Pocket spring mattresses for side sleepers
The choice of the right mattress depends, among other things, on your sleeping position. In addition to back and stomach sleepers, there are side sleepers – the most common sleeping position. Since each sleeping type requires a different mattress, we will explain below what properties a mattress for side sleepers should have and whether it makes sense to buy a pocket spring mattress for side sleepers.
Key takeaways
- For side sleepers, it is important that the spine forms a straight line. For this to happen, the shoulders and hips must sink in further, while the surrounding areas are supported more strongly.
- Pocket spring mattresses are ideal for side sleepers because, thanks to their pronounced point elasticity, they adapt perfectly to your body and support it perfectly.
- When looking for a suitable mattress for side sleepers, you should also include degrees of firmness and lying zones in your decision.
- Appropriate pillows, such as a neck support pillow, together with the right mattress, also promote ergonomic lying for side sleepers.
- To prevent possible tension, you should also choose your slatted frame carefully and possibly adjust it in areas such as the shoulder zone.
Product recommendation:
Have we convinced you about the pocket spring mattress? Then we recommend our pocket spring mattress, which is equipped with 7 lying zones and supports or allows your various body areas to sink in the best possible way. For this reason, it is perfect for side sleepers and, thanks to the 480 springs per 2 m², our mattress bestseller has optimal point elasticity: it adapts particularly well to your body and your preferred sleeping position, so that a healthy body posture is promoted. So that you can get an idea of our 7-zone pocket spring mattress yourself, you can test the mattress at home for 100 nights. If our bestseller does not suit you and your sleeping habits, you can of course send the mattress back to us free of charge.
How to recognize a good pocket spring mattress for side sleepers
Because your spine should always be in a straight line when sleeping on your side, it is important that your shoulders and hips sink in far enough, while the surrounding areas are supported (see Figure 1). If this is not the case and some parts of the body "sag", this will lead to back pain and tension in the long run, because the spine is not in its optimal position and is not evenly relieved.
In order for a corresponding mattress to succeed in bringing your spine into a straight line, it should have a high point elasticity. This means that the desired mattress only gives way at the points where pressure is exerted and thus always adapts perfectly to your body - regardless of the sleeping position you are in at the time.
These spring mattresses are available:
Although you move regularly in your sleep, so that there is no clear sleeping position in which you remain throughout the night, there are still some preferences: most people are side and back sleepers at the same time. Basically, however - regardless of the position - it is important for every sleeping type that the natural curvature of the spine (lordosis) is not impaired.
Differences to Bonell spring mattresses
Since Bonell spring mattresses give way over a large area and not selectively, we advise you not to buy such mattresses. Instead, pocket spring mattresses are ideal for side sleepers because they are particularly point-elastic: the point elasticity mentioned is made possible by the fact that the individual springs in the core of a pocket spring mattress are separated from each other, because one steel spring is sewn into a fabric pocket. This pocket completely encloses such a spring so that it cannot come into contact with another steel spring. This means that only the springs that are actually loaded give way. In Bonell spring mattresses, on the other hand, the springs are connected to each other with wires, so that a pressure load also affects the surrounding area.
Degrees of firmness
When buying a new mattress, pay attention to the degree of firmness: if the mattress is too hard, it cannot adapt optimally to your body, so that your shoulders and hips cannot sink in far enough. Conversely, a mattress that is too soft leads to body areas such as the head and lumbar region "sagging" too far and not being sufficiently supported. Both of these result in your spine becoming curved and back pain developing.
Lying zones
Lying zones are also important for mattresses for side sleepers, because good mattresses usually consist of at least 5 lying zones. The zones are created by the fact that the shoulders and hips sink in further, while the surrounding areas (head, lumbar region and legs) should be supported more strongly. However, such mattresses cannot be turned, otherwise the zoning will no longer be correct. Mattresses with 7 lying zones, on the other hand, can be turned because, instead of one large leg area, there are several smaller zones: In addition to the leg zone, the lower part of a 7-zone pocket spring mattress also has the calf and foot zones. The foot zone is identical to the head area, while the calf zone is the counterpart to the shoulder area. The leg area in turn corresponds to the lumbar area, so that mattresses with 7 lying zones are mirrored in the hip zone and can therefore be turned without any problems, without the zones then being incorrect and you no longer lying optimally. For this reason, mattresses with 7 lying zones have become established on the market, so that - no matter how you place the mattress - you always sleep ergonomically correctly.
What you need to consider when choosing pillows for side sleepers
With mattresses for side sleepers, it is particularly important that the cervical spine is relieved. For this reason, you should make sure that you also use a suitable pillow in addition to the right pocket spring mattress: This should support your neck in such a way that the shoulder-neck triangle is filled. A neck support pillow is particularly suitable for side sleepers, as this perfectly relieves the cervical spine. To avoid overextension, the pillow should be high enough so that the back of your head does not kink, but is a straight extension of the spine.
A leg support also ensures that your spine is kept straight: Instead of using one pillow for your head and one for your upper leg, you can alternatively use a side sleeper pillow that covers both in one. This is long enough to support your head so that your neck does not kink at night and to simultaneously support the leg that is on top when lying on your side. In this way, a healthy body posture is promoted in the lateral sleeping position, after all, the spine is then in a straight position.
Slatted frames for side sleepers – what you need to consider
In addition to the right mattress and pillow, you should also consider a suitable slatted frame for side sleepers, because in order to lie ergonomically correctly, the entire sleep system must always be taken into account. A slatted frame with integrated shoulder zone is particularly advantageous if you have broader shoulders, because it allows the shoulder area to sink in further, so that the spine forms a straight line in the lateral position. Turning individual slats on the slatted frame is also possible with some models, which also ensures that the shoulders sink in better. In general, the shoulder zone in slatted frames for side sleepers should be softer than the surrounding body areas. To achieve this, you can push the corresponding sliders together for a softer shoulder area if your slatted frame has adjustment sliders. You can also use the adjustment sliders to adjust the firmness in other areas, in order to sleep firmer or softer in the respective zone, depending on your preferred sleeping sensation. Otherwise, it is a good idea for side sleepers to set the classic V-shape on the slatted frame: In this basic setting, the adjustment sliders visually form a V, with the point facing the foot end. For an ergonomically correct sleeping position, the pelvis should lie on the point.
Tip:
In principle, slatted frames with additional lumbar support are a good option to ensure optimal relief of the spine. This provides better relief for the natural curvature of the spine (lordosis), as this area is optimally cushioned by, for example, height-adjustable slats. This center zone reinforcement (also called center zone adjustment) on the slatted frame usually extends over about five to nine slats and consequently supports the middle and lower area of the spine.
Conclusion: Are pocket spring mattresses suitable for side sleepers?
Pocket spring mattresses are ideally suited for side sleepers because they are particularly point-elastic and therefore adapt perfectly to the sleeper's body: shoulders and hips can sink in further, while the surrounding areas are supported more strongly, so that your spine is in a straight position, which promotes a healthy posture (see Figure 1). Pocket spring mattresses are very adaptable because the individual springs only give way at the points that are stressed. As a result, you are in an optimal position even if you move in your sleep and change your sleeping position.
In order to find the exact model that suits your sleeping habits and allows you to sink in perfectly or supports you in a lateral position, you should pay attention to the degree of firmness when buying a pocket spring mattress. You should also check how many lying zones the desired pocket spring mattress is divided into: With 7-zone pocket spring mattresses, there is a corresponding area on the mattress for each part of the body in order to fully ensure the ergonomically correct posture of your body. At the same time, this type of mattress can be easily rotated without any impairment with regard to the zoning. Pocket spring mattresses with 5 lying zones, on the other hand, are not suitable for turning.
Good to know:
Although pocket spring mattresses are strictly speaking only a subgroup of spring mattresses, the terms are often used synonymously. In addition, pocket spring mattresses are often equated with barrel pocket spring mattresses, so this article also provides information about spring mattresses and barrel pocket spring mattresses for side sleepers.
