Evaulation of Mattress for the Koreans

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to find out the relations between the characteristic of mattress, anthropometric features, body pressure distribution, and spinal curvature and to examine the overall relations between the comfort and the features of mattress. In order to evaluate mattress comfort, subjective ratings were performed. For an objective evaluation, anthropometric features, plaster cast, spinal curvature and body contact pressure distribution were used. The spinal curvatures were compared using the plaster cast and 3D measurement. The individually favored mattresses were found by figuring out the spinal curvature most similar to the spinal curvature when standing by comparing with the spinal curvature on bed with the difference of firmness. Also, by the analysis of body contact pressure, there were significant differences between body pressure and comfort ratings. As the result of this research, we could found out the comfort mattress by spinal curvature and body pressure.