Mattress Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Quality== Many parameters determine the quality of a mattress. Laboratory test methods have been established for some of these parameters, such as pressure distribution, skin microclimate, hygiene, edge support, and long-term stability. Some of these have been developed by Duncan Bain, working on behalf of the UK's [[Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency]].<ref>Bain, Duncan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060614160134/http://www.pasa.doh.gov.uk/evaluation/docs/assistive_technology/MHRA_03129.pdf "Pressure Reducing Mattresses"]. MHRA. April 2004.</ref> Other parameters, such as firmness, are more specific to the sleeper. In general, firm mattresses are recommended for stomach and some back sleepers, soft mattresses are recommended for side sleepers, and medium mattresses are recommended for the majority of back sleepers. Double mattresses are available with a softer and a firmer part, or with adjustable firmness levels, to accommodate sleepers with different preferences who share a bed. ===Ergonomics=== In 2003, a [[Randomized controlled trial|randomized-controlled trial]] found that medium-firm mattresses assessed using the Hs scale from the European Committee for Standardization were associated with less pain;<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain: randomised, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial |journal= The Lancet| doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14792-7|pmid=14630439 |volume=362|issue=9396 |pages=1599–1604|date=2003-11-15 |last1=Mufraggi |first1=Nicole |last2=Real |first2=María Teresa Gil del |last3=Zamora |first3=Javier |last4=Muriel |first4=Alfonso |last5=Gestoso |first5=Mario |last6=Guillén |first6=Pedro |last7=Ruano |first7=Domingo |last8=Ferrer |first8=Enrique |last9=Sánchez-Vera |first9=Manuel |last10=Martín-Rodríguez |first10=José Gerardo |last11=Peña |first11=Andrés |last12=Abraira |first12=Víctor |last13=Kovacs |first13=Francisco M. |s2cid= 25087984}}</ref> this study has been cited by clinical practice guidelines on lower back pain.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Chou|first1=Roger|last2=Qaseem|first2=Amir|last3=Snow|first3=Vincenza|last4=Casey|first4=Donald|last5=Cross|first5=J. Thomas|last6=Shekelle|first6=Paul|last7=Owens|first7=Douglas K.|last8=Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommittee of the American College of Physicians|last9=American College of Physicians|date=2007-10-02|title=Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain: a joint clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society|journal=Annals of Internal Medicine|volume=147|issue=7|pages=478–491|issn=1539-3704|pmid=17909209|doi=10.7326/0003-4819-147-7-200710020-00006|doi-access=free}}</ref> In 2015, a [[systematic review]] of studies concluded that medium-firm, custom-inflated mattresses were best for pain and [[Neutral spine|neutral spinal]] alignment.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Radwan|first1=Ahmed|last2=Fess|first2=Philip|last3=James|first3=Darcy|last4=Murphy|first4=John|last5=Myers|first5=Joseph|last6=Rooney|first6=Michelle|last7=Taylor|first7=Jason|last8=Torii|first8=Alissa|title=Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment in adults with or without back pain; systematic review of controlled trials|journal=Sleep Health|volume=1|issue=4|pages=257–267|doi=10.1016/j.sleh.2015.08.001|pmid=29073401|year=2015}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page