The age and quality of your current mattress can influence your sleep patterns and quality of life, according to a study from Oklahoma State University published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine (Winter, 2006).

When sleeping on a new medium-firm mattress, 59 healthy participants reported significant reductions in lower back and spine stiffness, with significant improvements in sleep quality. The improvements were independent of the participants’ age, weight or preexistence of back injury. The study showed that the age of the participants’ mattress significantly contributed to back stiffness, with a minimum mattress age of 5 years and a mean mattress age of 9.7 years. New bedding systems provided both immediate and sustained benefits in sleep and wellness, with increased improvement every week of the study. The researchers noted that sleep deficiency interferes with daytime activity, social interactions, mood and loss of work productivity.

Maintaining a quality sleep set, when combined with exercise, proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, can greatly contribute to your overall wellness. Proper restoration is key – get your 8 hours of sleep!

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