Ease of Movement

If you find it challenging to move around on your sleep surface, you might be interested in stronger ease of movement. Certain mattress types, such as innerspring or latex models, tend to facilitate movement, making it easier to switch positions. By contrast, a mattress that inhibits movement can complicate the process of changing positions.

We know sleep is subjective. That’s why at the Test Lab manufacturer specifications as well as the quantitative measurements help us craft our ratings. As part of our stringent mattress testing, we carry out several experiments to analyze each model’s ease of movement. These tests include subjective evaluations by our in-house testing team as well as objective analyses using carefully refined procedures. Designed to imitate the experience of sleeping on a mattress, these assessments help us predict how easy it will be for different sleepers to move around on the surface.

We’ll discuss who may benefit most from ease of movement and how to find a mattress that aids movement. We’ll also examine how ease of movement interacts with other performance factors, such as motion isolation and pressure relief, to help you determine what’s most important to you.

What is Ease of Movement?

Ease of movement refers to how much effort is necessary to move around on a mattress. To perform well in ease of movement, a model should allow minimal sinkage and return quickly to its original shape when pressure is lifted.

A material that is slow to regain its original shape can leave body impressions that cause sleepers to feel trapped in the bed. Firmer mattresses tend to allow for better ease of movement compared to softer models that conform more closely.

The ability of a mattress to impair or promote movement depends partly on the sleeper’s body weight. Individuals who weigh over 230 pounds place more pressure on the mattress and sink in further as a result. For these sleepers, a mattress that is too soft is more likely to inhibit movement.

Who Should Care About Ease of Movement?

Getting in and out of bed should be easy, especially for people who toss and turn a lot. At the Test Lab, we analyze a mattress’s response to pressure changes and ability to regain its original shape. Combination sleepers typically prefer a mattress that facilitates movement. Ease of movement may also be important for people with limited mobility and couples looking for a surface conducive to sex.

However, sleepers who don’t mind staying in the same position for long stretches may not view ease of movement as a critical factor.

Some people may also prioritize other features over ease of movement. For example, mattresses that aid movement usually transfer more vibrations across the bed. This may be a drawback for individuals who sleep with a partner and awaken easily. Similarly, close-conforming mattresses often limit movement, but they also tend to provide the best pressure relief, which may be a greater priority for some sleepers with sharp aches and pains.

Mattress Materials and Ease of Movement

A mattress is made up of multiple layers, all of which impact the ease of movement. The most influential layers tend to be those closest to the sleeper’s body. These determine how far the sleeper sinks into the mattress, and they can provide more immediate pushback to prevent the feeling of being stuck. Mattresses with thicker comfort layers are more likely to restrict movement since the sleeper can sink in more deeply before reaching the support system, but this depends on the exact design and materials.

Most manufacturers strive to balance pressure relief and ease of movement by incorporating different materials, but a model may still excel in one area more than the other.

Ease of Movement by Mattress Type

Although it’s farther from the sleeper’s body, the support core can also contribute to ease of movement. Knowing the mattress type and understanding how the support core and comfort system work together can give you a general idea of a mattress’ responsiveness.

Innerspring: As innerspring mattresses consist almost entirely of coils, they tend to offer greater ease of movement than other mattress types. Steel coils support sleepers without allowing them to sink into the mattress, and they bounce back almost immediately when pressure is lifted.

Hybrid: The coils in hybrid mattresses add bounce, so hybrid models are usually easier to move on than similarly built foam mattresses. However, hybrids with thick, plush comfort layers may absorb more vibrations and muffle pushback from the coils, thereby diminishing the springiness.

Latex: Mattresses with latex support cores are typically quite responsive, especially if they also have latex or microcoil comfort layers. Most latex mattresses use Dunlop latex for the support core because of its sturdiness and durability. These traits should also foster mobility.

Foam: All-foam models with polyfoam support cores tend to absorb vibrations. Although polyfoam in and of itself doesn’t typically inhibit movement significantly, polyfoam support cores aren’t inherently bouncy, so the ease of movement is more dependent on the comfort layers.

Airbed: On their own, air chamber support cores aren’t as responsive as most coil or latex options. That said, pumping in more air to make a firmer surface can improve ease of movement by reducing sinkage. Ultimately, an airbed’s ease of movement also depends largely on the comfort system since it influences the amount of contouring.

How Do We Test for Ease of Movement?

Despite similarities in construction and materials, each mattress performs slightly differently in ease of movement. To form an idea of how a mattress compares to others in its category, our in-house testing team analyzes each model using a series of objective and subjective tests. These evaluations are designed to mimic the experience of lying on the bed, incorporating the perceptions of human testers as well as quantifiable measurements.

Body Testing

During body testing, our testers evaluate the subjective experience of interacting with the mattress.

One by one, each member of the testing team lies on one side of the bed and goes through a series of typical movements. These include sitting on the edge of the bed, getting in and out of bed, tossing and turning, and switching between back, side, and stomach sleeping. Next, they perform movements designed to test the limits of the mattress, such as pressing as deeply as they can into the mattress and crawling across the bed on all fours.

Testers carry out these movements both slowly and quickly and note how the mattress performs on each metric. Each tester carries out the same assessments on multiple mattresses so that they can judge how each mattress stacks up compared to similarly built models. During all tests, we place the mattress on a reinforced foundation to minimize the potential for interference from a wobbly bed frame.

To gain a realistic view of how a mattress performs for different sleeper types, the testing team includes individuals with varying body types and preferred sleeping positions. These sleeper types parallel the types we reference in our mattress reviews: back, side, stomach, and combination sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds, between 130 and 230 pounds, and more than 230 pounds.

Responsiveness Test – Kettlebell

For a more objective analysis of a mattress’ response to changes in pressure, we test different areas of the surface using a 15-pound kettlebell, which is roughly equivalent to the weight that a sleeper would place on a given part of the mattress.

As some materials take longer to conform in response to pressure, the kettlebell is allowed to rest for 5 minutes at a time on different areas of the mattress. We then take it off and measure how quickly the comfort layers regain their original shape. A mattress that bounces back faster generally allows for easier movement.

To minimize confounding variables during this experiment, we always let the kettlebell sit for exactly 5 minutes, and we follow a consistent timing system after removing the kettlebell. Our testing team consists of multiple people who come to a consensus about when the mattress has returned to its original shape.

We’re also interested in whether certain areas of the mattress perform better than others, so we assess a set of predetermined spots that remain consistent from mattress to mattress. This method is designed to give a holistic view of the entire mattress surface, which may be especially relevant for zoned models or those with reinforced edge support.

Learn more about the Test Lab at the link below.