Professional opinion

The SAMINA sleeping system from an orthopaedic viewpoint

Opinions from Dr. Friedhelm Heber, specialist in orthopaedics and orthopaedic surgery and Angelika Heber, Physiotherapist, Neu-Ulm (D)

In orthopaedic practice, this is something we very frequently hear:
„Doctor, I have just bought myself an expensive new mattress, but I still have back pain.“ 

It is a well-established fact that lack of knowledge about the functions of the body in sleep lead to bad purchasing decisions. Well-known medical specifications for healthy sleep are not taken into account. The purchaser often does not recognize his own needs or does not understand the specifications needed for the spinal column in sleep position. There are many things that need to be taken into account: body size, weight and condition of the musculature are amongst them. But above all it is important to consider any abnormal changes in the spinal column, the intervertebral discs, musculature and joints before choosing your bed.

If you make a good choice you will sleep well and take that for granted. If you have the “wrong” mattress you will feel it straight away.  If you wake up after a restless night feeling exhausted with tense musculature or even pain you will know that you do not have the right bed.

What do we mean by a sleeping system and why do we need one?

A sleeping system is a combination of slat frame, mattress, pad and cover. The system is perfected by the addition of a pillow appropriate for individual sleeping habits.

A mattress with bad properties and a non-integrated slat frame is as unhelpful to healthy and restorative sleep as the wrong pad, a damp bed cover or an unsuitable pillow. Even the materials used in the bed system influence sleep. It is not possible to construct a bed out of just one material. The human organism at rest has complex requirements, some appearing to be almost contradictory (for example, a bed must support but at the same time ease the strain). Thus it is only by combining materials that these needs are fulfilled. This is also true of the bed frame. It is nonsensical to combine high-quality natural materials with a bed frame made of metal.

In the following section we intend to demonstrate why the choice of materials and the right combination are necessary for good sleep.

Orthopaedic specifications for a bed

Supporting function
Whether lying on your back, on your side or possibly even on your stomach a bed system has to support the body in such as way as to allow the spinal column to adopt a healthy position. If you are on your back or stomach, you will lie in a healthy position if the bed adapts to the double S-shape of the spine. If you lie on your side, the spinal column must be resting horizontally.

A bed system needs therefore to support the body while equalizing the pressure that some body parts make on it. Moreover, it needs to ensure that there are no pressure points. The human organism protects itself automatically against overstressing individual body parts. Hence the frequent change of position (up to 60 times in one night). If abnormal changes have taken place in the spinal column and in the joints, the natural protective function is no longer enough. As demonstrated above, in most stages of sleep the musculature becomes atonic. A good sleeping system can take on responsibility in this regard and provide a gentle pull, or traction on the spinal column. This can ease the strain on the intervertebral discs so that they can refill with fluid and thus the metabolism of this tissue is supported. Moreover, when the musculature becomes atonic, the spinal column with its articulated joints and discs is prone to rotation and tilting. This inappropriate stress may be avoided by permanent but gentle traction.

Environmental influences
The right bed system permits the influence of the positive effects of electro-magnetic fields on the organism. More and more frequently, sources of electromagnetic radiation such as DECT telephones, radio masts, mobile phones and electric power supplies lead to what is known as electrical smog. It has been proven scientifically that this leads to alterations in hormonal metabolism during the night’s rest.

The thickness of your mattress has an effect on the quality of sleep. There is a lot of difference between sleep taken on a cotton mattress and a completely foam mattress. A study was done with young and healthy medical students who, the research showed, suffered more back pain after lying on foam mattresses.

A bed system must also be capable of absorbing moisture. Otherwise, very quickly, the sleeper will feel unpleasantly cold. Even without sweating, the human body releases at least 250 ml of fluid in sleep. Sweating significantly increases the amount of fluid released. If this fluid is not absorbed by the bed system there will be evaporative heat loss with attendant effects on the muscles, sinews and joints.

The SAMINA sleeping system and orthopaedic specifications

Construction of a SAMINA bed
The basis for construction is a double-sided slat frame. Two layers of ash wood slats are bonded flexibly over latex foam blocks. This slat frame is covered by a natural rubber mattress. And to complete the base, a natural virgin sheep's wool pad. The bed cover is also made from virgin sheep’s wool. The system is perfected by the addition of a variety of pillows. Optional extras include earthing the bed and a therapy bridge for treatment of spinal abnormalities.

Traction of the spinal column
The slat frame absorbs the bearing pressure caused by the weight of the body. The double-sided construction exerts pressure on the upper slats leading to tensile stress on the lower slats. This gentle but permanent pull exercises traction on the spine. This takes place, whatever position the body is in.

Traction ensures the absorption of fluid in the intervertebral discs and facilitates stable support for the spinal column even when the musculature is relaxed during the REM stage. This occurs whatever position the body is in; because the slat frame exerts traction the whole length of the bed, body position is irrelevant.  Traction and support are a consequence of the principles applied in the construction of the bed and function independently of particular body positions, unlike the case of a division between hard and soft zones.

Distribution of pressure
The natural rubber mattress works synergistically with the slat frame; the traction effect of the slat frame is not hindered by the mattress. Through the coordination of materials the mattress remains thin but is nevertheless capable of providing good pressure distribution in the over-lying body tissue. Thus the protective function of position changes while sleeping is fully supported and injury from pressure on musculature, blood vessels and nerves can be avoided.

Bed climate
The virgin sheep's wool pad is especially absorbent (sheep's wool stores 30 % of its own weight in fluid). It has its own humidity and temperature regulation. The bed climate is dry and warm and creates a balance between room and body temperatures.

The virgin sheep’s wool cover is a natural climate fibre: warm in winter and cool in summer. The cover, too, is able to regulate the bed climate through its ability to absorb fluids.

Pillows
There is no such thing as an appropriate pillow for everyone. Depending on your sleeping habits, whether you prefer to lie on your back, stomach or side, the SAMINA healthy sleep concept offers a choice of 8 basic pillows with over 50 possible variations through different fillings made from natural materials and different shapes. As a consequence, the pillow does not act like a kind of foreign body in the bed. Depending to individual sleeping habits, the result is an expedient position and support for the cervical spine.

Lokosana sleep overlay
Electromagnetic fields disturb the functions of the human organism in sleep. The Lokosana sleep overlay with magnets and silver threads has the effect of earthing the bed. It is thus possible to measure the effects of electromagnetic fields and reliably switch them off. Modern measuring techniques enable us to locate the electromagnetic fields in a house. If it is not possible to position a bed in an electromagnetically unpolluted area, the Lokosana sleep overlay offers additional protection.

It is one thing to secure restorative sleep in healthy people. Unfortunately, people are not always spared the onset of illness during their lives. How can a SAMINA sleep system have an affect on orthopaedic disease patterns?

Orthopaedic disease patterns and Samina

Disorders of the spinal discs
A Samina bed can have an effect on painful intervertebral disc protrusions; long-term traction in sleep can give the discs room so that the disc tissue can regenerate by absorbing fluid and allow the protrusion to revert to its normal shape.

Ankylosing spondylitis
In the case of ankylosing spondylitis the spinal column stiffens because of ossification in the region of the longitudinal ligaments of the spine. Flexibility within the spine decreases; the spinal column is permanently altered. Because of the great adaptability of the slat frame, the good pressure distribution provided by the latex mattress and pleasant warmth, the bed adapts very well to an inflexible back which often might also be in a defective position. The spinal column is supported in its rigid position. The overstressed musculature is eased and can recuperate more easily. There will be less pain in the lying position.

Osteoporosis
Atrophy of the bone is a condition that used to affect women mostly, but which now affects men as well. In osteoporosis the musculature is overtaxed because of distortion from spinal column malformation, fractures of the vertebral bodies or of the neck of the femur. The SAMINA sleep system eases the strain on the spinal column and musculature. The elasticity and supporting function of the bed can enable the spinal column to retain its shape.

Arthritis of the hip
Hip arthritis is a disease caused by deterioration of the joint cartilage. As a result there is a reduction in movement in the hip joint. This brings about stress on the musculature and leads to warping and hardening. Lying on one’s side or on the back is painful. The bed system can help the sufferer lie more comfortably by providing pressure distribution with the necessary elasticity.

In advanced cases of the condition when hip replacement is called for, the SAMINA sleep system can provide further bed adjustment. Slats can be taken out in the area where the hip joint rests. The bed will be softer. The post-operative patient will be able more quickly to return to sleeping on his/her side.

Shoulder joint disorders
Disorders of the shoulder joint are due to degeneration of the surface of the articular cartilage such as occurs with deterioration of the hip joint in arthritic conditions. Other disorders accompany the degeneration of the rotator cuff over the shoulder, that is, the tendons that cover the shoulder joint. When lying down, the patient’s shoulder joint is no longer relieved by the pull of the arm, and there is pain. Frequently there are additional inflammatory processes at play. Patients with shoulder disorders wake up if they change position spontaneously in their sleep. The unconscious and spasmodic attempt to avoid pain in the shoulder leads to restive sleep and one-sided pressure.

As in the case of hip disorders, the SAMINA sleeping system can be adapted. With shoulder disorders it is often wise to adapt the slat frame by removing some of the slats. The resting place for the shoulder will be softer even in the side position. The shoulder is able to sink deeper into the bed.

Because of the way in which the slat frame is constructed there is little effort involved in adaptation. The ash wood slats can be removed in various places and in different numbers (also width). Results can be checked from sleep comfort. Alterations are reversible at any time. No conventional slat frame offers this solution.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome
The fribromyalgia syndrome is a disorder in which extreme pain is felt in what are called trigger points.  Overwhelmingly, the pain is felt in the sinewy projections of muscles in the rump area and in the extremities. When lying down, the patient needs to reduce the pressure on these painful projections. Additionally, a moist cold environment makes pain worse; warmth alleviates discomfort. The SAMINA sleeping system makes this possible.  But for all disorders the following is true: therapy for the disorder takes place during the daytime. A bed can support that process by providing the patient with a good night’s sleep. A patient who has slept well is more amenable to therapy than one who has disturbed sleep.

Evaluation
From an orthopaedic point of view, the sleeping system meets all significant requirements for a bed that is beneficial for your health. It helps retain the physiological position of the spinal column, supports the body and facilitates the recuperation of the intervertebral discs through traction. The SAMINA sleeping system permits the facilitation of the metabolism in orthopaedic parts and provides a healthy bed climate. These properties can contribute to the prevention of disorders of the spinal column.

In the case, especially, of orthopaedic conditions, the sleeping system may be swiftly adapted to individual requirements. Its natural properties ensure support for the patient, the medical practitioner and the physiotherapist during the treatment period.

Many satisfied patients and customers have passed on their experiences.

Dr. Friedhelm Heber
Specialist for Orthopaedic Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery
Foppastr. 24
A-6774 Tschagguns

Angelika Heber
Physiotherapist
Augsburger Str. 4
D-89231 Neu-Ulm