High rebound mattress toppers facilitate core body temperature drop and enhance deep sleep in the initial phase of nocturnal sleep

Abstract

Recently, several new materials for mattresses have been introduced. Although some of these, such as low rebound (pressure-absorbing/memory foam) and high rebound mattresses have fairly different characteristics, effects of these mattresses on sleep have never been scientifically evaluated. In the current study, we have evaluated effects of a high rebound mattress topper [HR] on sleep and its associated physiology, and the effects were compared to those of a low rebound mattress toppers (LR) in healthy young (n = 10) and old (n = 20) adult males with a randomized, single-blind, cross over design. We found that sleeping with HR compared to LR induced a larger decline in core body temperature (CBT) in the initial phase of nocturnal sleep both in young (minimum CBT: 36.05 vs 36.35°C) and old (minimum CBT: 36.47 vs. 36.55°C) subjects, and declines in the CBT were associated with increases in deep sleep/delta power (+27.8% in young and +24.7% in old subjects between 11:00–01:00). We also found significantly smaller muscle activities during roll over motions with HR (-53.0 to -66.1%, depending on the muscle) during a separate daytime testing. These results suggest that sleeping with HR in comparison to with LR, may facilitate restorative sleep at the initial phase of sleep.

Evaluations of effects of sleep surfaces on athletic performance in youth

“…The HR mattress toppers used in this study contain a large amount of air inside the mattress, increasing breathability, as thin fishing line-like material is woven to construct the basic three-dimensional structure of the mattress 23 . HR mattress toppers have been previously shown to be associated with declines in core body temperature during the initial phase of nocturnal sleep, and less EMG activities of the upper body were observed to roll on HR mattress toppers compared to on LR 13 . In contrast, the sleep improvements were relatively small and were only significant with detailed sleep analysis, such as PSG sleep staging or sleep EEG frequency analysis under strictly-controlled laboratory settings 13 .…”

“…In the current study, we evaluated if sleeping with HR mattress toppers improves sleep and athletic performance in youth male student-athletes since HR mattress toppers induce increase in deep and restorative sleep at the initial phase of nocturnal sleep in healthy adult male subjects 13 .…”

“…These results suggest that effective heat loss occurs while subjects sleep on HR mattress toppers, and this heat loss may facilitate the occurrence of deeper sleep. The study also demonstrated that rolling over on HR mattress topper requires much less electromyography (EMG) activity than on LR 13 . These findings suggest that HR mattress toppers may facilitate restoration during nocturnal sleep and in turn, may improve daytime performance.…”

“…In fact, we have recently demonstrated that high rebound (HR) mattress toppers induce a continuous and more rapid decline in core body temperature during the initial phase of nocturnal sleep compared to low rebound (LR) mattress toppers in young healthy males 13 . We refer to a type of polyethylene resin fiber-based mattress that has a firm, supportive feel as HR and memory foam mattresses as LR.…”

“…We refer to a type of polyethylene resin fiber-based mattress that has a firm, supportive feel as HR and memory foam mattresses as LR. Polysomnographic evaluations (PSG) showed that an increase in the amount of deep sleep and a predominance of parasympathetic nerve activity occurs in association with the changes in core body temperature 13 . These results suggest that effective heat loss occurs while subjects sleep on HR mattress toppers, and this heat loss may facilitate the occurrence of deeper sleep.…”