What's So Important About Good Sleep and the Right Mattress?

Sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, growth, stress reduction and other vital functions. So getting enough quality sleep is as important to overall health as good nutrition and regular exercise.

According to Chuck Fulanovich, DC of Palo Alto Chiropractic Offices, choosing the right sleep position and mattress can make all the difference in the world to feeling good overall and minimizing back, neck and shoulder issues. Regarding proper sleeping position, Dr. Chuck says that, in general, most people do well sleeping on their sides with the knees curled up in a semi-fetal position. This position opens up spinal facet joints and can relieve pressure in the lower back. Using a cervical pillow or a pillow designed for side sleeping gives the neck proper support and cradles the head while reducing pressure on the shoulder joints.

He adds that several studies conducted recently have concluded that for most people, a medium firm mattress works best. That doesn’t mean, however, that some people won’t do better on a very firm or softer mattress. Personal preference should dictate what works best for you. Dr. Chuck keeps in mind that everybody is different.

McRoskey offers several mattress comforts ranging from extra gentle to extra firm so that you can be certain to find the comfort level that suits you best. This selection of comfort levels is only one of the reasons he recommends McRoskey products to his patients and why his family uses them at home (medium firm mattresses and Dr. Mary sidesleeper pillows).