) in such a combination that the greater firmness of the high-density memory foam is offset by the greater depth of the memory foam layer. This approach enables them to create a well-balanced, supportive feel, using foam of the highest durability, albeit at a relatively higher cost.

Memory Foam Overview
 
Memory Foam, also known as visco-elastic foam, is a relatively new and increasingly popular development in the foam mattress market. Originally developed by NASA to protect astronauts against extreme "g-forces," memory foam is known for its ability to mold itself to your body and support it evenly. By making contact with more of your body, the pressure of the mattress is spread over a greater portion of your body's surface area, thereby reducing stress on your shoulders, hips, and other "pressure." It is called memory foam because it is very slow to return to its original shape, thereby "remembering" the shape and contours of your body.

by Deborah Zeitler