Adjustable Bases: An Overview

Have you experienced zero gravity, and can it help you sleep better?

Just about any medical professional you consult will argue that sleep is as important as diet and exercise to leading a healthy, productive life. Perhaps it’s obvious, but if we don’t sleep well, our waking hours suffer. We’re less mentally and physically sharp, more error-prone, and more subject to a litany of diseases and health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and hypertension.

Essential to quality, restorative sleep is the sleep environment: your bedroom. It should be cool, dark and quiet, with a comfortable mattress and pillows. Yet, even with these essentials, many people sleep in pain or discomfort, employing an army of pillows to support their necks, backs and legs, and they still have problems sleeping.

Which brings us to the rise in popularity of the adjustable foundation, or, as we also refer to them in-store, “zero gravity bases.”

Adjustable foundations allow you to raise or lower the head and foot of the bed via remote control in order to find the sleeping position most comfortable for you. Zero gravity refers to that adjustment that puts the least load on your body’s pressure points, thereby affording you the sensation of being in a zero gravity state.

Adjusting your mattress also means adjusting your neck and spine for optimal sleeping comfort, but an adjustable foundation’s benefits go beyond that.

Snoring occurs, especially for people who sleep on their backs, because the tongue falls into the back of the throat and partially blocks the windpipe. In the worst cases, that blockage can cause sleep apnea, a condition where the sleeper stops breathing for 10 to 30 seconds, and then resumes breathing with a gasp. Sleep apnea can occur several times a night. Adjusting the head of the bed in order to open the windpipe can help reduce or alleviate snoring, as well as help alleviate the effects of some sleep apnea conditions.

For people suffering from back pain, the less stress on the back, the better. Adjustable foundations allow for better spinal alignment, which can help relieve stress on the sciatic nerve, which controls most of the brain’s communication with the limbs.

Elevating the foot of the bed can be particularly beneficial to people who work on their feet all day and, as a result, experience tired, sore or swollen feet or legs at night.

In order to accommodate nearly every sleep need and budget, Sleep Outfitters has available several types of adjustable foundations, all with remote control. One model adjusts the head only. Others adjust the head and foot of the bed, and some come with built-in massage features.

In addition to the health benefits mentioned, an adjustable base also offers creature comforts. Most people enjoy reading or watching TV while in bed and use a variety of pillows to prop themselves into an upright position, or experience uncomfortable strain on their back and arms. An adjustable bed eliminates this hassle by allowing the user to position themselves upright for reading, watching a movie, or enjoying breakfast in bed. You can also slip into a lounger position with knees slightly elevated.

More upgraded models often come with additional functions like massage, alarms, and even anti-snore controls. The massage is a vibration-based sensation that helps relax muscles and encourage circulation. Other types of features vary by model, but add to the comfort and luxury of your bedroom.

Visit one of our nearby locations to test out an adjustable base and feel the difference!