Waterbeds & Spinal Health

Although not everyone enjoys the sensation of sleeping in a water bed, some people find them comforting and say that sleeping in a water bed prevents or alleviates back pain. There are several ways the features of a water bed can soothe the spinal area.

Orthopedic Support

• Lower and upper back pains are often the result of sleeping in beds that are too hard or too soft or sleeping in an awkward position. For some individuals who have back problems, a water bed serves as a natural orthopedic bed because it offers support where it is needed and forms around the spine. As a result, the spinal muscles are able to relax because pressure is removed from the spine.

Soothing Heat

• If the water bed is heated, this can help the relaxation process because heat is therapeutic. For some people, the advantages of a heated water bed include soothing tired and damaged muscles, spinal tissue and ligaments.

Support Without Pressure

• A water bed shifts and displaces when your body moves, which is different from a conventional mattress, which can feel rigid and unforgiving. A water bed will not put pressure on your shoulder and hips and other bony areas but it does provide natural support for your spine, explains Thewaterbed.org.

Adaptable

• Water can be added or removed to adapt to your needs. If you lose weight or become pregnant, your spine may need a different type of comfort and support and this can be achieved by adjusting the water bed.

Injuries and Aging

• Dr. Donald Laub of Stanford University Medical Center notes that patients with geriatric problems, spinal cord injuries, paraplegia or who have suffered from a stroke can benefit from a water bed because it minimizes discomfort.
  As we age, we encounter many problems, including loss of skeletal strength and circulatory problems. Some elderly become bedridden. Flotation support is provided by a water bed. The heat from the water bed is also beneficial to the elderly because it is comforting and healing, improves circulation and the kidneys can drain more efficiently, notes My-waterbed-shop.com.

Preventing Bed Sores

• When bedridden, bed sores can develop. The Journal of American Medical Association notes that those patients sleeping in water beds did not develop bedsores and those who already had bedsores recovered from them quicker as a result of sleeping in a water bed.

Personal Preference

• On the other hand, Reliefforbackpain.net reports that approximately half of the participants in a study opted to switch back to a regular firm mattress after sleeping on a water bed because the water bed was not hard enough to suit them and because the bed produced rolling water, which they did not like.