Mattress Wedges in Homes and Hospitals

A common question I hear is whether it’s okay to put a wedge or other type of support under the mattress. Usually, this comes from someone looking for increased cushioning to reduce pressure sores.

First of all, don’t be surprised if your bedding provider doesn’t have what you’re looking for readily available. Second of all, other options might work better for you and will keep your bedding provider happy as well.

What is a Mattress Wedge?

A mattress wedge, also known as an elevation pillow or wedge pillow, is used to help prevent restless legs syndrome (RLS) and acid reflux. It can also be used to elevate the head.

What are the different types of wedges?

There are three types of wedges:

What are the benefits of using a mattress wedge?

Mattress wedges offer many different benefits:

• They help reduce acid reflux (for people suffering from heartburn/acid reflux).
• The elevated angle it provides helps prevent restless legs syndrome (RLS).
• The angled surface helps elevate legs or arms when needed.

What is the difference between a wedge pillow and a body pillow?

• A wedge pillow is designed for people who suffer from acid reflux; it elevates the upper body to prevent acid reflux.
• A body pillow supports the entire length of your body (from your head to your feet), making it ideal for pregnant women.

What are some uses of using a mattress wedge?

• Acid reflux issues.
• Restless Legs Syndrome.
• Elevating the head/arms when reading, watching TV in bed, etc.

Healthy Sleep Tips: If you’re having problems sleeping at night due to stomach discomfort, heartburn, or acid reflux, try placing an elevation pillow underneath your upper body while you sleep. This will help raise the upper body and prevent acid reflux.

Elevating your upper body also helps reduce snoring (by opening up the nasal passage). In addition, elevating your head/arms when reading or watching TV in bed can help improve circulation to those areas and improve posture.

Can anyone use a mattress wedge?

A high-quality wedge pillow is designed for people who suffer from acid reflux or any other health issues that could cause you to have trouble sleeping at night. If you do not suffer from any of these problems, then a regular pillow should suffice.

What are some other uses of using a mattress wedge?

Some other possible uses for wedges include:

• Propping one leg up while lying in bed (helps reduce swelling in the legs).
• Elevating your head/arms when eating in bed (helps reduce snoring and improves posture).
• Using it behind your back when reading or watching TV in bed.

Issues to be addressed with using mattress wedges when in confinement (Hospitals and Home)

First, let me address the issue of putting something underneath the mattress per se. There are few absolute “rules” regarding mattresses (or anything else surrounding a person with SCI), but most everyone has heard that you shouldn’t put anything under the mattress because it can cause damage to postural issues.

This is a myth in most cases that applies to furniture-type support surfaces, not mattresses. In actuality, you can put support under the mattress when needed to help offload the postural tissues from excessive pressure.

The problem with putting a wedge under a mattress without knowing what you’re doing is that it’s possible to change your posture so much that you could cause more damage than good. So let’s run through some of the common issues regarding putting something under the mattress and how to avoid them.

Air Being Trapped

First off, some people are concerned about air being trapped between the person and their bedding surface or mattress protector.

If this is an issue for your skin, then simply fold up a towel or small blanket on top of the wedge, and the air should be gone in a matter of seconds. Or take the added step and fold up a towel or small blanket on your bedding surface to prevent any air from getting trapped.

Too Much Cushioning

Another concern is that the support may provide too much cushioning, which will cause excessive pressure under an area such as the hip when lying on it.

If you’re concerned about this occurring with support under your mattress, try using a pillowcase or other fabric cover over it so you can feel what’s going on underneath. Another option is to place something between you and the support to make it less “squishy.” A folded-up towel/blanket does nicely here again.

Unwanted Gap

Some individuals are concerned about having a gap between them and their bedding provider.

This can be an issue if your bedding provider is the medical director at the rehab center you’re at, and they don’t want any gap because of legal issues. Other reasons for this would be on a unit where certain providers are concerned about not having contact with the skin (i.e., tuberculosis, etc.).

In all such cases, make your options clear to your bedding providers by letting them know what you’d like to do and why. One option here is simply placing another towel or small blanket underneath yourself. Another option might be using more than one support surface (or pillow under your head) until you find the set-up that allows for both offloading and no gap between you and your provider.

Sliding Down

Another concern with support under the mattress is that the person might slide down in their bed when they’re on it.

If you become concerned about this, try using a pillow or towel under your head rather than support under the mattress. Instead of sliding down, you’ll slide forward and off of your surface. This can be an issue for people who have no trunk control and rely on something to prevent sliding off their surfaces.

An additional option is to use more than one support surface (or pillows) until you find what works for you.

Pressure Sores Healing Factor

You may also hear concerns about how long it will take to heal skin breakdown and pressure sores if there’s a gap between you and your bedding surface.

This is simply not true if the pressure was there for only a short period (e.g., 4 hours or less). The reality is that it takes several days for skin breakdown to develop into something more serious, so place your support under the mattress, try it out, and see what happens over several days. If you’re still worried about it, then switch back without any negative consequences.

Clearance

The most common concerns regarding putting something under the bed are whether or not you’ll have enough clearance between yourself and your provider/bedding surface.

It all depends on how high off the ground your bedding surface is, to begin with. If you have an adjustable hospital/positioning bed, then there’s usually at least a few inches of clearance between the bottom of the surface and the floor.

Regardless of whether you’re on your back or side (with or without knees bent), this is true. If you use a wedge under your mattress, make sure it’s not too high for you.

Will they fit?

The other concern with putting something under your bedding provider is whether they’ll fit under there with you.

An easy way to sort this out is by arranging for a trial run during which there’s no risk of pressure sores taking over your lower body, which can happen if support is placed under an immobile person who has been lying in one position long enough to have already formed some significant skin breakdown.

While lying on your back or side, try sliding from the center of your bed to the sides and foot of the bed. Take note of where your body goes as you make these moves. If you find yourself continually jamming up against one or more sides (or end) of your mattress without any place to go, then either ask for a lower bed for this reason alone or do not use support under the mattress.

Remember that there are still other options available even if you choose not to put something under your mattress – just another reason why it’s so essential that all have access to whatever they need to be safe and healthy.

Wedge Count/Size

In some cases, people may feel most comfortable with their wedge under just one-half of their mattress rather than extending into both halves.

In such cases, you can either place another support underneath the opposite side of your mattress (i.e., so it’s half and a half) or ask for a lower bed altogether until having support under your entire mattress becomes feasible for everyone involved.

Conclusion

That said, also remember that a body pillow or a pile of pillows can be used as a support surface under your mattress if you do not want to go with a wedge. And lastly, it is essential to ask yourself whether the possible benefits outweigh any potential problems resulting from putting something under your mattress.

If so, then go ahead and give it a try! It’s always better than not trying at all, just like walking through doors rather than crawling on hands and knees.

Take care, everybody!