Today I wanted to talk a little about mattresses. Every so often people will ask me about what kind of mattress I prefer. Let the truth be told, my mattress was really cheap and I love it! In the case of mattresses high cost does not always equal better comfort. Just because a mattress is $5,000.00 does not mean it is better than a $500.00 mattress. Here's why...people are individuals and individuals have different needs. For the most part I believe a firm mattress with a pillow top is better for the back. First, the firm mattress supports the back and secondly the pillow top absorbs the pressure at the shoulders and hips if you are a side sleeper. Is a Sleep Number or Tempurpedic worth the money? Well, if you are one person of a couple it seems that a Sleep Number bed is a definite option. Most of the time two people have two different concepts of "bed comfort". In the case of Sleep Numbers you can set the tension for your side of the bed as you please. Tempurpedic beds, chiropractically speaking, have the right concept in mind. They have a uniform foam in which when you lie on it will contour the body appropriately to take pressure off the spine. These beds are suppose to be superior to spring beds because the springs cause a uniform pressure throughout the body and do not "give" at certain curvatures in the body. Although the concept is great I suggest you keep the receipt because they do offer, I believe, a 90 day trial and a lot of people report difficulty getting used to how hard they are. Rule of thumb: If you are waking up in the morning with more pain and/or stiffness then you went to be with its time to get a new mattress. Spring mattresses should be turned over every so often and replaced sometime around 5-7 years. When shopping for a new mattress lie in the position you normally sleep in for 15 minutes at the store. If you feel good when you get up that’s the mattress for you! Happy shopping!