What’s an isotonic foam mattress?

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Isotonic foam conforms to the body for a comfortable sleep, and can be used as a full mattress or separate pillow. Originally used to relieve pain and prevent bedsores for hospital patients, it is now commonly used as a memory foam mattress. Isotonic foam comes in high and low density versions and was developed for the US space program in the 1960s.

An isotonic foam mattress is made from a special material that gently conforms to the contours of your body for a more comfortable sleep. Isotonic foam can be used as part of a full mattress or as a separate pillow for regular mattresses. This special material contains polyurethane foam combined with other chemicals to increase its density and viscosity. An isotonic foam mattress is pressure sensitive and slowly returns to its original shape when not in use. This mattress was originally used to relieve pain and prevent bedsores for hospital patients.

An isotonic foam mattress is commonly referred to as a memory foam mattress. This mattress is designed to adapt to the contours of the body while offering less resistance to pressure. Isotonic foam is not only used for full mattresses, it can also be purchased as a separate top topper for a conventional spring mattress. The density of the material can help relive the pain in the pressure points caused by normal bedding. Isotonic foam is usually much heavier and more expensive than traditional polyurethane foam.

This specialized mattress is made from polyurethane foam combined with a few other chemicals that increase its overall density and stickiness. Isotonic foam often has a slightly sticky feel when used without a fabric cover. The thickness of this material can have a significant effect on user comfort. Very thin layers of isotonic foam compress too easily and provide little or no cushioning effect. Extremely thick layers are usually too soft for a comfortable sleeping surface.

An isotonic foam mattress comes in both high and low density versions that have different reactions to weight and heat. The density of isotonic foam can generally be determined by how quickly the material returns to its normal shape after pressure is applied and released. The high-density foam reacts primarily to heat and slowly molds to the contours of your body. A low-density isotonic foam mattress is more sensitive to weight and adapts quickly to the shape of the body. Low-density foam tends to have a somewhat shorter life span than high-density material, but is often more comfortable to sleep on.

This material was originally developed for the US space program in the 1960s. It began to be used commercially in the 1980s for some hospital applications. Patients confined to a hospital bed for extended periods of time experienced less pain and pressure sores when lying on an isotonic foam mattress, for example. In the early 1990s, these mattresses began to be sold to the general public as an alternative to traditional coil spring bedding. Their use has become widespread in recent years as production costs have decreased.




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