Posted on 25th Jul 2011 @ 1:29 PM

When it comes to mattresses, everyone has an opinion. Some prefer a softer bed. Others insist on a firm sleep surface. Still others, like Goldilocks, opine that only "just right" will do. But which firmness is most ergonomic? We look at each school of thought and investigate the evidence.

Theory No. 1: Hard Mattresses Are Better.

Folks who love hard mattresses insist that a bed that’s too soft can cause sleep-related backaches. Believers in the firm mattress theory will even go so far as to put sheets of plywood between their mattress and box spring, to provide a more solid sleeping surface. Others find that putting the mattress on the floor makes a soft mattress feel firmer.

Theory No. 2: Soft Mattresses Are Better.

Soft mattress lovers point to the theory that side sleepers are better off on squishier mattresses. And then, of course, there are the doctors who don't think that mattress density matters at all. Which, as this writer points out, frees you up to enjoy all that fluffy foam without guilt.

Theory No. 3: Goldilocks Was Right.

As with all academic questions, the real answer to the question of "Which mattress is better?" is: It depends. A recent study by Denmark's Funen Back Center had trouble getting definitive results, perhaps for the very reason that people have such personal preferences when it comes to sleep surfaces.

Patients were asked to sleep on a variety of mattress types, including a hard futon, a foam mattress, and a water bed. The trouble is, so many people dropped out of the study that it was hard to draw definite conclusions from the results. It turns out, people who don't like water beds won't even try sleeping on water beds. And people who don't like futons won't sleep on them for long.

In the end, it might turn out that Goldilocks was correct: The best bed is the one that is "just right." What "just right" means, on the other hand, will probably always be a matter of personal preference.