We all need a good night’s sleep to be our best selves, but the stakes are particularly high for athletes. One study of basketball players found sleep deprivation slashed the number of shots made by 50%, while those who got 10+ hours of sleep nightly saw a 10% boost in accuracy.
Since how well you play depends on how well you sleep, choosing the right mattress is key to maximizing your performance. Understanding why your mattress matters, along with what features to look for, can help you choose the best mattress for athletes.
The Athlete’s Sleep Challenge
Athletes face unique challenges when it comes to getting the rest their bodies need to perform. Rigorous training and hectic competition schedules may not leave much time for sleep, meaning what little sleep you do get needs to be quality.
The physical demands that come with being an athlete can also take a toll on sleep. Exercise-induced pain and inflammation may lead to a condition called painsomnia (insomnia caused by pain). Mentally, stressing about the next big game or challenge may leave you tossing and turning.
Why the Right Mattress Matters
Your mattress can either hinder or enhance your sleep quality — and subsequent athletic performance. During sleep is when your body actively repairs and builds muscle, and quality sleep is key for hormone regulation and a strong immune system. It’s also closely linked with pain, so much so that some experts consider sleep a potential treatment for aches and pains.
Essential Mattress Features for Athletes
When it comes to finding the best mattress for athletes, there are three main features that should be prioritized.
Support
A properly supportive mattress like the Plank Firm and Plank Firm Luxe allows the spine to fall naturally into alignment for pain-free sleep that doesn’t strain your back or neck. It also distributes your weight evenly, holding you up so you can rest comfortably. When your body is supported, you’re able to get the deep sleep you need for maximum muscle repair and overall wellness.
Cooling
Temperature regulation is critical to the quality sleep your body needs to recover and strengthen. Your core temperature needs to go down for you to get the optimal amount of REM sleep, and a cooling mattress prevents heat buildup that may interfere with your body’s natural temperature-lowering process. The Plank Firm and Plank Firm Luxe feature an optional GlacioTex™ Cooling Cover for high-tech temperature regulation.
Pressure relief
The best mattress for athletes distributes your weight evenly, preventing pressure from building up in the places where your body meets the mattress (known as pressure points). This pressure relief prevents the aches and pains that can interfere with restful sleep. Both the Plank Firm and Plank Firm Luxe provide pressure relief to keep you comfortable all night long.
Mattress Types and Their Suitability for Athletes
Once you know the basic features to look for, you can consider which mattress type best fits your needs as an athlete.
- Innerspring is the traditional mattress you may have grown up sleeping on. Innerspring mattresses use a system of metal coils to provide support. Newer models like the Plank Firm Luxe contain coils that are individually wrapped instead of interconnected, allowing for better motion isolation.
- Memory foam mattresses are made with layers of foam instead of springs. They provide cushioned, comfortable support for athletes. The Plank Firm contains multiple layers of high density foam for edge to edge support.
- Latex mattresses are made from layers of natural latex rubber. They’re slightly springier than memory foam. The Plank Firm Natural is made with layers of premium latex with a unique buoyant quality that relaxes muscles and relieves tension, lifting away the pressures of athletics while you sleep.
- Hybrid mattresses contain both innerspring and foam layers, offering a “best of both worlds” option. The Plank Firm Luxe features layers of cushioning memory foam as well as a six inch core of individually encased coils that provide breathable support where athletes need it most.
Both the Plank Firm and Plank Firm Luxe provide support that allows the spine to align naturally and helps relieve pressure for deep, pain-free sleep. They also offer superior motion stabilization, meaning you’ll be able to get the rest you need even if your partner is tossing and turning. And the GlacioTex™ Cooling Cover is an option for both, so you can make sure you’re keeping your body temperature regulated while you sleep.
Beyond the Mattress: Optimizing Your Sleep Environment
Once you’ve chosen the best mattress for athletes, you can consider other ways to optimize your sleep — which will in turn boost your athletic performance. Some ways to improve sleep hygiene include:
- Bedtime routine - Doing the same relaxing rituals every evening at bedtime helps signal your body that it’s time for sleep. This might look like taking a warm bath, doing gentle stretches or reading (not on a screen, since blue light from electronic devices may disrupt your sleep).
- Consistent sleep schedule - This means trying to get to bed and get up around the same time, even on the weekends. While it may be tempting to catch up on the sleep you miss when training or competing, doing so can interfere with your body’s natural circadian rhythms and cause your sleep to get worse.
- Dark, cool room - Your bedroom should be dark and the temperature should be between 60 and 67 degrees for optimal sleep. Draw your curtains and adjust your thermostat before bed so you can drift off more quickly and slip into the REM sleep you need.