How Adjustable Bases Can Improve Your Sleeping Experience

Adjustable bed bases are among the most advanced forms of sleep tech on the market. Advertisements for these bases usually feature someone reclined in bed watching TV or reading a book. But there's much more to these bed bases than you might think. In addition to a little added convenience, they have the potential to totally transform your sleeping experience. 

In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about adjustable bases, their unique benefits, the best adjustable bed positions, and more. Let's get right into it!

What are Adjustable Bed Bases?

Before we jump into the benefits of adjustable bed bases, it's important to make sure that we're all on the same page.

Adjustable bed bases are frames that have a hinged mechanism that allows you to change the incline of the bed. You can move the head of the bed, the foot of the bed, or both, depending on the specific model. Some adjustable bed bases are electric and others are manual. The electric ones are usually controlled by remote. Some even have massage capabilities and other extras that separate them from the rest. 

Adjustable bed bases stand alone, so you won't need an additional base or box spring. You'll just need the adjustable base and a mattress that's compatible with one. Not every mattress is designed to work with an adjustable base.

The Benefits of Adjustable Bases

Adjustable bases are more than just an movable piece of sleep furniture. The functionality of the base opens the user up to a variety of amazing sleep benefits. In this section, we'll outline the many benefits of adjustable bases.

Improved Back Health

Sleeping on a flat bed works for some, but it presents some very real issues for others. To ensure that your spine maintains the most natural position as you get your Zs, it's imperative that your head is slightly elevated and your knees are slightly bent. Adjustable bases enable you to get into that position very quickly and easily - usually with the touch of a button or the pull of a lever or two.

For those who don't feel comfortable in the aforementioned position (head elevated, knees up), the adjustable bed base helps in that regard. If you prefer to sleep with only your head raised, only your knees raised, etc., just adjust your bed accordingly. Some bed bases have more sleep customization options than others, but the majority of them have these few options.

Less Snoring

Snoring is one of the most annoying things to deal with when you're trying to get some rest. It almost goes without saying that loud snoring can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. In some cases, the snoring partner might be asked to leave the room.

Sleeping on your back is a well-known cause of snoring. And adjustable bed bases combat this by allowing you to raise the head of your bed. With your head raised, your airways will open up a bit more and you may experience a reduction in snoring. Your head doesn't need to be elevated a lot - very slight elevation will be sufficient in many cases.

Note: This benefit will not apply to everyone. There are many other snoring causes, and if your issue isn't gravity partially closing your airways, then raising the head of your bed will likely not make much of a difference.

Sinusitis Relief

Sinusitis, an infection of the sinuses, is not only difficult to deal with during the day. But it can negatively affect the quality of your sleep at night. The harder it is for you to breathe during the night, the less restful sleep you'll have.

Adjustable bed bases can alleviate some of the symptoms of sinusitis. And you can access this benefit by elevating the head of your bed. The elevation will make it easier for your sinuses to drain. It will then be easier to breathe. The amount of relief will vary, but the difference can be substantial.

And with your passageways a little less congested, you'll enjoy better sleep.

Sleep Apnea Improvement

Sleep apnea occurs when you repeatedly stop and start breathing as you sleep. The condition can drastically reduce the quality of your rest.

It's a well-known fact that elevating your head can improve sleep apnea symptoms. This doesn't mean that your sleep apnea will go away instantly. But it can reduce your symptoms.

Note: Sleep apnea is a serious condition that requires professional treatment. So, if you're dealing with this issue, we encourage you to consider conventional treatments in addition to head elevation.

Acid Reflux Improvement

If you've ever experienced acid reflux, you know that lying down flat can make it a whole lot worse. And this is where an adjustable bed comes in handy - in seconds, you can raise the head of your bed and get relief. The reason why this works is that when you raise your upper body up, gravity works to keep your stomach acid where it should be - in your stomach. 

Just like with all of the rest of the benefits, sleeping upright won't be an instant cure for acid reflux. But it can take the edge off and make sleep possible when it wouldn't be otherwise.

Customizable Positions for Spouses

Just because you love your spouse, it doesn't mean that you prefer to sleep the way that they do. Split adjustable bed bases are perfect for couples with different sleep preferences. These bases can be adjusted to one position on one side and another on the other. Independent adjustment capabilities mean that you can remain close to your sweetie and still be comfortable throughout the night.

What's the Right Adjustable Bed Position for You?

Given that adjustable beds are somewhat foreign to those who are used to typical flat bed bases, it can be difficult to decide which base positions you should use. In this section, we’ll go over several bed positions to try on an adjustable bed. 

• Legs elevated. Raising the bottom of an adjustable bed is good for anyone who has issues with swelling in their legs. But that's not the only thing that this adjustable bed position can help with; it can also alleviate lower back pain and remedy sciatica. What's more is that whenever you raise your legs, it aids in circulation in your upper body - more specifically in your heart.
• Head elevated - Raising the top of an adjustable bed is great for ailments like sleep apnea and certain digestive issues. It also reduces snoring, as mentioned earlier. It can also reduce strain on your neck and back that can creep up when you're trying to watch TV or read in bed. Propping yourself up with pillows is not ideal and can lead to aches and pains. This won't be an issue with an adjustable bed.
• Both legs and head elevated. Elevating your legs and head eases your spine into a very natural position. Sleeping with the bed in this position helps to reduce your chances of developing back pain. 
• Zero Gravity. This is arguably the best adjustable bed sleeping position possible. It's a position where your head and legs are elevated specifically at a 120 degree angle. The great thing about this position is that it takes all pressure off of your spine, shoulders, hips, neck, etc. When you sleep in this position, you'll feel the difference - the level of comfort you'll feel is out of this world. That's especially true for those who suffer from chronic body aches and pains.

Best Adjustable Bed Positions for Different Sleeper Types

Before deciding whether an adjustable bed is right for you, you should know whether your preferred sleeping position is compatible with this bed frame type. For starters, adjustable bed bases aren't a good fit for those who sleep on their stomachs. Sleeping on an adjustable bed in such a manner will only lead to back and neck strain.

Now that that's out of the way, if you sleep on your side, you should opt for bed positions that raise both your head and legs. Just be careful not to raise your legs too far. If you raise them too high while sleeping on your side, it'll put excessive pressure on your hips, back, and shoulders.

In general, back sleepers can use any of the settings on their adjustable bed without any worry of causing any issues.

Where to Find an Adjustable Bed Base

Have you decided that you want to give adjustable bed bases a try? If so, then the next thing you need to do is find out where to get yours. You may be inclined to drop by your local mattress store, and that may be the best choice for some. But the downside is that your local store may not have many of these available, limiting your choices overall. 

For more and more people, the best choice is to choose a high quality base online. If you choose one from a manufacturer that has a good return policy, you can test it out at home without worrying about losing your investment and hating your bed. The choice is yours.

So, there you have it - everything you need to know about the benefits of adjustable bed bases. We hope that you found all the information you were looking for. Good luck!