Thinking about buying a bed!

Having mentioned about changing my content I am going to start by revisiting an old and frequently written about topic, namely beds.

Beds and mattresses are very important because we spend around one third of our lives sleeping and recovering from the exertions of the day. This means that a bed is the most frequently used item of furniture in everyone’s life and it also means that it gets a lot of wear and use.

For these reasons the purchase of a bed requires considerable thought and it should see a fair sum of money being spent on it.

A bed has two key components, the bed frame and the mattress and these can be purchased separately or, more commonly, as a single “all-in-one” unit.

When it comes to the frame, this needs to be strong and sturdy and, if independent of the bed, it may outlast the life span of two or more mattresses.

Divan beds tend to be sold with the frame and mattress as a single package where both are fabric covered and match one another. However, if the mattress is bought separately it can be selected independently of the frame and this “can” offer more options.

Best type of be and mattress

There is of course no best type. It is a matter of personal choice and individual preference, however getting the right bed “for you” requires a bit of research.

Today there are many different types of bed and mattress and this provides a lot of potions for the prospective buyer.

The first choice is probably whether or not to get a divan, with its extra drawer space, or select a standard frame – which can allow the bed to be lower.

The mattress is the big choice though, and this should take priority over every other consideration. The first thing that you need to do is choose the largest sized bed/mattress combination that will fit into your bedroom. If you can squeeze a king size rather than a regular double, you should do so. The result will be that two sleepers can sleep independently of their movements affecting the person in the bed and that is always a good thing.

The next big choice is one of mattress filling and there are many options. Spring based mattresses remain the best sellers, but you should consider some of the foam based materials like memory foam and latex and look at the composite mattresses where tow or more systems are combined.

Finally, if you want an orthopedic quality mattress you will have to pay more money. These beds have a higher build quality and use the best materials and workmanship, but this comes at a cost.

The other thing that you should try to do is to try out some mattresses in advance of making a decision. All stores should let you lay down on a mattress and this is a good way of determining if the bed works for you. Don’t do this for 30 seconds or a minute. Try to lay down in a stationary position for a least 20 to 30 minutes and see if you start to feel like going to sleep. If you do not, or if you feel a need to change your position, it suggests that the mattress may not be ideal for you.

Changing my content

Because what can be described as an orthopedic product is very open to debate I will be expanding the scope of some of the products that I describe in this blog.

Up to now most of the posts covered things like beds, mattresses, chairs, shoes and other “obvious” orthopedically related items. What I will now do is expand that limitation to include other useful and health related aids.

My main reason for doing this is that it gives me more to write about and a broader scope of product types. However, since many aids, services and devices are used by similar people with different challenges there remains a connection between my original intent.

Exactly what I will cover in future is something that I am unsure about, but I think that all manner of different health and mobility related aids, from wheelchairs to utensils that assist in the kitchen, will be included. I will still make posts about ergonomic chairs, comfort shoes, memory foam mattresses and the like, but there will also be some other interesting things thrown into the mix.

Without formulating any definitive ideas, here of some thoughts of products to be covered.

Sauna and hydrotherapy treatments and equipment.

Mobility scooters, strollers and wheelchair.

Different types of bathroom aid from rails to seats.

Supports and strapping for injury and recuperation.

Chairlifts and other means of transportation like evac chairs.

Easy hold devices that could include cutlery or other kitchen devices.

The list can go on and on, so I will just have to see what I come up with over time.

Healthy shoes - what to look for

Very few people wear good fitting healthy shoes. There are a number of reasons for this and they range from a general ignorance about foot health through to prioritizing fashion and style above comfort and wear-ability. Price is also a factor with short lived fashion shoes often being cheaper than the less fashionable comfort style footwear.

What is and is not a good shoe will always be open to debate, however there are a number of design traits that ensure that some shoes are superior to others. To find out what the different parts of a shoe are called and how they work together you need to look at the anatomy of a shoe. You can find lists and pictures of the different shoe component compositions by searching online. These lists/pictures of the various parts of a shoe describe what they do and how they interact with the rest of the shoe or boot. This will give you an understanding of how much thought and attention goes into designing and manufacturing a good shoe.

Paramount to being a good shoe is having a good build quality. This relates to the materials used and the way in which they are put together. Not too many years ago manmade fabrics were seen as inferior to leather and suede, but modern synthetic materials can be waterproof, breathable and stylish and many comfort and orthopedic shoes are made from materials of this type. Even tough walking and hiking shoes use manmade fabrics that keep the water out whilst letting water vapour escape.

Good linings and plenty of supporting padding are very important for any good shoe. Parts of the foot like the arch need to be adequately supported and the heel needs to have a strong high counter that does not bend or flex. The padding plus a good insole will act like a suspension system evening out poor surfaces and preventing shock waves shuddering up the body.

The inside of the shoe should also be smooth and free of seems and any other projecting parts of the construction. Having a shoe that rubs or is abrasive towards any part of the foot is not only uncomfortable, but also potentially damaging. Good linings are very often a measure of a high quality pair of shoes and good shoes should never make your feet, legs or back ache.

Most quality shoes, particularly those tagged as being orthopedic, will have the upper made from many separate sections. Each of these parts has a particular function and combining one or more of these parts can dilute the shoes overall performance. As an example, many fashion shoes do not have separate toes boxes and this can result in the important toe box losing its shape and contorting or constraining the toes in an unnatural way. Toe boxes need to give the toes adequate space to move.

Ultimately the best way to select a pair of shoes is to try them on, test them and make sure that they still feel good after several hours of wear. Regrettably this is of course never possible, so arming yourself in advance with as much information as possible about well designed and made shoes is the next best alternative. Good shoes never come cheap!

Rollator and walking aids

Getting around under our own steam is something that most of us take for granted until age, and accident, or some kind of illness turn mobility into something that we no longer take for granted.

However, when walking starts to become a problem there are a number of options available.

The first is to use a simple aid like a walking stick, but this may not suffice and then we are left with a number of options that range from using a wheelchair or mobility scooter to walking with the aid of a frame.

Not too many years ago these walking frames, commonly called “zimmer frames” in Britain (after the main manufacturer of the product) were primitive. They also had a reputation associated with “immobility” – the opposite of their intended use.

Over the intervening years many advances have subsequently taken place. These changes have seen these walking frames adopt wheels and even brakes and now they are a genuine mobility aid that can be used outside the home every bit as much as within it. Here are the main choices.

The old style four legged frame that you lift and move forward is still going strong. But there is a slightly more advanced version that has small wheels on its front legs which allow it to be pushed rather than lifted forward.

Today this type of frame has though been largely superseded by the new style “rollator” walking frame.

The rollator has either 3 or 4 wheels on each of its (3 or 4 legs) and these wheels mean that the rollator can be pushed with ease. Large tyres mean that this type of walking aid can be used outdoors and on a surface that is not perfectly even.

Brakes allow the rollator to be stopped, or for its speed to be controlled, and handlebar grips give it a feel of control and stability. Other attributes that set it apart from the old style frames are carrying compartments and a seat area that lets the person using it stop and rest at any time.

The time to buy a bed

With the holiday season now over the next couple of months tend to be one of the boom periods when it comes to buying or replacing furniture and household goods.

By November, people are thinking about Christmas, but September and October tend to see increases in the sales of sofas, chairs, tables and of course beds, mattresses and other items of bedding.

For this reason prices are often down, the manufacturers and retailers “up” their advertising and promotion, and importantly there are many good deals to be had.

Right now memory foam is the big seller. There are a number of reasons for this that range from its fashionable popularity to some very cheap prices, but these should be reasons to make you think twice rather than to buy impulsively.

Visco elastic memory foam has a number of very valuable sleeping properties, however these properties are rarely found on the budget mattresses that you see in clearance sales. A good memory foam mattress will cost you hundreds of dollars or pounds Stirling, so don’t be fooled by a $99 or £99 price tag. A mattress of that quality will not be true memory foam.

If want a memory foam mattress. Look for something that gives you a foam density and check out the manufacturer and even the country of origin. The quality of memory foams varies massively and in the world of bedding you usually get what you pay for. In other words, if you buy cheap you will end up with a low quality sub-standard product that will quickly lose its ability to recover and its lifespan will be limited.

Also, don’t assume that memory foam is best, this is a fallacy. Some people like the unusual feel of memory foam, but others (like me) hate it.

Spring based mattresses have been around for a long time and there are many good reasons for this. They recover well, have long trouble free life spans and importantly they have a tried and tested existence. This means that they are well developed, available in all forms and price ranges from the budget to the executive and they remain the overall best seller in the bed industry.

When it comes to buying a new bed the best advice is to research before you buy. Look at the different types of mattress and bed frame that fall within your budget. Then evaluate the relative advantages and disadvantages of each. If you can test any out then do so, but don’t just lie on a bed for 2 minutes, this will tell you nothing. You need to spend at least 30 minutes on a bed to get any idea of its suitability and even this amount of time will only give you the most obvious of guides (e.g. if the bed is too hard or soft).

Back support

For anyone who has problems with their back, the thing that they are constantly aware of is a feeling that some kind of support is missing. If you do not have a back problem then this is a hard sensation to imagine, but if you do you will appreciate this description.

Many people who suffer from lower back discomfort often sit with one of their arms bent round behind their back and “slotted” into the lumbar zone. In effect they are creating a lumbar roll or bolster with their arm. This has the effect of reinforcing the important inward curve that a healthy back should have at this position. Even so, it makes a restrictive and awkward sitting position and one that can lead to a “dead arm”.

The alternative is to buy a lumbar roll back support cushion. This is a cushion, often semi-circular in profile, that sits comfortably in the space that is created between the base of the back and the backrest of a chair. By doing this it helps maintain the natural curve of the back and in so doing it can alleviate back discomfort for a lot of people.

Other types of back cushion can work for other complaints and seat cushions in the shape of a wedge can adjust the angle between the thighs and the body. This type of support can sometimes help those who suffer from sciatica which can be worsened by having too acute a angle between the back and the legs.

To find out more about back supportive cushions you can check online, see your GP or go to specialist store.

Orthopedic supports - sleeves and braces

Once upon a time when you injured a hand, wrist, elbow, ankle or any other joint, you were either wrapped in plaster or bandaged up.

Both of these options still have their place, but there are many purpose designed supports and braces that can take the place of, or supplement, these “old style” treatments.

Modern elastic supports can be used to offer compression and warmth to damaged knees and shoulders whilst still allowing them to have a degree of motion. Many of these aids can be used for recovery from some kind of injury, rehabilitation from medical treatment or, increasingly, for use in sport as an active way of reducing the occurrence of strains, sprains and stress injuries.

The variety of these aids is now vast and you can explore some of the many sleeves, pads and braces that available online.

Basic supporting aids include elastic sleeves, but more complex and rehabilitative options have frames that include hinges and different ways of setting the allowable range of movements that a joint can have. This results in a very large number of support-type options being available.

To make matters even better, these sleeves can be removed, washed, and many are made from none itch antibacterial fabrics that are comfortable to wear and do not irritate the skin.

These supports have become so popular that many high level athletes wear these contraptions all the time when they are performing. Partly to protect themselves and partly because they can make a joint or collection of muscles feel protected and secure.

The most common of these aids are the numerous sleeves that can be worn around the knees and the thigh compression versions that keep hamstring muscles warm and feeling secure.

Medical supports include those used for the neck after, e.g. whiplash damage, and hernia belts that can keep everything in place whilst a patient waits treatment in hospital. These aids not only help in recovery, but they significantly reduce patient pain which can be quite severe.