Are Water Beds Good for Spinal Support?
Most people experience back pain at some time in their lives. The back is a complex structure of vertebrae, inter-vertebral discs and ligaments which hold them together. Tendons connect the muscles and vertebrae. People may experience back pain after an injury or an unusual or prolonged bout of exercise. It is quite common for sufferers of back pain to feel some relief when they lie down and for movement to exacerbate the pain. Therefore, the search for a comfortable bed becomes very important.
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Change in Treatment Approach
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Doctors' approach to the problem of lower back pain has changed over time. In past decades, patients were advised to rest on a firm mattress and take prescribed painkillers until the pain subsided. Now doctors advise patients to carry on with their normal activities, but to avoid strain to the back. The causes of back pain are myriad, but recent international guidelines recommend that unless "red flags" are present, indicating a more serious underlying condition, treatment should be fairly non-interventionist. The guidelines do not advocate any one kind of mattress over the others. According to Richard A. Staehler, MD of the NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin, any mattress which allows the back pain sufferer to sleep well and wake pain-free and rested should be used. For some people this may be a water bed.
Waterbeds
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Some people find that water beds mould around their bodies and cushion any movements, such as turning. Others try water beds and find them unsuitable, actually making the problem worse. Back pain varies considerably, and what helps one sufferer is of no benefit to another. Orthopaedic mattress makers claim that their mattresses are the best answer for those with back pain. The design of water beds has changed, and the makers now claim that their mattresses ease back pain. A controlled study in the 1980s looked at the effects of sleeping on four different types of mattress. A small control group was used, and the second-most comfortable type according to the group was the water bed.
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Problems With Water Beds
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Water beds were originally designed to be used in rehabilitation. However, people suffering from back pain often complained that the wave motion when they turned over caused more pain and discomfort. The design of water beds did not offer the back-pain sufferer enough support, as the mattresses were quite soft. Water beds, popular in the 1970s, gradually fell out of favor. Water bed manufacturers reacted to this by changing their designs.
New Designs
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Users can top off the water in the water bed mattress. The water is now stored in vinyl tubes in the mattress. Filling the water to a maximum level makes the bed firmer and more supportive. The person adjusting the water levels can even vary both sides of the mattress, if two people with different needs are sharing the bed. This allows the back-pain sufferer control over the support he gets while sleeping. Modern water bed mattresses also have a heating facility, and most people find that heat alleviates pain.
Personal Choice
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The person suffering from back pain may now consider the option of a water bed as a realistic choice, due to the improved design. People used to complain about the wave effect, but the modern water bed is waveless. The ability to add and regulate heat has also added a new dimension. But only the person experiencing the back pain can really make the choice. The only way she can reach an informed decision is to ask her physician's advice and ask the retailer if she can have the bed for a trial period.
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References
- Photo Credit colorful bed linen on a wooden bed image by ann triling from Fotolia.com
