What is Visco Elastic?
Memory foam visco elastic is a new technology that is changing the way we sleep. The visco elastic material moulds your body helping to relieve excess pressure and improving blood circulation, meaning less tossing and turning, ultimately resulting in less interruption to your normal sleep pattern. Memory foam mattresses are ideal for people with broken sleep patterns, painful joints, back and spine problems, diabetics and those who simply want a comfortable nights sleep.

The visco elastic material was originally developed in the 1970’s at NASA Ames Research Centre in order to improve the seating comfort and absorb G-forces in spacecrafts. Visco elastic memory foam is now increasingly being used in mattress construction. The premium quality, high - density foam has magnificent capabilities of absorbing energy and is extremely temperature sensitive. These two features combined create excellent pressure relieving features. The material forms itself to the shape of any object/pressure applied, returning to its original shape when the object/pressure is removed.

As an added benefit the structure of the visco elastic memory foam makes it impossible for dust mites to penetrate the mattress. This creates a cleaner and healthier environment ultimately providing the setting for a truly comfortable, therapeutic sleep. It is also ideal for those who suffer from airbourne allergies and hayfever as dust mites are one of the most common causes of allergies within the house.

What is Latex?
Latex in its natural form is a remarkable material which is derived from the sap of rubber trees. It is known for its distinguishing elastic properties and durability. A latex mattress can be constructed of 100% latex or as a water based latex (latex mixed with water). A latex mattress is the closest you can get to a memory foam mattress without paying for the visco elastic technology. For examples of Latex mattresses please go to the ‘Latex’ section under the mattresses category in our product section.

What is Visco Elastic with Pocket Sprung Interior?
Visco elastic is now available with open coil spring units, pocket sprung units and as a full block unit (no springs) as detailed above. Usually the visco elastic is thinner on sprung interior mattresses (between 2-4cm of visco elastic) compared to a full block mattress, which can go up to a depth of 24cm with 10cm of visco elastic. Pocket sprung visco elastic should be avoided unless they are extremely competitive and you are on a limited budget, alternatively, you may wish to consider a latex mattress as an alternative budget choice.

What are the orthopaedic benefits of Visco elastic and memory foam?
If you suffer from any form of back, shoulder, neck or hip pain then you will know what a challenge it can be to get a good night’s sleep. Back pain alone is so prolific that 40% of UK adults have suffered from back pain lasting more than a day, and shockingly, 15% of those are in permanent pain.

Foam mattresses and in particular memory foam visco elastic are naturally orthopaedic creating pressure reducing properties. These provide a natural contour to your body with the ultimate aim of keeping your spine as straight as possible. This pressure relief helps to relieve the symptoms of back ache, allowing you to get a restful and comfortable nights sleep. The ultimate orthopaedic mattress experience can be found with visco elastic mattresses using technology pioneered and developed by NASA in the 1970’s to reduce the effects of G-Force on astronauts at take off.

A visco elastic and foam mattress is not just the preserve of orthopaedic users as the conditional mattresses can reduce tossing and turning by up to 80%. This lays the foundations for a restful, relaxed and more productive sleep.