Can You Flip an Orthopaedic Mattress?

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Can you flip an orthopedic mattress?

If you can flip an orthopedic mattress is a question many people have. Orthopedic beds are designed to help relieve pain in the neck, back, and other body areas.

As a general rule, you should not flip an orthopedic mattress. Orthopedic mattresses are constructed with pressure-relieving layers on the top, making their design unsuitable for flipping. When you flip the mattress, you remove the pressure-relieving layers, increasing tension and pain in your neck, back, and other areas of your body. 

Orthopedic mattresses are often more expensive than traditional ones, so people want to ensure they get the most out of them. This blog post will answer the question: Can you flip an orthopedic mattress? We will also provide tips on getting the most out of your orthopedic bed.

You can do a few things to get the most out of your orthopedic mattress.

 

Can You Flip a Memory Foam Mattress?

Memory foam mattresses are not designed to be flipped. Almost all memory foam mattresses have a memory foam layer on top for pressure relief and a polyurethane base layer for support.

Memory is not supportive enough to be used as a base layer, so manufacturers do not use it in the bottom layers.

The base layers made with polyurethane are very firm and non-conforming. You would be sleeping on top of the mattress with no pressure relief.

Additionally, flipping a memory foam mattress could cause some layers to break down prematurely as they are not designed to be used that way.

If you want to prolong the life of your memory foam mattress, it is best to rotate it 180 degrees every few months. This will help distribute any wear and tear evenly across the surface of the mattress.

 

Can You Flip a Natural Latex Mattress?

You can flip a 100% natural latex mattress as a general rule. The base layers of natural mattresses typically provide enough pressure relief to be comfortable.

Unlike other types of foam mattresses, natural latex mattresses are resilient. This means the more you apply pressure to a natural latex mattress, the more support it gives back. This means that the base layers are not required to be as firm to provide support.

As a result, natural latex mattresses’ base layers are softer compared to polyurethane base layers. This is why flipping a natural latex mattress may provide more pressure relief. In addition, flipping a natural latex mattress can also help to extend its lifespan.

The benefits of flipping a natural latex mattress are two-fold. First, flipping your bed will help to prolong its life. Second, flipping your mattress will help to evenly distribute wear and tear, ensuring that your sleeping surface remains comfortable for years to come.

 

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Take Cation When Flipping a Natural Latex Mattress

When flipping a natural latex mattress, be sure to use caution. Avoid grabbing the foam as this will damage the material. While natural latex foam is incredibly durable, its primary weakness is poor tensile strength. This means it is more prone to tearing if you are not careful.

 

Can You Flip A Hybrid Mattress?

Like memory foam mattresses, hybrid mattresses are not designed to be flipped. The construction of a hybrid mattress is similar to that of a memory foam mattress. They typically have a pressure-relieving layer on top and coils on the bottom.

Coils alone provide little pressure relief and can cause pain in the hips and shoulders. Adding memory foam to the top layer of a hybrid mattress helps to provide pressure relief and contouring that can help alleviate pain.

 

Can You Flip A Spring Mattress?

As a chiropractor and orthopedic mattress designer, I would not consider spring mattresses orthopedic. Many spring mattresses are two-sided, which means you can flip them. I recommend consulting the manufacturer to avoid a poor sleeping surface or damaging your mattress.

 

How to You Know if Your Mattress Needs Flipping

If you have a mattress that is beginning to sag, feel lumpy, or no longer provides the support it once did, it may be time to flip your mattress. These signs indicate that the materials in your mattress have shifted and are no longer providing the support they should.

 

To flip or not to flip.

If you have a two-sided mattress, flipping it every few months can help extend its life. However, flipping a one-sided mattress will do more harm than good if you have a one-sided mattress (most common nowadays).

One-sided mattresses cannot be flipped because the construction differs from two-sided ones. One-sided mattresses typically have a layer of memory foam on top and a layer of coils on the bottom. The coils are what provide support while the foam pressure relief.

Flipping a one-sided mattress will cause the coils to become compressed, damaging the material. In addition, flipping a one-sided mattress will put all the wear and tear on the other side of the bed, causing it to break down quicker.

 

What if Your Orthopedic Mattress Is Sagging?

If your mattress is sagging, you should always replace it. A sagging mattress can cause back pain, neck pain, and other health problems.

If you cannot afford to replace your mattress, we do not recommend that you at least get a mattress topper. A mattress topper will conform to the sag underneath it as there is no support. This will also quickly wear down the topper making it less effective over time.

A sagging mattress is not only uncomfortable but can be dangerous to your health. It is time for a new bed if you wake up with back or neck pain.

Please do not wait until your mattress is completely worn out before replacing it. High-quality new mattresses have been shown by science to give you a better night’s sleep and improve your overall health. Your mattress is an investment in your health, so ensure you get the best possible product. This is especially true if you suffer from back pain because a good mattress can significantly improve your quality of life.

 

Can You Rotate an Orthopedic Mattress?

Yes, you can rotate your orthopedic mattress. Most high-quality orthopedic beds are designed to be rotatable.

For example, the support zones of our mattress are mirrored on the head and foot in the middle. This means that the areas for pressure relief, such as in the shoulder region, are still in the same place after rotating the mattress by 180 degrees.

As a result, you do not have to worry about losing the benefits of your orthopedic mattress when you rotate it.

We recommend that you rotate your mattress every three to six months. This will help evenly distribute wear and tear on the bed.

 

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Dr Lawrence Woods

My name Dr Lawrence Woods DC and I have been designing mattresses, pillows, chairs and seat cushions for over 20 years. As a chiropractor, my goal has always focused on improving the health of my patients by optimizing how they sleep and sit. My designs have been nominated for numerous awards and I continue to be at the forefront of this industry, helping people get the best night’s sleep possible. I have a Chiropractic Degree from Life Chiropractic College West, I am NBCE Physiotherapy certified and an OSHAcadenmy certified ergonomist.
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