Some experts state that spring mattresses tend to be preferable to the wide range of alternatives. Consumers are faced with an onslaught of marketing from a host of companies with non-standard products made from components such air or water, and there are some companies that offer an orthopedic foam mattress in their lineup of products. While these products may feel more comfortable to you than more traditional options, and it is a personal decision, and it is helpful to review the array of options with unbiased sources such as doctors, orthopedic specialists, or chiropractors rather than mattress salesmen who have a specific agenda. Note that even some of these medical practitioners or experts may be receiving funds from a particular mattress company. In these cases, they have an ethical obligation to disclose their financial connections to the industry prior to giving you advice on which brand or type of mattress will best suit your needs.

Another consideration is what you will place underneath your mattress. The box spring is designed to be placed underneath your orthopedic mattress for several reasons. Box springs add height, which is not a health factor but in instead simply a matter of personal preference. More importantly, however, box springs do add a degree of support and flexibility to the mattress which many people prefer over placing the mattress directly on the frame of the bed, or on a platform type bed design (sometimes referred to as a “captain’s bed” in which there are drawers built in underneath the bed.) A third aspect of box springs is that they help increase the longevity of your mattress. This is a significant point because many high-end mattresses, particularly the more expensive orthopedic mattress models, can be quite costly and often cost several thousand dollars or more depending on the brand and the distributor. Extending the lifespan of your mattress makes a great deal of economic sense. For those who choose not to opt for a box spring, it is all the more important to rotate and flip your mattress periodically to distribute the wear of your mattress more evenly. Interestingly, the Europeans do not generally use box springs, whereas box springs are considered standard here in the United Sates.

Buying an orthopedic mattress, as well as a box spring if desired, is a process, which involves research, planning, and price negotiation. Ultimately the best choices will be made after a combination of sampling a number of different models in stores, doing price and quality comparisons online, and then negotiating with salesmen for the best possible price on the bedding you have selected.