How to Avoid Back Problems With a Waterbed

There are two types of back pain--acute and chronic. Acute pain hits you quickly and intensely. Chronic pain sticks around for years or even for life. Lower and upper back problems are usually a result of sleeping in the wrong position. Waterbeds have proven to be just as supportive as most regular mattresses. If you have the right kind of waterbed, it actually can greatly ease your back pain. Read on to learn how to avoid back problems with a waterbed.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose a modern bed with limited waves. A waterbed is naturally orthopedic. It molds itself around your spine, giving you all-over support. You compress the water, providing pressure point relief to various parts of your body. That enables you to lie comfortably through the night.

2. Use heat. Newer waterbeds feature heating elements which you can set to therapeutic temperatures. You have heard doctors say it before--use heat when your back pain is acting up. Warmth helps sore muscles and damaged ligaments. Heated waterbeds help all the muscles of your neck, back and hips equally.

3. Adjust the waterbed. Waterbeds are flexible and can be adjusted to fit your body better. Some even allow you to adjust each side separately, with varying amounts of water, so you and your partner can each get a good night's sleep.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to the waterbed salesperson about your back problems. They are likely very knowledgeable about how a water bed can help ease your pain.
• See if the store offers refunds or exchanges. You may want to try out the waterbed for a few weeks, to see if it helps your back.
• Always consult with a doctor about back pain.

[garysfb]

on 9/2/2009 If waterbeds are so great, how come they don't sell like they did in the 60's and 70's. I would think that the baby boomers (the emergent back pain demographic) would flood this market. Are they dangerous ? Fires? electrocution? How come they don't sell any more?