Sleeping on the floor - is it healthy for the body?
Sleeping on the floor - is it healthy for the body?
We often hear that the best medicine for the spine is sleeping on the floor. Our observations show that this is an increasingly common practice, when we replace a soft mattress with a hard floor, which is supposed to improve our health and contribute to alleviating back pain. More and more often, especially in modern home spaces, we can find a large premium mattress instead of a classic bed . However, does contemporary fashion actually have any justification in medicine, or is it just an interior whim?
What does sleeping on the floor look like on a daily basis?
Sleeping on the floor has become quite popular, especially in recent years. This is influenced by the supposed, salutary effect of the floor on our spine, as well as the fashion for minimalist interior design. Especially in countries like Japan, many people sleep on flat and hard surfaces. It is connected not only with pro-health activity, but also with traditions and beliefs.
Interestingly, when we put the mattress directly on the floor for the first time, sleeping on it may not be very comfortable. However, after a few days our body begins to get used to the hardness of the surface. The floor, unlike flexible bed frames, is hard and does not adapt to the work of the mattress under the pressure of our body. Therefore, the mattress on the floor seems to us to be firmer than in the case of the bed.
Sleeping on the mattress itself seems to be a reasonable solution, especially if we have a limited budget or limited space in the bedroom. Good quality beds with frames can cost a fortune, while the mattress itself, which will work well on our spine, is also not cheap. However, let's not opt for thin folding mattresses, which we can hide in the wardrobe after the night. Firstly, as we have already mentioned, they are very thin, and secondly, their quality usually leaves much to be desired.
When deciding to sleep on the floor, we must ensure the hygiene of the surface. After all, the floor is the place that collects the largest amount of dust, bacteria, mites and other microorganisms. Therefore, we should vacuum and wash the floor very often, also under the mattress. In addition, let's regularly change the sheet and ventilate the mattress to ensure the best possible ventilation.
Sleeping on the floor and back pain
As we have already mentioned, many people believe that sleeping on the floor has a positive effect on back pain or just spinal pain. In addition, it is supposed to have a good effect on body posture and better sleep. Interestingly, there are many studies that confirm these theses.
Medium-firm mattresses can be especially effective, as they improve the comfort and quality of sleep, and also work well on the position of the spine. All of these can, in turn, help reduce back pain.
Let us remember, however, that each of us is different and we should not buy the same mattress as a friend, even if in their case it passed the exam. It all depends on our body weight and whether we sleep alone or with a person close to us. These aspects are crucial when choosing the right mattress.
Back pain and sleeping on the floor - which mattress to choose?
Often, a foldable sponge mattress is chosen to sleep on the floor, which is light, handy and very easy to hide during the day. However, this is a very bad solution that can only aggravate back pain. Such mattresses are usually thin, do not provide adequate insulation from the ground, and are characterized by poor flexibility, which negatively affects the maintenance of muscle tone. At most, these types of models should be treated as an emergency version in case of unexpected guests.
One of the key features of a mattress is its firmness. So when looking for a model that is to be used without a frame, the degree of hardness should be selected depending on our body weight and whether we will sleep on it alone or with the other half. Remember that the mattress on the floor will seem harder, but do not opt for very soft foam. If you want to opt for a foam mattress, pay attention to highly elastic foams and natural latex, which is durable and hypoallergenic. We do not recommend memory foam mattresses. It reacts to body heat, and its structure can contribute to poor heat and moisture dissipation.
What are the risks of sleeping on a hard floor?
Sleeping on a mattress placed directly on the floor, as we already know, brings many health benefits, especially for our back and spine. However, it can also contribute to negative health effects. We include mainly:
- Colds - while in the summer we are unlikely to be in danger, in autumn and winter the cooler air near the floor can be the cause of catching a cold.
- Pathogenic microorganisms - the floor is unfortunately a habitat for all kinds of dust, microorganisms, mites, fungi and bacteria. These, in turn, directly affect our health, especially people suffering from allergies or asthma.
- Weaker air circulation - traditionally we combine the mattress with the frame and the bed. Then we also have an optimal microclimate, i.e. air circulation in the mattress, which in turn eliminates moisture. When the mattress lies directly on the ground, its thermal ventilation capabilities are limited. Therefore, excess heat and moisture accumulate inside, which are conducive to the development of mold, fungi and bacteria. Therefore, let's take care of frequent airing and ventilation of the mattress.
