How Adjustable Beds Can Relieve Symptoms of Joint Pain and Arthritis
For Flexabed users, our adjustable beds provide comfort and convenience. In our last blog, we looked at ways adjustable beds might help those with lower back pain, but can they offer temporary relief for chronic joint pain from conditions like Arthritis? Can people with degenerative joint disease get a more restful night’s sleep in an adjustable bed?
Understanding Arthritis
Arthritis is the pain of joint inflammation causing tissue damage at joints of the body where two or more bones come together, often a sensitive spot like a hip or knee. Osteoarthritis, the most common form, is a degenerative joint disease caused by the breakdown, over time, of the cartilage protection that enables us to move comfortably. Rheumatoid arthritis happens when our immune system attacks the body’s joints by accident, causing swelling and pain. Also falling under the umbrella of arthritis is a painful condition called Gout that happens when our bodies cannot get rid of uric acid, resulting in swelling.
Symptoms can vary from person to person, but generally, they can include Pain, Tenderness, Swelling, and a feeling of Stiffness. It’s estimated that as many as 70 million Americans — or about one in three — have some form of arthritis or joint pain.
So how can Adjustable Beds help to ease the symptoms of arthritis, in concert with other treatment as prescribed by a doctor and/or chiropractor?
Four ways, really…
1. Electric Adjustable Beds Allow for Easier Sleeping Position Changes
If you’ve ever tossed and turned in your sleep, you know that the solution is often shifting you’re the way your body is positioned, i.e., the pressure points. Without an adjustable bed, this can mean manually repositioning pillows by hand. With the Flexabed Hi-Low, however, the head or foot of the bed can easily be raised or lowered with a simple touch of the remote control. That means less pressure placed on arthritic joints.
2. Adjustable Beds Increase Circulation and Blood Flow
The inflammation that causes joint pain symptoms is relieved by stimulating blood flow to affected areas. Changing positions with a motorized bed helps the circulation while also relieving feelings of stiffness.
3. Adjustable Beds Distribute Weight Evenly Across Pressure Points
Weight placed on joints contributes greatly to inflammation and erosion of cartilage. Throughout the night, small adjustments in body position can reduce the strain on joins and have a big impact on the quality of rest. The use of memory foam in a mattress also offers additional comfort and support.
4. The Massage Function in Adjustable Beds Alleviates Pain and Reduces Muscle Spasms
Pretty self-explanatory, but massage can also stimulate the circulation and intervene in the signals of pain that are sent from joints to our brains.
Using an Adjustable Bed for Temporarily Relief from Arthritis Pain
Adjustable bed products like the ones we make at Flexabed can be part of a treatment regimen to manage chronic pain from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and other joint pain conditions. Such treatment, prescribed by a physician, may include pain medication, exercise, and nutrition. The information provided in this blog is not intended as a substitute for medical and/or chiropractic care.
We encourage medical professionals to contact Flexabed to learn more about the Flexabed Chiropractor Partnership Program so their patients can experience a better night’s sleep in a Flexabed Hi-Low and Flexabed mattress.