Question
Are there any risks associated with sleeping on a hard ground service? Even taking this further, I heard there are risks but I also heard it is beneficial as well since it supposedly straightens out your back and spine. Of course in order to get the benefits you would need to adapt to sleeping on your back. So my question is, is sleeping on the ground a good way to preservice good back formation and health for the rest of your life?

Thanks.

Answer
Andrew,

I've never seen any real research on sleeping surfaces except for one study that only seemed to indicate that larger, heavier people preferred a firmer surface.  Otherwise, the best sleeping surface is the one that you feel best sleeping on.  There is no evidence that sleeping on the ground is any better than sleeping on a waterbed.   If you wake up from sleeping on the ground and feel better than when you wake up from sleeping on a good mattress, then maybe a firm sleep surface is for you.   Also, beware of mattress retailers selling you fancy deals based on what they call research.   Unless it's published in a credible journal, it's not research, namely, their "in house research lab" research...

'Hope this was helpful,

Dr. G