There’s nothing quite like the feeling of waking up after a good night’s sleep. You feel refreshed and ready for the day, prepared to tackle whatever life will throw at you. On the other hand, failing to get that sound rest will do the opposite and sometimes leave you feeling even more tired than you were when you fell asleep the night before.
For many people, especially as they get older, it’s a reality that they become more and more sensitive to the types of surfaces they sleep on. As kids, you may have been able to sleep in ridiculous positions and not have an issue, while these days, you might wake up with a crick in your neck if you were using a pillow that’s just a little too soft.
Perhaps the greatest factor when it comes to sleeping soundly is the kind of mattress you use. Your spinal health, pressure on your organs, and joint strain are largely determined by how soft or firm your mattress is. If you’re finding yourself consistently fatigued and struggling to get a full night’s sleep, then you may want to consider an extra-firm mattress to get the support that you need every night.
The Benefits of Sleeping on a Firm Mattress
Firm and extra-firm mattresses are best suited to those who need more spinal support, especially those who sleep on their stomach or back. Firm mattresses help maintain spinal alignment and increase oxygen flow. This improved flow can reduce snoring and decrease the incidence of sleep apnea, which improves both the quality and length of sound sleeping.
Because firm mattresses provide more support, you can sleep in a more natural position and maintain spinal alignment without having to strain muscles or constantly re-position yourself. Note that this fact is not true for those who sleep on their side, as the added firmness can actually increase pressure on the shoulders and hips. If you’re a stomach or back sleeper, then you’ll want to choose one of the top-rated extra-firm mattresses available.
The Best Extra-Firm Mattresses on the Market
Given the amount of research that has gone into sleeping well, it’s no surprise that there are several excellent options when it comes to extra-firm mattresses. The following examples offer significant benefits and suit a variety of budgets and needs.
- The Most Firm: Plank – Plank mattresses are designed to maximize firmness and are best suited for those who need the most support. These mattresses live up to their name and only yield at the most pressure, offering exceptional support for the back and neck with next to no sinkage. It is also flippable, with a side that is slightly less firm, giving you some flexibility if you find after a few weeks that it may be too firm for your comfort.
- The Most Supportive: Beautyrest Harmony – When it comes to healthy sleeping, the kind of mattress matters. Beautyrest Harmony mattresses combine memory foam with traditional springs to provide support in all the right places without straining your pressure points.
- The Most Affordable: Amerisleep AS1 – This mattress is produced by a company that prides itself on its made-in-America credentials and strives to keep costs low. The AS1 achieves a healthy level of firmness without breaking the bank. While it may not be the must durable or comfortable, it can provide a significant quality of life improvement for those who would benefit from an extra-firm mattress and don’t want to invest too much money.
- The Most Flexible: Saatva Solaire – Many couples find that it’s nearly impossible to find a bed that suits both partners. While you may be a back sleeper who needs a firm mattress, your partner may be a side sleeper that benefits from more softness. The Solaire adjustable mattress is the ideal option in this case, as in queen-sized or larger, it can adjust to two different levels of firmness on either side of the bed. Nothing says “domestic harmony” more than a bed that can help two different kinds of sleepers both get their beauty rest!
Depending on what you need out of your mattress, one of these models is sure to suit your sleeping. If you’re waking up with more aches and pains than you used to, then you should consider how an extra-firm mattress may help you. The best part about each of these mattresses is that they all have a 120-day trial period, which means you can explore your options risk-free before committing to the mattress that will help you rest the best.