The other day, an old friend came to me with a complaint, “I’m working too many hours at the office and my back has been hurting terribly. I tried changing the chair in the office and even putting the computer up on a book so that I wouldn’t arch my neck but the problem persisted. I even started exercising and stretching a bit, but oddly enough there was no effect. I was really stumped, so I went to the doctor and he told me that the problem is most likely my bed. I admit, I’ve had the same bed for 10 years and it’s definitely time to get a new one. The doc says I need something comfortable but firm. I went to the furniture store but couldn’t decide upon what to get, there were so many varieties. So, I need a bit of advice, what sort of bed should I get?"



Now I’m neither a doctor nor a health specialist, but I know a thing or two about chronic back pain from a similar experience with my own back and bed, and without further hesitation I told him to get a platform bed. Why a platform bed? In the first place, I’ve used such a bed for years—having had a bad back, and it has been perfect for me. Second, such beds are generally closer to the ground and have a hard solid frame, which tends to remove the ‘sag’ which other beds have. This means that your spine won’t have a deep incline at night while lying down for 8 hours, which is terrible for anyone. The third point is that the mattresses, like the bed itself are usually extremely comfortable and yet very sturdy.

The thing is, most people think that a bed should be as soft as possible, which brings to mind the earlier 80’s and the disastrous waterbed, an utter calamity for any back. The fact is that contemporary bedroom furniture, as opposed to older varieties, takes into mind more than just the appearance of comfort, taking into consideration the fact that your body needs both comfort and strong support for all the tussle and tumble it goes through in life. Ironically, a more sturdy bed is actually much more comfortable than the softer varieties, since your body gets a feel for where it lies, as opposed to the sensation of just hanging in the softer beds. The muscles are then allowed to rest more easily.

Another thing that makes platform beds an excellent choice is the fact that there are many colors, designs, and types of material that you can choose from, making such a bed a great addition to your bedroom set.

The point is, if you find yourself with a chronically bad back as my friend has (and as I’ve had), then my advice to you would be first to consult a doctor. If he urges you to get a new bed, consider one of the more modern platform beds designed specifically both for comfort and for your health. The choice made thus will make sleeping at night a pleasant experience, and the next waking day an even more pleasant one.