ORTHOPAEDIC MATTRESS

Orthopedic Latex mattresses

Latex foam mattresses come in two forms called Dunlop and Talalay. The general consensus of opinion is that Talalay is slightly the better of the two.

Latex mattresses have very good orthopedic qualities because, like memory foam, they have the ability to shape and mould themselves to the individual contours of a body. This makes Latex mattresses effective when it comes to supporting to the spine and limbs.

Latex mattresses are also thought to be good at promoting the deepest stages of sleep which supports their value when it comes to providing rejuvenating rest. All Latex mattresses have good orthopaedic qualities.

Where does Latex come from

Latex mattresses are made from a natural sap that is produced from rubber trees.

The collected Latex is converted into a foam and mixed with a synthetic latex, following which the two are vulcanized. The two different types of Latex mattress, i.e. Dunlop and Talalay, result from two different methods of vulcanisation.

The reason for Talalay being considered superior to Dunlop is because the Talalay method of vulcanisation produces a harder wearing foam with a structurally superior core.

Latex and body moulding

The most important orthopaedic feature of a Latex mattress is its moulding or body contouring ability which, like memory foam, allows it to adopt the shape of the person sleeping up on it. Because of this, a Latex mattress has the ability to reduce critical pressure points along the body by distributing weight-spread evenly. This characteristic ensures that the body is supported without any damaging localised areas of pressure on critical points like the hips, knees and shoulders.

It is for this reason that foam mattresses are considered to be protective and it is their unique ability to contour to the shape of a body that makes their orthopedic performance so good.

Latex and Firmness

Latex mattresses are available in different tensions from soft to hard. However, whichever tension is selected the contouring properties of the material remain constant, as does their orthopaedic value.

Latex mattresses are not prone to sagging, developing lumps or taking on permanent body impressions. They also have a good lifespan.

Latex and Hypoallergenics

Latex mattresses are anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic and moisture resistant. This means that they are suitable for anyone with an allergy or who has a skin that is easily irritated.

Latex mattresses have high mould and dust-mites resistance which makes them suitable for asthmatics, or anyone with allergies or breathing problem. Additionally, Latex mattresses are completely odour free, something that is not true of some other mattress types when they are first removed from their packaging. Latex mattresses do not let off any kind of gas or toxic petrochemicals.

Latex foam versus Memory foam

Although there are many similarities between these two mattress core foams, there are also some difference which may affect the choice of mattress that you ultimately choose.

Latex foam and memory foam mattress cores have the ability to contour to the shape of a body, however latex provides a springy (almost bouncy) resistance that is very different to the feel of memory foam.

The orthopaedic Latex mattress has a denser feel to it than the memory foam mattress although there is little difference in their contouring properties. However, Latex does not react to heat like memory foam. This makes it more resilient and gives it a springiness against the body.

Latex mattresses have an elastic open-cell structure which is able to recover from pressure immediately by springing back into shape. Memory foam however can take several seconds to recover its at-rest profile.

The cell structure of Latex makes it a breathable material and this means that it stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Some cite a problem with memory foam in that it absorbs and retains the heat of the human body and can feel overly warm.

Should you buy a Latex mattress

Like memory foam, the critical feature that makes Latex such a good orthopaedic mattress core material is the way that it moulds and contours to the shape of the human body. However, unlike memory foam, Latex mattresses sleep cool and increase their body contouring properties with the heat from the body. Some would therefore argue that this makes them superior to memory foam.

Very few bed and mattress retailers currently stock Latex mattresses, so the best way (and sometimes the only way) to buy a latex mattress is via an online bed or mattress specialists.