You may be surprised to learn that the modern waterbed has been around since the early part of the 1800s. When first introduced by Neil Arnott, a Scottish physician, the waterbed (called a Hydrostatic Bed at the time) was designed to help prevent bedsores in bedridden patients. The prevalence of the waterbed was even noted by Mark Twain in a “New York Times” article from 1871.

Today, the waterbed has fallen out of favor slightly. People prefer other design options, such as memory foam and coil mattresses. While this is true, some benefits can’t be overlooked. If you have been thinking about investing in a waterbed, you may wonder what it offers and if it would benefit or harm your back and overall health. If that’s the case, you are in the right place. Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of waterbeds for your back health.

Benefits of Waterbeds for Back Health

Here you can learn about some of the top benefits of a waterbed for your back health. These include:

Adjustable

Many modern waterbed options are designed with separate sections. This means you and your partner can adjust the firmness and temperature on both sides individually or together. This leads to better comfort for you both and fewer aches and pains.

Barriers and Baffles

Another feature of modern waterbeds that makes them better for your back health is the array of baffles and barriers inside. These are designed to control if you have partial wave action, no wave action, or full-wave action. For most people, the no- or partial-wave-action settings are best for back health.

Support

You will find the waterbeds sold today are just as supportive as the more traditional mattresses designed with coil springs. Also, the heat provided by the water can help alleviate tight, sore muscles, which helps to keep your back more limber.

Potential Cons of Waterbeds for Back Health

While waterbeds offer several benefits, there are also some potential cons you need to know about. Making an informed decision means knowing the whole story.

Damage

Waterbeds, as the name implies, are filled with water. Because of this, they can be punctured and leak. This is damage that does not occur with other mattress options.

Hard to Move

Moving a waterbed is more challenging than moving other beds. Once you have moved it, the entire bed must be reassembled, refilled with water, and then heated to the right temperature.

Electrical Demand

To keep the water in your waterbed heated properly, you will use a lot of electrical energy. This is going to increase the total cost of ownership.

Is a Waterbed Right for You?

While there are some negatives to know about, overall, waterbeds are good for your back health. If you have considered investing in this type of bed, now is a good time to make a move. You can find a huge selection of modern bed options that will suit your needs and back health concerns.