Spine related injuries or disorders are not restricted just towards athletes anymore, studies suggest that 60% of the people come across a bad spine every once a while. Doctors suggest that the way we sleep, sit or the type of pillow or cushions we use plays an important role in avoiding the spine related injuries. Cushions with memory foam are well-known in providing great health uses for everyone. Not only do orthopaedic cushions and pillows that have memory foam help relieve pain, but they also reduce muscle fatigue and help your body recover faster from injuries.
But the question is, how do we choose the right memory foam cushion and what are the benefits of it? Let’s start with addressing the impact of memory foam pillows or cushions on our day-to-day life. There are also things to consider wile looking for memory foam cushions such as budget and the type of pillow. For example, if you have a pain in the lower back, look into a lumbar support pillow. If you have coccyx pain, a u-shaped pillow might be right for you. If you’re prone to overheating, a gel seat cushion might be the most suitable option.
Let’s now dig into the basic hindsight of memory foam discussed below.
What Is Memory Foam?
Memory foam consists mainly of polyurethane with additional chemicals that increase its viscosity and density. It is often referred to as “viscoelastic” polyurethane foam, or low-resilience polyurethane foam (LRPu). The foam bubbles or ‘cells’ are open, effectively creating a matrix through which air can move.
Higher-density memory foam softens in reaction to body heat, allowing it to mould to a warm body in a few minutes. Newer foams may recover their original shape more quickly
Memory foam derives its viscoelastic properties from several effects, due to the material’s internal structure. The network effect is the force working to restore the foam’s structure when it is deformed. This effect is generated by the deformed porous material pushing outwards to restore its structure against an applied pressure. Three effects work against the network effect, slowing the regeneration of the foam’s original structure:
- The pneumatic effect, caused by the time it takes air to flow into the foam’s porous structure.
- The adhesive effect, or adhesion, caused by the stickiness of the surfaces within the foam, which work against decompression as the internal pores within the foam are pressed together
- The relaxation effect (the strongest of the three forces working against expansion), caused by the foam’s material being near its glass transition temperature—limiting its mobility, forcing any change to be gradual, and slowing the expansion of the foam once the applied pressure has been removed
Memory Foam Seat Cushion
Seat cushions and pillows that are made from genuine memory foam are the best way to improve your posture in your day-to-day life. Not only are memory foam seat cushions portable, but they also provide a huge increase in support for your body posture and your spine.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits that a memory foam seat cushion can bring to you:
1. Helps stress and pain in the joints and spine
Memory foam pillows have a slew of health advantages. The heat reactive cushioning insulator makes the pillows stand out. This means that when the pillow is subjected to pressure and heat, the foam moulds itself to fit the contours of the object. This is why these pillows conform better to the curvature of the neck and head than ordinary pillows.
Memory Foam Pillows are meant to conform to your body’s unique shape to provide head and neck support. They give the neck and head an even amount of support. The foam recovers less where it isn’t needed and more where it is. This alleviates pressure points by providing uniform pressure across the entire head and neck.
2. Spinal Alignment
Do you get headaches, neck pain, or back discomfort? Poor spinal alignment is the most common cause of this condition. Sleeping on memory foam pillows has many health benefits, one of which is spinal alignment. The weight and warmth of your body allow the foam to reconfigure itself as you put your head and neck on the cushion. This forces the cushion to provide additional support under the head’s heaviest regions while also supporting the lighter, more pressure-sensitive neck area. Tossing, turning, and discomfort can be reduced with proper spinal alignment. It lets your muscles relax appropriately while also providing natural spinal support and conforming to your particular shape to promote a deep, restful sleep.
3. Relief from Pressure Points
Many people who suffer from chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain find their memory foam pillows offer plenty of pros. Studies states the benefits of sleeping on a memory foam pillow can help people who suffer from neck, shoulder, and back pain. The pain can be from something as simple as computer work or as strenuous as physically labour. You may even notice that you are experiencing a lot of pain in your lower extremities. Using a memory foam seat cushion, you can help increase the blood flow into your pelvis, back, and legs.
4. Durable
A good memory foam pillow will have a higher density than a regular pillow – making it a more durable one. Pillows made of cheap materials can possibly only last for a minimum of six months, while you can have a memory foam pillow for up to three years.
Isn’t it just ideal – a hypoallergenic, easy-maintaining, and durable pillow all in one? That’s already less washing for you, pillow-wise anyway.
5. Hypoallergenic
Bamboo Memory foam pillows are made of naturally hypoallergenic material that hinders the growth of bacteria leading to moulds and dust mites. In comparison to feather, wool, and cotton pillows, it will not release any ‘micro-fluff’ into the air that could be potentially inhaled. For severe allergy sufferers, this might the dream pillow made just for them.
For the same reasons as above, a good sleeping posture can keep the airways open through the night. When the head and neck are aligned with the spine, the air passages also stay aligned and remain open to allow for proper functioning of the respiratory tract.
6. Easy Maintenance
Holding and supporting the neck in place means the spine can follow suit. It lets your body relax properly – giving it the opportunity to heal and regenerate whilst you sleep. Now that sounds like a good and productive snooze!
Unlike regular pillows, you can easily care for your memory foam pillow. Just remove the machine-washable cover – if applicable – and spot-clean the pillow for any stains. Voila! A pillow as good as new.
7. Excellent Support and Contouring
Memory foam is noted for its ability to conform to and support the contour of your head. This keeps your head from sinking too far into the pillow, as it would with a standard pillow. It’s designed to uniformly distribute weight, reducing pressure on the neck and spine.
Memory Foam Pillows keep their shape and do not flatten out. Memory foam moulds to the shape of the neck and head, but then returns to its original shape as it cools. Over time, feather and fibre filled or batted pillows develop lumps, flatten, or simply wear out. Memory foam consistently returns to its original shape. By design, they outlive other high-quality pillows. Plus, a memory foam pillow will help support the muscles in your neck while you’re lying down. This will allow you can feel relaxed as your spine is supported.
8. Cost Equivalent to Traditional Pillows
There are 1000s of pillows in different materials available in market and online suck as bamboo pillow, down pillows, duck and goose pillows, cotton pillows and bamboo sheets. But the memory foam pillows gives you great value for your money as it lasts way longer than your average pillows. It might seem costly at first, but the amount of time it lasts, compensates to a greater extent
9. Pressure Point Relief
Due to its high ability to support and contour, memory foam pillows and cushions are great additions in your room to ease pressures on your neck, head, shoulders and back. It also saves your neck area to make uncomfortable turns in your sleep. In the end, it eases the pressure from your essential points in your body
10.More Durable Than a Regular Pillow
Due to its increased levels of density and sturdiness, compared to a regular pillow, it will last a longer amount of time than your regular pillow.
Regular pillows are made from different mixed materials in order to bring the cost down, which is why most regular pillows life span is less than 4-5 months. Memory foam cushions on the other hand has a life span of 2-3 years if good care is taken. This is because the materials that memory foam pillows are filled with are more durable and filled with high-quality materials.
11. Material Breathability
For long term travellers, who are always on the run due to work, spending on a good memory foam pillow is the best ides to get long lasting relief for your body. Most memory foam pillows and cushions are breathable which allows the air to circulate and it to rise back to its normal shape. Manufactured using high quality hypoallergenic materials, allows it to prevent dust mites, bacteria, and mould to grow in a memory foam pillow.
