It all comes down to good suspension.

The flexible wooden slatted frame has plenty of 'give' when put under load, and the individual slats automatically tilt to adjust to the shape of your body. Even the very best mattress will struggle to provide your spine with the correct support if the slat suspension (slatted frame) is too soft and saggy. The result is the notorious hammock effect, which subjects your spine to unnecessary strain. A good mattress deserves the very best slat suspension. Do not accept anything less!


There are three types of posture slats:

1. standard flexible
2. manually adjustable, and
3. electric power-adjustable slats.

NB. All slats fit all bed frames, and electric slats will turn bed frames into fully-functional electric beds. Comfort and style are no longer mutually exclusive!


There are two types of slat adjustment:

1. Adjustment for contour and spinal alignment - personal weight, body shape, personal preference. This type of adjustment exists in all of slats. Particularly important are adjustments in the shoulder and hip areas. These adjustments are important for getting the suspension under your side of the mattress perfectly adjusted to suit your needs.
2. Adjustment for function - for adjusting from a lying position up into a sitting position (and all positions in between). Manual lift slats and power lift slats have independent head and leg height adjustments. Manual lift slats have 2 moveable sections, and power electric lift slays have 4 sections independently controlled by 2 motors. Standard slats do not adjust for function - but ALL slats adjust for contour and spinal alignment.


Additional qualities to look for in a posture flexi-slat:

1. High profile rubber or Hytril Bio-plastic mounts. The mounts (or caps) are what connect each slat to the slatted frame. The flexibility and even travel of these caps (after the mattress) is the most important part of the 'sleep system'. Good slats can make even the most modest 'value' mattress feel great. Try to avoid the posture slats which mount into the side of the bed or slatted frame. Each slat needs a flexible mount.
2. Centre adjustment for firmness in the middle, and softer shoulder elements so that you can align your spine when sleeping in the side position. Human bodies are different in shape and weight. All are heavier in the middle and wide in the shoulders. These irregular shapes and weighted areas of the body need special care - buy only slats that are individually adjustable in these areas.
3. Beech - not Birch. Birch slats are a lesser quality alternative to the highly flexible and strong traditional Beech slats.
4. Try to match the manufacturer of your slat to the manufacturer of your mattress. It stands to reason that European mattress manufacturers test their slats on their own mattresses - not on those of their competitors.
5. For Queen, King and Super King beds - where two people regularly sleep on the bed - make sure each person has their own slatted frame under their side of the bed. There are some slats on the market which span the full width of the bed. These do nothing more than amplify partner disturbance. If you sleep alone in bed, consider a European-size double bed - which unlike the Australian size double, has a full 2 metre length (incidentally, all slats, mattresses and beds are also available in 2.1 and 2.2 meter lengths.)
6. If you weigh over 100kgs, consider a system with 42 slats instead of the traditional 28 slat systems. You will get better support and weight distribution when you have more slats. These systems are not recommended for people under 80kgs.

Many health professionals claim that putting your feet up for just 20 minutes is equivalent to having 2 hours rest. If you wish to raise your upper body and/or legs for reading or for rest, we recommend that you select from our manually adjustable or electric power-adjustable slats. We also supply suitable slatted frames for customers who require more advanced levels of care with our HI-LO electric carer slats.