Orthopaedic - What does this mean?

An orthopaedic mattress is a mattress designed to support the joints, back and overall body.
For many back pain sufferers, the orthopaedic mattress can offer a massive improvement in their quality of life. The appropriate support, and a reduction in pressure point pain can help sufferers to get a good night sleep and much needed pain relief.

With medical innovations in the 1950s, many manufacturers of mattresses made an effort to improve their products and give them an edge over their competitors. It was in the midst of this culture that the concept of a medically superior mattress was born. The Orthopaedic Mattress was the final product of many years of research and development from many different companies.
There is no government standard or official designation that will qualify one mattress orthopaedic and the other not. This reality has created much confusion in the bedding industry, to the point where the typical consumer is not able to determine if a mattress is orthopaedic or not.
Orthopaedic Mattresses aren't always super firm, it is possible to get an orthopaedic mattress in various firmness ratings. It is no longer common practice for orthopaedic mattresses to be the firmest mattress on the market. Rather, the best orthopaedic mattress is one which provides sufficient support for the individual in question.

Generally, Firmer mattresses suit people who sleep on their front or their back better than people who sleep on their sides, as the main purpose of the mattress is to keep the spine correctly aligned choosing a slightly softer mattress would be better for a side sleeper.

The modern orthopaedic mattress comes in a variety of designs and materials. Although the classic coil spring varieties are still common, Memory foam, a space age material, has become the current trend in support mattresses. Memory foam produced a revolution in support bedding, with mattress toppers becoming a way to revitalise an old, or overly firm mattress.