Hello everyone,
I am thinking about buying a new mattress and keep seeing zoned support mentioned, especially in latex and hybrid models. The idea is that firmer zones support the lower back while softer zones relieve pressure on shoulders and hips. I have some lower back pain and sleep mostly on my side and back.
Has anyone noticed real benefits from a zoned mattress? Or is it mostly marketing hype? Also, is it worth paying extra for zoning compared to a non-zoned mattress?
I would love to hear about your experiences.
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Hi Moe313,
Welcome to the Mattress Underground and becoming a subscriber.
Zoned support in mattresses can actually make a noticeable difference for some people especially those who deal with lower back pain or sleep in multiple positions like on the side and back. Than again, for some it can throw them off a bit, and out of their comfort zone.
The idea behind zoning is to provide targeted firmness where your body needs more support such as the lumbar area and more cushioning where pressure points form like the shoulders and hips. For side and back sleepers this can help keep the spine aligned which may reduce discomfort over time.
That said not everyone notices a dramatic change and for some the difference can be subtle. Whether it’s worth the extra cost depends on how sensitive you are to pressure relief and support. If you’ve had issues with back pain or pressure points before a zoned mattress might be a worthwhile investment but if you’re generally comfortable on standard mattresses it might not be essential.
Trying one out in person if possible or choosing a brand with a good return policy can help you figure out if it’s right for you. You need to keep in mind that trying a mattress in person for 15-30 minutes may not yield and answer as to how you will like the mattress, long term. That requires a good 30-60 days and sometimes more to get the full experience on how a mattress will perform for you.
Additionally, it is not just if a mattress is zoned or not if you will be comfortable. You mattress foundation is a very crucial partner in this acquisition. Be sure to select a foundation that is sturdy, has rigid slats, and slat spacing that will not compromise your mattress. Examples of foundations that resemble this are ones such as those seen here or here. There are plenty of great options out there, but these are examples of very good ones.
Back to zoning. Many mattresses offer zoning and it can come in different forms. Brooklyn Bedding offers models with zoning build into their spring support and others without zoning. @BackScience offer a lumbar flex support insert. Some mattress accomplish this by using a zoned comfort layer in the mattress. What ever the design, your height, weight and sleep position will dictate whether zoning is right for you. If your mattress is zoned, you want to be certain it aligns with you height and sleep position. Some shorter folks may not align with the zoning at all, creating more or new issues.
The good news is, if zoning doesnt work for you, a topper may close the gap on fine tuning the pressure relief you are looking for with a suitable topper.
Hope this gives you a little insight.
Maverick
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Great questions and while [Maverick] gave some great insight, I thought I Maverick would give some deeper information, since I have spent many years researching and gaining insight about how to properly align a person’s spine while they are lying on the mattress thanks to the measuring tool I created called the Mattress Checker App. With Mattress Checker I developed an objective measuring tool to see how much the spine deviates off that straight 180 degree line. As a Doctor of Chiropractic, years ago I realized that many mattresses miss the mark when it comes to keeping the spine balanced and often allow a hammocking of the center. With the Mattress Checker App., I have considerable data showing how poor the alignment can be even with very firm mattresses, let along the very soft ones that don’t have any zoning.
With Back Science, the Lumbar-Flex zoning was born out of the need find a way to increase support for a person’s spine, while allowing the mattress to be comfortable enough to reduce pressure points and enable their shoulders to penetrate deeper into the mattress in order for the spine to be balanced properly and therefore maintain a proper alignment.
The results speak for themselves and as an example, we show in our video a person who when from a 10.9 degree deviation on the firmest mattress we sell in our flagship store, to only 1.2 degrees deviation on a Back Science mattress.
Anyway, feel free to watch our video at www.BackScience.com and reach out to us with any other questions whatsoever.
Thanks!
Rick
Dr. Rick Swartzburg, D.C.
Founder and Head of Product Development
800 667-1969
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