What Is A Recovery Mattress?

If you play sports or go to the gym, you’ll be familiar with that aching feeling you get the day after a hard workout – but did you know there is a way that you can boost your recovery whilst resting? A recovery mattress can help athletes of all levels recover from their exercise. They can provide comfort and support so you can get a restful night’s sleep whilst your body repairs, allowing you to wake up pain-free and ready to take on your day. Read on as we take a look at what a recovery mattress is, as well as some of the features to look for when choosing your mattress. 

Recovery and Sleep 

If you run, swim, cycle, lift weights – any type of training that your body goes through, you’re going to need to get a good night’s sleep to recover fully. Time spent recovering is just as important as your time spent training, and during recovery, your muscles can repair and build. Resting allows your heart to recuperate after exertion and is a time when hormones are produced to help your immune system fight infection. Your brain is also working when you rest, to store memories and help you to improve performance. All of this makes a huge difference to athletes and the way they train. A restful night’s sleep also helps to prevent irritability and improves focus so your body can function as it should day-to-day. 

What to look for in a recovery mattress 

Did you know there are mattresses specifically made to suit athletes and aid recovery? If you take part in any type of sport, or you work out regularly, choosing one of these mattresses could be beneficial, so you can wake up feeling well-rested and pain-free, ready to perform at your best. Here are some of the features you should look for when choosing a recovery mattress. 

Mattress type 

If you’ve ever looked to purchase a mattress in the past, you’ll know that there is a huge range on the market to choose from. As an athlete, you’re going to need a mattress that you feel most comfortable on, that hugs the body, relieving pressure but keeping the spine aligned to reduce the chance of back pain. Foam mattresses are great for those that need pressure relief, especially if you sleep on your side, and they can provide high levels of cushioning and comfort. Hybrid mattresses can provide the same type of comfort with a little extra support to the areas that need it most, they also feature cooling properties that can help to keep athletes who may be warm after a workout cool. 

Contouring 

Foam, hybrid, and latex mattresses offer high-quality contouring to the body – athletes may benefit from this as contouring helps to support and relieve pressure around the body, meaning you can take a load off any sore, stiff parts of your body, whilst also maintaining joint health. If you aren’t a fan of sinking into your mattress, an innerspring or hybrid mattress with coils could be the best option for you to keep your body aligned during the night. 

Firmness 

Each mattress comes with a level of firmness, with the innerspring being the firmest, and all foam and latex being the softest. Generally, the firmness you choose is down to your preference but if you’re an athlete that weighs lighter, you might find that a softer mattress keeps you more comfortable. In contrast, if you weigh heavier, a soft mattress may lead to discomfort, so a more supportive option would be advantageous. If you need greater support, firm mattresses do the trick, whereas if you need more comfort, a softer mattress would be best. 

Pressure Relief 

A recovery mattress should offer pressure relief. If you’re moving and exercising, putting your body under strain, you’re likely to have sore joints and aching muscles. Choosing a mattress that contours your body and keeps you comfortable without sagging or sinking means that you can wake up feeling recovered and ready to perform at your best. You could choose a foam mattress to help with this or a hybrid option.