Effects of air mattress pressure on sleep quality and physiological responses: comparison of shoulder and hip pressure relief

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of air mattress pressure on sleep quality. Design/methodology/approach Ten young healthy males participated in all hard surface [AH], shoulder soft [SS] and shoulder and hip soft mattress [SHS] conditions. The surface pressure for SS and SHS were set at their preferred levels. Findings The results showed that sleep efficiencies were over 95% for all the three conditions; there were no significant differences in individual sleep variables among the three conditions, but overall sleep quality was better for SS than AH (p = 0.065); heart rates during sleep was greater for AH than the other two conditions (p < 0.1); and a stronger relationship between clothing and bed microclimate humidity were found for SS and SHS than that for AH. Research limitations/implications These results indicated that the both pressure relief air mattresses that were set at their own preferred levels provided high quality sleep with no marked differences. Practical implications Air pressure relief mattresses can improve sleep quality of healthy individuals during sleep at night. The results can be used to understand appropriate pressure distribution on surface mattress according to body region, and also to develop algorithms to provide optimum sleep using mattresses with surface pressure control by body region. Originality/value The present study found that the shoulder and/or hip pressure relief air mattresses that were set at their own preferred levels provided high quality sleep with no marked differences.