What Is Memory Foam?

Memory foam is the name given to a substance that was first created called visco-elastic. Visco-elastic was originally developed as part of the NASA space shuttle program as a way of supporting the body during take-off. The incredible g-forces that are exerted during take-off puts a lot of pressure on the backs of astronauts. Visco-elastic is a temperature sensitive material that collapses under heat pressure which, when applied to the seats would disperse pressure evenly so that there would be no part of the body that was under more strain than any other part.

The basic principle of visco-elastic foam, or memory foam as it has become marketed as today, is that it will mold itself around the body of the person lying on it. The effect is a feeling of being gently nestled in the chair or the bed.

When Visco foam was released by NASA to the general public it was quickly snapped up by people who could see a highly marketable product in the bedding industry. The first beneficial us for it came in hospitals for patients who were bedridden. Mattress toppers were developed to place on the beds of patients who could not move. The problems these patients faced were from bedsores due to the constant pressure that a conventional mattress places on certain parts of the body. With a memory foam mattress the pressure is evenly dispersed eliminating the irritation and also the bedsores.

The qualities of memory foam is that it changes shape when it has heat pressure applied to it and then, when you get up off it, it will return to its normal shape again. By shaping itself to the body that is lying on it, the entire body, the head, neck and spine are held in exactly the right anatomical position to be comfortably aligned during sleep.

What Is A Mattress Topper?

This brings us to the other part of the equation in a memory foam mattress topper, the mattress topper. A mattress topper is exactly what it sounds like, a piece of foam that is placed on top of a normal mattress. The thickness of a mattress topper varies from one product to the next depending on the individual’s preference with commonly available sizes ranging from 1-1/2 inches to 2 inches thick. Mattress toppers in the 1-1/2 inch thick range ore probably not going to make a great deal of difference and if you are going to buy one to improve your sleeping patterns it would be best to go for one that is thicker.

Basically a mattress topper aims to give you the same feeling and quality of sleep as a complete memory foam mattress but at a fraction of the cost. While a full memory foam mattress contains both the normal support foam as well as a memory foam overlay, the topper uses a conventional mattress as its base and you simply lay the additional topper over it. Using the mattress topper on its own will not be effective because it will simply be too thin. It requires a mattress underneath it for support.

There is a range of memory foam mattress toppers available and they all aim to deliver the same thing, a better quality of sleep and a high degree of comfort. They all deliver the same quality of feeling as though you are floating when you lie down on them.