It seems to me that an air bladder ... even one with many individual degrees of adjustability ... is a costly way to do what other materials and methods do more effectively, with more variability, and at a lower cost. An air bladder with 100 different support settings is competing with support methods (that have progressive support and resilience) that have thousands if not millions of degrees of microadjustability ... and this adjustability is automatic and doesn't require a manual adjustment. An air bladder with several zones of support on each side is competing with materials that through their comfort factor, resilience, and zoning schemes have thousands and millions of microzones.
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One thing that I will say for an airbed is that for those that have individual zones with separately adjustable firmness settings for the center third of the mattress (which I would consider to be an important option in an airbed to offset the sagging that can happen under the hips/pelvis on softer settings) then the range of firmness (the airbed equivalent of ILD) between the zones can be greater than other types of zoning that you will commonly find and the middle of a mattress can be set to firmer levels and control how much the heavier parts of your body sink in relative to the zones in the upper and lower parts of the mattress (under the shoulders in particular) which can improve alignment. This type of more extreme differential though would only be necessary in more difficult circumstances or with more challenging body types and can be accomplished in other ways as well in other types of mattresses that have a zoned construction (engineering different zones with foams that have much different ILD's for example) using materials that don't have the inherent weaknesses of low compression modulus combined with low resiliency.
In a limited trial in a store you may find a setting that feels comfortable even with thinner comfort layers on top but how comfortable it will be when you get it home and it is exposed to the real world of your changing comfort and support needs over many nights and years is open to question. You may also find an airbed with thicker more active layers on top that feels wonderful in the store and feels wonderful when you get it home and sleep on it for a longer time but how much of that "perfection" are you crediting to the air bladder and how much of it is really coming from the thicker layers on top.
Granted it may take some research and effort to find a more "traditional bed" that has the comfort range (ability to relieve pressure in different positions) and the support range (ability to keep the spine aligned in different positions) that fits you but once you find this you have a mattress that adapts more naturally and "automatically" with thousands/millions of variations in support instead of 20 - 100 and thousands/millions of variations in microzoning instead of a few (usually 2 or 3) areas of individual macro zoning on each side.
Mechanical breakdown, leakage, mold issues, breathability, durability, noise, middle dividers, and ease of use are all issues that come up with airbeds and while they have been dealt with to varying degrees by different manufacturers, they are not all completely solved. Complex mechanical systems as a whole have issues that are not inherent in materials that do not need "mechanics" to function.
Having said all that, if you are looking seriously at an airbed, then there are many manufacturers that within the limitations of the system itself are producing airbed mattresses that have greater value and more features than the top 2 manufacturers (IMO). It may be surprising how many there are and the huge variability in prices may be more surprising yet. More expensive and even much much more expensive in airbeds doesn't always translate into better quality materials or better value. Take a close look at how much you are paying for a name, how much you are paying for the air bladder system, and how much you are paying for the quality of the materials above the air bladder system. Compare the features and construction of the air bladder system. Compare air bladder systems with similar comfort layers and similar features and quality to each other, and compare the zoning options and the side by side split options and you may be very surprised at the significant discrepancies in prices and features and value.
Air mattresses can range in their capabilities. You can find standard models that will provide a basic level of comfort, but you can also find yourself a really high-spec air mattress that offers different air pressures and movements throughout the mattress.
Air mattresses vary a lot in what they offer, but what exactly is it that they do?
Air mattresses are primarily used to prevent pressure injuries from occurring.
Pressure is a big concern in all areas of healthcare, but particularly with elderly people who spend a lot of time sat or laid down. These kinds of pressure injuries are called decubitus ulcers.
Pressure ulcers and sores are caused when the skin and underlying tissues are starved of oxygen. Especially with bony parts of our body (elbows, the posterior, heels, and even the back of the head), it’s easier for blood flow to decrease to those areas when we’re in the same position for several hours every day.
When the blood flow decreases, less oxygen reaches our skin cells. This means that the skin cells begin to die and pressure sores form in their place.
Air mattresses are designed to prevent pressure sores from occurring in the first place. They are often referred to as anti-decubitus mattresses.
By using different motions and patterns, the air flow actually stops the build-up of pressure taking place. Consequently, this slows down any pressure injuries taking hold and promotes better circulation in vulnerable areas of the body.
Air mattresses can provide pressure relief or pressure redistribution.
People who are bedbound, or spend a lot of time sat down and are unable to adjust their positioning are most at risk of developing pressure injuries. Additionally, elderly people are at risk because their skin is more fragile, and can break down faster.
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Pressure relief in air mattresses specifically targets high-pressure parts of the body and reduces the amount of pressure in those sections. For example, you may find that someone feels a lot of pressure on their shoulder blades, calves, and elbows when laid in bed; the air mattress can be configured to have less air (and therefore less pressure) in sections where the shoulder blades, calves, and elbows lay.
Anti-decubitus mattresses that deliver excellent pressure relief often contain foam as well. This gives the user more flexibility and comfort when using the mattress for a long time.
The Somlent Serene is a great example of this, offering both comfort and pressure relief.
This is a slightly different method used in some air mattresses, by which the user’s body weight is redistributed by alternately inflating rows of cells. These are called alternating-air mattresses. The continuous movement of air keeps redistributing pressure and decreases the chance of pressure ulcers forming on bony, rigid parts of the body.
Alternating air pressure mattresses are usually used to treat advanced ulcers such as Grade 3 and Grade 4 pressure ulcers.
They provide constant pressure relief to the patient, and reduce the need for the carer to manually reposition the patient.
Air mattresses mould to the person’s body shape and the air cells in areas with more pressure are deflated to reduce the chance of injury over a prolonged time.
One of the best methods of pressure redistribution is low-pressure therapy. This means that the mattress has constantly low air pressure circulating throughout, which spreads the person’s body weight. The Somlent Genius mattress utilises low-pressure therapy and is incredibly comfy.
The hybrid mattress is a preferred option for some who need higher pressure relief than a foam mattress gives but don’t want the vibration of a full air mattress.
Hybrid mattresses combine the foam and air systems with a unique cell structure. The foam in the cells reduce the vibrations of the pump, yet still provide the air flow needed to support the patient. They are designed for patients who are at high risk of pressure sores, but still have a degree of mobility.
Our range of Opera beds offer the full fleet of pressure mattresses, including the Impulse Hybrid mattress.
Pressure mapping is an advanced technology that provides a visual representation of the pressure points created. The patient lies on a pressure-sensitive mat which sends readings to a computer, and creates a 3D ‘map’ of the pressure distribution with different colours. This helps health professionals determine where the areas of high pressure are (typically coloured red or orange) and create a strategy to redistribute pressure more effectively.
This technology also helps prove the efficacy of different mattresses. Pressure-mapping trials have been carried out on Innova’s range of Somlent hybrid mattresses, read more about this here.
The key function of an air mattress is to prevent pressure sores, but there is a wide range available depending on the degree of pressure relief required.
You can view our range of Opera beds and mattresses at our showroom, or arrange a visit from one of our qualified assessors to review your needs and specify the right solution for you.
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