If your mattress feels too firm, it could lead to pressure points and alignment problems in your shoulders and hips. A medium feel mattress offers optimal balance of comfort and support while decreasing pain and stiffness for most sleeping positions.
Memory foam, adaptive polyfoam and latex mattresses with dense cores offer optimal body contouring capabilities.
Comfort
A medium mattress provides the ideal level of comfort for most side sleepers. It offers enough support to keep the spine aligned while relieving any pressure points in hips, shoulders, or knees, supporting natural body curves while leaving you feeling rejuvenated when waking up without joint and muscle pain.
Heavy people may need to increase the firmness level if they prefer soft mattresses but still plan on sleeping on their sides, since their added weight might cause too much sinkage into a softer mattress and increase back and joint pain. Firm mattresses provide plenty of support so heavier people do not sag too deeply into the sleeping surface.
Sleepers looking for a plush feel should opt for a hybrid or innerspring mattress, which features both foam and coil systems to provide a bouncy surface and ease pressure points on hips, shoulders and knees. Furthermore, hybrid mattresses combine the soft feel of memory foam or latex mattresses with denser core support layers that prevent sagging and buckleing of their core support layers – providing optimal comfort without the risk of sagging and buckleing over time.
These mattresses also provide excellent edge support that prevents sleepers from rolling off the bed during the night, and tend to provide a softer, cooler sleeping surface than firm mattresses – perfect for pairing with pillows and mattress toppers to maximize comfort levels even further.
Soft mattresses are best suited for petite side sleepers who do not weigh particularly heavily, while firmer mattresses will help heavier individuals avoid sinking too deeply into the mattress, although a mattress topper might help mitigate an overly-firm feel. Soft mattresses tend to fall within medium or medium-firm firmness categories on the firmness scale, such as Puffy or Purple mattresses, while hybrid options like the Eight, Zinus or SleepOvation mattresses may offer thick foam cores which minimize sinkage for an overall bouncy feeling that many other firms do not provide.
Contouring
Firm mattresses may feel too stiff for side sleepers, leading to pressure buildup in their shoulders and hips. Soft mattresses that sink too much may misalign the spine, both leading to discomfort; therefore a medium mattress with equal cushions and support may be best suited to most sleep positions.
A medium mattress typically falls between five and six on the firmness scale, offering just the right balance of support and comfort to prevent sleep-inducing aches and pains from reemerging during the night. To maximize pressure point relief, the best medium mattresses incorporate multiple comfort layers along with support technologies for pressure point relief.
Some popular mattress brands provide mattresses in different firmness levels so you can select one that best meets your needs. Saatva’s Classic Mattress comes in three firmness levels; Plush Soft option is perfect for side sleepers as its softer foams better contour to hips and shoulders. Other online mattress companies such as Helix also provide many firmness choices; its Midnight’s medium soft feel will adapt to your body without throwing your spine out of alignment.
Hybrid mattresses may also provide side sleepers with enough support, offering both comfort and support when transitioning between positions. Furthermore, these beds can offer you ample support when switching positions.
Traditional innerspring mattresses often feature a firm surface. Although these provide excellent support, some individuals complain of stiffness or a lack of cushioning. If you prefer something with more springiness to help relieve pressure on shoulders, hips, or knees then consider hybrid or latex models instead.
Support
Firmness in mattresses not only offers cushioning but also helps support your spine, keeping the natural curve of your back intact. As a general guideline, side sleepers usually opt for softer mattresses (in order to contour with their body and keep its spine aligned) whereas stomach and back sleepers prefer firmer ones as support – although individual preferences and body weight will all come into play here.
A medium mattress is the optimal choice for most side sleepers, as it doesn’t sink too deeply and offers enough lift to ease pressure off hips and shoulders. A mattress that feels too soft may cause these areas to sink in too deeply, leading to poor spinal alignment and backache over time.
The ideal medium mattresses for side sleepers feature cushioning materials like quilted pillow tops and thick layers of memory foam in their comfort layers, offering deep sinkage, body contouring, and pressure relief that many side sleepers find relaxing.
These mattresses also provide ample bounce, so they won’t feel either soft or hard when sleeping on them. This feature can especially benefit side sleepers as it helps avoid sagging while providing a more even experience overall.
Medium-firm mattresses are suitable for most sleep positions and body types, and typically fall between the firmness ranges of 5-7 firmness levels; only rare individuals require very soft or very firm mattresses.
The ideal mattress for side sleepers typically scores 6 on the firmness scale, or medium. Some may find this feel too soft; most prefer it, however, since it offers enough support while still cushioning against pressure points. Memory foam, latex and hybrid mattresses tend to be popular options among side sleepers; innerspring mattresses with enough support at both lower and upper sections may also work. A double-sided mattress offers another great way for them to switch it up occasionally!
Weight
Firmer mattresses tend to work best for back and stomach sleepers, while side sleepers may experience pain from these beds as they sink too deeply, placing pressure on their spine as well as creating discomfort in hips and shoulders. A medium mattress should provide both support and cushioning of pressure points while simultaneously aligning their spine properly.
Medium mattresses typically rank around 6 on the 10-point firmness scale, making it suitable for most sleepers and safe up to 200 pounds in weight. If you are heavier, however, a firmer mattress might be necessary in order to prevent sinkage into too deep of an angle and spinal misalignment.
Firmness for side sleepers should be soft enough to conform to your curves while relieving pressure in the hips and shoulders. You can find such mattresses in any firmness range; medium or medium-firm are usually preferred by most. If one partner prefers firm mattresses while another prefers soft ones, using a mattress topper could change this without purchasing new bedding altogether.
Sleepers who prefer soft mattresses should use multiple pillows to support the head and neck while keeping their spine aligned properly. Memory foam pillows provide both support and pressure point relief; you could also try finding one of several cool down-alternative options which will keep you cool throughout the night.
Soft mattresses may work for those with smaller frames, but may become uncomfortable for larger individuals due to sinkage that causes compression of spine and discomfort in shoulder and hip regions. Medium mattresses offer better support for people of average to heavy bodyweight, providing an acceptable compromise between various sleepers’ needs. You could also add a foam or hybrid mattress topper on top to soften it without altering overall firmness levels of the bed.
