Whenever it is mentioned that memory foam was designed by NASA, the image that seems to come to mind is an astronaut sleeping comfortably on a memory foam mattress while orbiting earth in a space station. But, upon some quick research, one will realize that the astronauts never slept on memory foam in space, but instead it was used in the cushions of their seats to absorb the impact of the extreme gravity during takeoff and landing. The creators of memory foam merely realized the potential for the springy foam material and included NASA in their marketing efforts in order to appear high-tech and futuristic. Knowing this, one can’t help but wonder what else we don’t know about this springy substance. What other uses are there for this innovative material?

Medical Uses

When patients in hospitals are forced to be immobile in bed for extended periods of time, regular hospital beds would often cause complications. The rigidness of an average mattress, when laid upon for a lengthy frame of time, would cause bedsores and even gangrene in patients. The introduction of memory foam mattresses into hospitals significantly reduced these symptoms in bedridden patients. Memory foam is also utilized in wheelchair cushions, stabilizers for broken or fractured bones, and, due to its heat retention properties, therapy for patients with neck or back injuries. Memory foam can be molded into any shape so its uses in the medical field are vast.

Active Uses 

Once the price of memory foam dropped enough for it to be widely commercially distributed, more and more activities have been finding uses for the substance. For instance, if you are a professional race car driver who is sitting in a driver’s seat for hours on end, you’re going to want to sit on a shock absorbant substance to reduce debilitating back pain. Memory foam can be used in an array of sports, both traditional and extreme, as a high-tech padding for safety equipment. Football helmets have begun to use composite pads that utilize memory foam technology to remain rigid enough to keep tight to the body but still absorb a great deal of shock. The use of memory foam in helmets can also be extended to bicycle and skateboard helmets since the same need is met. For marathon bicyclists, a memory foam seat will keep them much more comfortable and therefore willing to go farther distances. The military also utilizes memory foam padding for heavy vests and backpacks to cause less strain on the troops carrying them.

Traditional Uses

Although memory foam is such a versatile substance, the arena in which it is used most affectively is still in the bedroom. Since the temper material retains heat, it is a perfect therapy for erasing the basic aches and pains that arise from strenuous day-to-day life. It assists with proper alignment of your spine resulting in ideal conditions for a perfect nights sleep. The use of memory foam pillows can actually aide sleep apnea by elevating the head to the correct position. If there was ever a time to switch from a regular mattress to a memory foam, the sooner the better. Do your body a favor and invest in one of these mattresses, especially if you are a victim of any chronic pains. A great place to start shopping is MattressesforLess.net since they have  a huge selection of memory foam mattresses all at great prices. Your mattress is the piece of furniture you spend the most time on, wouldn’t it make sense for it to be as comfortable as possible?