This is not a news flash, but typically a bed mattress or innerspring mattress is bedding designed for sleeping or lounging. A bed mattress is usually constructed of a combination of foam, natural or synthetic fibers and springs.

While a mattress can be placed on the floor or any flat durable surface they are generally sold with platform or a metal spring framed within a wooden structure.

Today's bed mattresses are primarily made of foam such as latex foam, Visco elastic foam and other polyurethane-type foam. The vast majority of bed mattresses for sale are designed for air, water, foam or springs.

In 1930 the innerspring mattress was introduced to the world. This bed mattress consisted of artificial fillers. Around that time the pocket mattress spring style was placed on the market. Ten years later, North America was introduced to the futon and futon mattress.

A common innerspring mattress will be constructed using three components. Upholstery layers, which are used to enclose the mattress's core, the spring core, which is also the innerspring structure. Finally there is the foundation or platform which is commonly referred to as the box spring.

The mattress's core is perhaps the most important element in providing body support. In most modern day mattresses (with the exception of foam mattresses) the mattress's core will consist primarily of steel coil springs.

The mattress spring's core is also referred to as the innerspring. It provides support to the bed set. Proper support is where the wire coils respond to weight and pressure in order to keep the body in alignment.

The steel coil spring was invented during the industrial revolution, making its debut in 1857 for use in the seat of chairs. Heinrich Westphal, a German invented the innerspring mattress in 1871. It was an idea that was slow to be accepted and poor Heinrich did not profit from his invention during his life time.

Traditional belief was that the number of coils contained in a mattress would contribute to or determine the intensity of support the mattress will provide. This is not necessarily true, but it is true that the coils in a mattress will determine the amount of support the user achieves.

Usually a bed contained from between 300 to 800 coils depending on its size. 500 to 800 coils were considered rather firm. Nowadays, the coils are made of heavier gage wire material and as such are bigger and stronger, thereby requiring fewer coils to ensure a bed mattress's firmness.

Furthermore, approximately 300 coils can provide decent support in a standard full sized mattress.

There was a time when the spring mattress was considered to be the best mattress choice for back pain, because of its relative firmness. But this only solves problems for a handful of sleepers, because the spring mattress is only useful if the user sleeps on his stomach or back. Since the majority of people sleep on their sides, the spring mattress may not be the solution to back problems.

The foam mattress came to the rescue of many who suffered from back pain. It became the answer for persons who sleep on their sides. The side of the body is not flat in shape and form and therefore it makes sense that in order to achieve perfect alignment a mattress with the ability to conform to the body provides the solution.

A mattress spring just can not match foams ability to conform to the body's curves.

There are a wide variety of bed mattresses available today. Most vendors offer a money back guarantee, so there is little risk in finding one that will provide you with a good night's sleep.