9 Benefits of a Zero Gravity Bed

NASA originally developed the zero gravity position to reduce pressure on astronauts when launching into space, and with the rise of adjustable beds, mattress companies discovered how to achieve this weightless sensation while sleeping.

Zero gravity is a setting you can activate on an adjustable bed. The setting raises both your torso and legs, leaving your body shaped like a “V.” Laying on a zero-gravity bed causes a sensation of weightlessness, similar to when you’re in zero gravity, by distributing your body weight evenly and preventing pressure build-up on any one body part.

A zero gravity bed benefits all types of sleepers and can relieve pain, enhance digestion, and improve blood circulation. We take a further look into how using zero gravity beds can enhance your sleep and your health.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress for Tall People

1. Minimizes Pain

When lying flat, there can be gapping between the spine and the mattress you’re laying on. As a result, the entire weight of the body falls onto certain body muscles and joints, namely around the lower back and neck, placing immense pressure on them.

In a zero-gravity sleeping position, there’s no gap between your body and the mattress, you have better posture, and the position distributes your bodyweight evenly. Less pressure on your body promotes pain relief, primarily around your neck and back. It can also reduce joint pain commonly associated with arthritis or fibromyalgia.

2. Alleviates Swelling and Edema

Edema is swelling due to excess fluid trapped in your body and it typically occurs around your feet and ankles. This condition can be a result of many issues, including congestive heart failure, obesity, diabetes, and prolonged periods of being sedentary.

On a zero gravity bed, your legs and feet are elevated, promoting better blood flow. As a result, your swelling may reduce, minimizing your risk of deep vein thrombosis or varicose veins.

3. Promotes Heart Health and Blood Circulation

Sleeping in zero gravity is meant to reduce pressure on your body, including the heart. With less pressure on your heart, it can pump blood better, improving blood flow throughout your body.

Based on a 2017 study, researchers found young people who prioritize heart health have better brain health as they grow older. Better heart health can also reduce your risk of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol.

4. Improves Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Doctors generally discourage lying flat on your back if you struggle with snoring, sleep apnea, or other respiratory conditions. This is because your tongue and jaw relax while you sleep, collapsing backward and blocking your airways.

Sleeping with your back elevated prevents gravity from blocking your throat and relieves any pressure on the lungs, helping you breathe. Breathing correctly minimizes sleep disruptions and reduces noisy sleeping for those who share a bed. Better breathing can also help improve snoring and reduce symptoms of sleep apnea.

5. Eases Heartburn and GERD

If you eat before bed, you may suffer from heartburn or GERD (acid reflux) symptoms. When you lay flat, in particular, your stomach acid and bile are more susceptible to travel up your throat. By elevating your upper body in the zero gravity position, gravity keeps the stomach acid down in your stomach, preventing pain and sleep disruptions.

6. Boosts Digestion

Sleeping at an incline helps the digestive system work more effectively than when sleeping flat. A better digestive system, in turn, promotes a healthier gastrointestinal (GI) tract. With a healthy GI tract, you can sleep without having an upset stomach. A healthy GI tract also promotes weight loss, improves your mood, boosts your energy level, and enhances your mental clarity.

7. Relieves Pregnancy Symptoms

Pregnant women commonly suffer from many uncomfortable health issues, including back pain, heartburn, edema, and acid reflux. Using a zero gravity bed frame can potentially ease all of these symptoms in turn helping pregnant women sleep more comfortably.

The zero gravity sleeping position is also a safer position for pregnant women when compared to sleeping on their backs on a flat bed. If considering mattresses for pregnancy, think about how it might flex on an adjustable bed.

SEE ALSO: Best Adjustable Beds for Back Pain

8. Fosters Deeper Sleep

Insomnia is a sleep condition plaguing millions of Americans, affecting roughly one in four people every year. The sleep disorder makes it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep, leading to a poor mood, daytime fatigue, and worsened health overall.

Although a zero gravity bed won’t necessarily solve your insomnia, the sleeping position is comfortable and helps your body relax, in turn encouraging restful and uninterrupted sleep.

9. Lifestyle Benefits

If you struggle with being tense or are unable to relax in bed, lying in a zero-gravity position eases the pressure on your body, helping you wind down.

You can also rest in the zero gravity position when you’re not sleeping. You can be comfortable and read, watch TV, use a laptop, or simply relax. The zero gravity position is useful when just resting because you don’t need extra pillows or to use a recliner to prop you up comfortably.

Some zero gravity adjustable beds have additional features you can use while sleeping or awake as well, including a massage feature and USB ports to charge your devices.

FAQs

How do I set my adjustable bed to zero gravity?

Some adjustable beds have a zero-gravity preset (also called ZG or Zero-G) button on the wireless remote, so you can feel weightless with the click of a button. However, you can adjust any adjustable bed to a zero gravity position even without the preset.

Simply elevate both the upper and lower portion of the adjustable bed by 30 degrees. After doing so, your torso and thighs should be at a 120-degree angle with your knees bent and raised slightly above heart level.

Does a zero gravity bed benefit seniors?

Yes, since senior citizens may face many of the issues the zero gravity position can resolve, including edema, muscle and joint pain, sleep apnea, and heartburn, using a zero gravity bed is very beneficial for the elderly.

Adjustable beds aren’t particularly tall either when they’re still flat, so elderly adults with limited mobility should still be able to get into bed and adjust to the zero gravity position safely. Some adjustable beds for seniors also have changeable heights.

Is it better to sleep flat or elevated?

Sleeping elevated can improve snoring, symptoms of sleep apnea, acid reflux, lower back pain, and more. However, sleeping elevated on an adjustable bed or a wedge pillow is only suited for back and side sleepers. Also, zero gravity sleeping is only effective and comfortable when you sleep on your back.

Although stomach sleeping is the worst sleeping position for your back, if you choose to sleep this way, you cannot comfortably nor safely do so while elevated. Your body would be twisted awkwardly and only lead to pain.

How thick should a mattress be for an adjustable bed?

The best mattress for an adjustable bed is one that is under 14 inches thick. Any mattress thicker than 14 inches isn’t flexible enough and won’t bend with the base properly. With an overly-thick mattress, you won’t be able to experience zero gravity as intended.

Are adjustable beds safe?

It’s reasonable to worry about safety when bringing any large devices or furniture into your home, but adjustable beds are quite safe.

Most adjustable beds include gravity release electronic motors, meaning when you adjust the bed’s incline, the gravity release causes the bed to move slowly, allotting time for anything underneath the bed (such as a child) to move.

The beds also have power outage protection, so if for whatever reason, the power goes out, the bed won’t just slam down.

Other than that, adjustable beds are very sturdy and have between a 300 to 700-pound weight capacity. Just be sure your electronic outlets are working properly and no water has corrupted them.

Conclusion

If you are shopping for an adjustable bed or if you already have one, try out a zero-gravity sleeping position for a couple of nights and see how it helps you. Although adjustable bed frames can be expensive (around $500 for low-end models to over $3000 for top-tier beds) the health benefits of zero gravity sleep are worth it for lots of people.

By sleeping in a zero-gravity position on an adjustable bed, you can ease the symptoms of various health conditions, including GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, and arthritis, along with promoting overall better sleep.