Adjustable beds can be a great option for side sleepers as they allow you to elevate your head, reduce pressure on your hips and spine, and have a customizable sleeping experience.
Side sleeping might just be the ultimate sleep position: it supports spinal alignment, curbs snoring, and can even help stop acid reflux at night.1 This versatility extends to the mattress, too: This position opens the door to a variety of mattress options, allowing side sleepers to tailor their sleep environment for a perfect blend of rest and relaxation.
All said, are adjustable beds good for side sleepers, too?
In this guide, we’ll outline the benefits of adjustable beds for side sleepers, review the optimal positions for maximum comfort, and discuss factors to keep in mind when shopping for your next best mattress.
Wondering, “What is an adjustable bed?” Check out our blog and then come back to this one.
Benefits of Adjustable Beds for Side Sleepers
Side sleeping superiority isn’t something that’s so easily laid to bed, and it’s perfectly fitted for a night of quality rest. Fortunately, adjustable beds — the mattress type that incorporates a customizable bed base and sleeping structure for maximum comfort — fall into line just as seamlessly as the sheep you’re counting.
For those sleeping on their sides, adjustable beds offer several unique benefits.
Enhanced Comfort
One major upside to an adjustable bed is the option to customize and vary your sleep environment based on your body’s unique needs.
As a side sleeper, an adjustable bed can provide optimal spinal support and pressure relief for your shoulders and hips, allowing you to kiss lower back pain good night. If you’re prone to back sleeping, the Casper Zero Gravity bed position elevates both your head and feet above your stomach to support:
- Rest and recovery
- Pain relief
- Breathing
- Circulation
Improved Breathing
As with every night of rest, there can be the occasional nightmare. For some side sleepers, breathing difficulties can interrupt a restful sleep — particularly for those who regularly battle sleep apnea.2 Check out our blog to learn more about the best and worst sleeping position for sleep apnea.
The advantage of adjustable beds lies in their ability to elevate the head and upper body, which can assist in opening the airways, improving the flow of breath and supporting quality, undisturbed sleep.2
Reduced Pressure Points
When sleeping on your side, your body can develop pressure points — sensitive areas where we tend to put more weight. For side sleepers, it’s typically the shoulders and hips.
Over time, your dedicated eight hours of sleep can burden the muscles in these areas, causing pain and stiffness. Further, your dalliance into dreamland can prevent your brain from receiving and reacting to pain feedback if your shoulder or hips find themselves in an uncomfortable position.2
If you wake up sore after a night of sleeping on your side, adjustable beds can help alleviate this issue by making it easy to modify the bed’s position to reduce pressure on these sensitive areas.
Optimal Positions for Side Sleepers
Even with the support of an adjustable mattress, side sleepers can further optimize their posture to align their bodies with a restful night of sleep.
Head Elevation
If you regularly inundate your partner with a ballad of snores and sniffles, an adjustable bed may be the perfect foundation for a quieter, more restful night.
Adjustable mattresses allow you to elevate your head, opening your airways to alienate snoring.2 Plus, this sleeping position helps maintain the natural alignment of the spine, reducing strain on the neck and back.
Avoiding the Zero Gravity Position
The Casper Zero Gravity position elevates both your feet and your head. While back sleepers can relax into this position, side sleepers may find it to be disorientating.
This sleeping position can lead to awkward spinal alignment and increase pressure on your shoulders and hips. Instead, aim to find a position that offers gentle, full-body support and relief from head to toe, promoting a more comfortable and restful sleep.
Factors to Consider
Finding the perfect bed isn’t a one-size-fits-all scenario; it’s all about personal preferences and individual needs.
Here’s a guide to help you navigate the world of adjustable bed frames so you can discover the bed that’s tailor-made just for you.
Mattress Compatibility
When choosing an adjustable bed, it’s essential to ensure that the mattress is compatible with the bed frame. Some mattresses, like memory foam, are designed to work seamlessly with adjustable beds, while others may not be a perfect match.
At Casper, we’re experts on all-things-sleep, including helping you find a compatible mattress for your adjustable frame so you can hit your pillow and drift off to sleep seamlessly.
Personal Preferences
The customization of an adjustable bed can be a game-changer when it comes to your sleep, but finding the right mattress and bed frame combination typically depends on your personal preference. You’ll want to keep in mind:
- The size of your bedroom and whether the bed frame will comfortably fit in your space.
- Your spouse or partner’s health needs and preferences.
- Whether you’re looking for a mattress that’s firm, soft, or something in between. Check out our blog to help you decide between a plush vs firm mattress.
When in doubt, you can always count on mattress experts (like our team at Casper) for insight and guidance when looking for your next adjustable bed.
Health Conditions
If you have any underlying health conditions that may affect your sleep, you may want to consult with a healthcare professional before opting for an adjustable bed.
Certain conditions, including circulatory issues or respiratory problems, may require specific adjustments or positioning to ensure your comfort and safety. Learn more about the best sleeping positions for breathing problems. On the other hand, if you experience pain from a broken hip or paraplegia, an adjustable bed may be just what the doctor orders.3
Explore Casper Adjustable Bed Frames
At Casper, we understand the importance of a good night’s sleep, especially for side sleepers. That’s why we offer a range of adjustable bed frames designed to provide the ultimate in comfort and customization.
Our Casper Haven cushion bed frame, when paired with our Rise Zero-Gravity Adjustable Base, is wrapped in felted wool for softness and allows you to elevate the head and foot of the bed to find the perfect position for side sleeping.
Regardless of your specific needs, Casper adjustable bed frames are engineered with you in mind, providing the support you need for a restful and rejuvenating sleep.
Sources:
- Sleep Foundation. Side Sleeping: Which Side Is Best and How To Do It. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleeping-positions/side-sleeping
- National Library of Medicine. Head-Of-Bed Elevation (HOBE) for Improving Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea (POSA): An Experimental Study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9571825/
- Medical News Today. Adjustable Beds and Medicare: What to Know. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/adjustable-beds-covered-by-medicare
- National Library of Medicine. Sleeping in an Inclined Position to Reduce Snoring and Improve Sleep: In-home Product Intervention Study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9021938/
