What is an Adjustable Bed?

July 30, 2021 | Casper Editorial Team

Wouldn’t it be great if every bed fit perfectly to your body? While this may seem like a pipe dream, there is a way to achieve your ideal sleeping position every night. No, we don’t mean purchasing a custom mattress or investing in body contour pillows. The answer is actually much simpler than that: an adjustable frame.

Adjustable bed frames allow you to change the position of your mattress from top to bottom. 

From convenience to comfort, having an adjustable bed frame can elevate your entire nighttime experience (not to mention your head and legs, depending on how you position it). There are numerous benefits of adjustable beds, particularly for those who struggle to find the perfect position during the night.

Casper’s Adjustable Bed Frame gives you the flexibility you need to tailor your bed setup to your individual sleeping needs.

To learn how adjustable beds work and what all the benefits they bring are, read on to learn more.

How Do Adjustable Beds Work?

Now that you know what an adjustable bed frame is, let’s take a look at the actual mechanics that go into it.

Casper’s adjustable bed frames utilize two main sections: the bed base and the sleeping surface. 

  • The base is a sedentary structure that holds up the rest of the bed frame. 
  • The sleeping structure is connected to the bed base via a series of electronic joints.
  • These joints respond to a wireless remote, which allows the sleeper to move different parts of the surface and create desirable angles.

Thanks to the interaction of these three parts, you’ll be able to elevate your upper body, lower body, or both—depending on your sleeping needs. 

What Uses Do Adjustable Beds Have?

Adjustable bed frames are great for both sleeping and lounging. Whether you’re planning to hit the hay or stay up and get cozy, an adjustable bed frame can be positioned for any nighttime activity. 

Next, we’ll cover the most common use scenarios for adjustable bed frames.

Deep, Restorative Sleep

The real game-changer that comes with an adjustable bed is maximizing comfort.

This is why we designed our adjustable bed frames with a Zero Gravity position.

  • In a “Zero Gravity” position, your head and feet are both elevated above your stomach. This position allows for maximum recuperation, relaxation of tender areas, and improved breathing and circulation during the night.
  • The Zero Gravity setting is used to mimic the feeling of pure weightlessness. While you won’t find yourself floating off the mattress, you will feel the relief of a lighter gravitational pull on your most utilized muscles and joints.

Watching TV and Working from Home

Okay, so maybe this isn’t the best for sleep hygiene, but let’s be real: people like spending time in bed! 

Whether you’re laid up due to injury or simply winding down with your favorite Netflix series, having an adjustable bed frame can make a world of difference when watching TV or using your laptop in bed.

All you have to do is increase the elevation for the top half of your bed frame.

The ability to adjust ergonomic positions will keep your body at the perfect angle for watching TV and help you avoid a stiff neck or back from attempting to sit upright against your headboard. 

Who Will Benefit From an Adjustable Bed?

The real question is: who won’t?

  • Surveys have found that approximately 68% of Americans struggle to fall asleep at least once a week. 
  • A whopping 27% even report difficulties sleeping every single night1. 
  • While a large number of factors can contribute to sleepless nights, one of the best ways to combat them is by amplifying comfort

And this is exactly what adjustable bed frames are designed to do.

Benefits of Adjustable Beds

So, are adjustable beds worth it? We’ll dive into more of the benefits below.

Flexibility for Sleeping Partners

Love is a beautiful thing. When you live with your partner, it means everything that’s yours becomes theirs—including your bed.

There are many psychological advantages to sleeping with loved ones, including a sense of security, a stronger bond, and even increased levels of oxytocin which can help combat stress.2

Of course, this is only helpful if you’re actually sleeping.

Many couples run into the issue of comfort when sharing a bed. This is because everyone’s body is built differently, and therefore requires different positions in order to feel relaxed. When you share a regular bed, there’s a chance one person may not be as satisfied as the other.

Enter: the Casper Split King Adjustable Bed. 

  • Not only will this large bed frame give you plenty of room to spread out, but it also allows couples to adjust their side of the bed independently.
  • This means one person can enjoy a slight elevation of their upper body, while the other can lay their head flat and raise their legs for maximum comfort. 

The way this works is simple. All you need to do is purchase two separate twin XL mattresses and place them together on the Split King Bed. From there, couples will gain full autonomy over their sleeping position—without sacrificing the benefits of sharing a bed (because who doesn’t love cuddling?). If you are wondering, “do adjustable beds fit in a bed frame?,” there are some key considerations to take into account when pairing an adjustable bed with a specific bed frame. 

Can Help With Snoring

Speaking of couples, there are usually two different sleepers in every relationship: one who snores and one who stays awake all night because the other one snores.  If you’ve ever wondered, “do adjustable beds help with snoring?,” we’ve got great news for you!

Fortunately, Casper knows a thing or two about snoring. That’s why we created our adjustable bed frames with a built-in Anti-Snore position. This setting is designed to elevate the head and chest, thus reducing pressure on the airways. Pressure and congestion are common causes of snoring and sleep apnea, and adjusting your position is one of the easiest ways to nip these problems in the bud. 

If you’re the non-snoring half of the relationship, you’ve probably attempted this adjustment yourself, only to discover that your partner is simply too heavy to move in the midst of REM sleep. That’s why our easy-to-use remote control is designed to move the bed at the click of a button—so Casper can do the heavy lifting for you.

Find Your Perfect Position

We get it. A good night’s rest isn’t the easiest thing to achieve, especially if you suffer from insomnia or chronic tossing and turning. 

That’s why picky sleepers—or those who struggle to find a comfortable position during the night—will benefit from an adjustable bed frame. 

How?

  • You’ll stop struggling with your pillow. Do you ever find yourself moving your pillow around because your neck just doesn’t feel comfortable? Ideally, you want your head at a slight angle when you sleep, in order to promote healthy circulation and prevent congestion. But soft pillows can easily shift or deflate during the night, furthering the challenge to find the perfect position. Your bed’s incline, on the other hand, will hold.
  • You’ll find your “just right.” Do you ever wake up with a stiff or sore neck? No matter how many sleep props you have in your toolbox, a position that’s a centimeter off can foil your efforts. An adjustable bed, on the other hand, supports and elevates your entire spine in your ideal position. 

Designed to Help Ease Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome

Do you experience any of the following in your legs at night?

  • Itching
  • Throbbing
  • Shaking

Restless leg syndrome isn’t limited to sleep, but patients often report that the symptoms of RLS get significantly worse during the night. As the body attempts to wind down and fall asleep, the legs remain hyperactive. 

Adjusting your sleeping position, however, can help relieve these symptoms and lead to a better night’s sleep. 

Elevating the legs at a 45° angle is a great way to reduce pain and promote relaxation for the lower body. Rather than purchasing a stiff elevation pillow that may move around while you sleep, investing in an adjustable bed frame is a more reliable option that can guarantee elevation throughout the entire night.3

Switches Up Your Position to Help Minimize Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis is a condition that occurs in the transitional period between sleep and wakefulness. Common symptoms of this condition include:

  • Feeling conscious but being unable to move
  • Auditory or visual hallucinations 

The bottom line: sleep paralysis can be scary.

Studies have shown that those who sleep on their back are more likely to experience this condition.4 But rather than switching up your favorite sleeping position and sacrificing comfort, you may want to opt for an adjustable bed frame. 

Sleeping on your back can often lead to feelings of vulnerability, which may contribute to the fear and hallucinations associated with sleep paralysis. By adjusting your bed using the remote control and tilting the body at an upward angle, you may find that sleep paralysis occurs less frequently. 

Casper: Adjusting Your Sleep to Perfection

Here at Casper, we know everyone has different needs from their mattress. That’s why we offer three unique designs for our adjustable bed frames:

  • Rise Adjustable Base – Our most affordable option, the Rise Adjustable Base is the perfect choice for sleepers on a budget. Don’t be fooled by its low price—this adjustable bed frame is decked out with plenty of bells and whistles, including the Zero Gravity setting and time-saving presets for your favorite ergonomic positions.
  • Rise Pro Adjustable Base – For a step up from the basics, the Rise Pro Adjustable Base is for serious sleep enthusiasts. This option comes with both the Anti-Snore and Zero Gravity settings, three different leg height options, and a two-zone massage feature. 
  • Rise Max Adjustable Base – Our most luxurious option, this adjustable bed frame comes with the Anti-Snore and Zero Gravity positions pre-programmed into the remote. Crafted with wall-aligning technology, you’ll never have to worry about adjusting too far and disrupting the position of your bed. The Rise Max Adjustable Base also comes with three height options, under-bed lighting, and a four-zone massage setting for ultimate relaxation.

Whether you’re hoping for a silent, snore-free sleep or a better work-from-home setup, your new bed can be adjusted to the position you need for maximum comfort.

Sources:

  1. Consumer Reports. Why Americans Can’t Sleep. https://www.consumerreports.org/sleep/why-americans-cant-sleep/ 
  2. Sleep. How Cuddling Affects Your Sleep. https://www.sleep.org/cuddling-and-sleep/ 
  3.  Access Wire. Leg Elevation Pillow May Help in Dealing with Restless Leg Syndrome. https://www.accesswire.com/512365/Leg-Elevation-Pillow-May-Help-in-Dealing-with-Restless-Leg-Syndrome 
  4.  WedMD. Sleep Paralysis. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-paralysis