Memory foam, also known as slow release foam, was developed originally by a Swedish company for no less than NASA. It was used by NASA because of its ability to distribute pressure across the entire surface. It was later used in medical applications but was far too expensive for use in the home market.
This visco-elastic foam has since become much cheaper to produce and is now a common form of mattress for the modern bedroom. It has proved to be increasingly popular in the UK and is mainly seen in products such as mattresses, pillows, cushions and even footwear.
The main appeal of a memory foam mattress is the fact that it offers and provides more support. It is much denser than an ordinary mattress and therefore much heavier. An alternative to an entire or complete memory foam mattress is a memory foam topper or pad which can be added to a regular mattress.
There are two main brands of memory foam readily available. They are Isotonic and Tempur-Pedic and both come in various densities and grades. The most expensive grade of memory foam mattresses will be termed a premium grade.
The memory foam works by moulding itself to the shape of the body at room temperature. It is a temperature sensitive visco-elastic material and will mould itself and hold to a shape temporarily. Therefore your weight is evenly distributed across the whole mattress which prevents the build up of pressure in one spot, which can cause pain. Memory foam mattresses are often recommended by physicians for people that suffer with bad back pain. They have been proved to be of substantial benefit offering a good night’s sleep.