IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a medical site. You should always discuss medical matters with your doctor.
Memory Foam Cushions
Memory foam today isn't just confined to the bedroom. It is increasingly used to provide comfortable yet supportive cushions, both for the back and the seat.
This is an interesting example of technology going full circle: memory foam was initially developed to help cushion
NASA astronauts against the forces of take off.
What Is A Memory Foam Cushion?
At its simplest a memory foam cushion is simply a piece of the foam in a case - pretty much the same as a basic pillow only smaller. Standard design shapes are rectangular solid, wedge and ring. As with pillows though, that's just the starting point and there a wide variety of more specialised products for sale.
Many cushions you can buy are dubbed orthopedic. Rather than just being a simple lump of foam these are specially designed to give optimal support to those who need it more than the average person. Orthopedic cushions are carefully shaped to provide the best possible support, usually for the back and lumbar region. Where a memory foam cushion is designed to be used on the back of a chair as opposed to the seat it often comes with attaching straps. Always discuss medical problems with your doctor or a qualified specialist.
Sometimes a memory foam cushion is actually built into the chair itself. These built-in products can be larger and differently shaped from simple cushions that need to be small and convenient. Alternatively, some manufacturers make large but portable foam cushions designed to be moved around chair to chair - some even come with a carrying handle!
Perhaps the ultimate memory foam cushion is one which is combined with heat and massage systems. You can buy these either stand alone or built into a luxury chair.
Uses
As well as the home, memory foam cushions are also becoming increasingly common elsewhere. One application is in offices where people work for many hours in the same chair, often staring at a computer screen. Loss of productivity due to back pain induced sickness costs business a lot of money and the relatively small cost of decent office furniture is considered by many to be a good investment.
Another market for memory foam that is growing rapidly is as an auto accessory. Visco-elastic foam is increasingly being used in car seats and supports. As well as specially designed memory foam cushions and pads for driving seats and seatbacks you can also get foam based head and neck rests. Again this is an application that makes sense because of the long hours many of us in the modern Western world spend driving.
Of course the people who sit in one place the most are the disabled in wheelchairs. Some doctors and carers recommend the use of memory foam wheelchair cushions for the seat and/or back.
As always, seek expert advice if you have medical issues.