SPAN-AMERICA RECOGNIZED BY FORTUNE
IN TOP 100 FASTEST GROWING SMALL PUBLIC COMPANIES

GREENVILLE, S.C. (July 20, 2009) -- Span-America Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAN) announced today that it was named as one of America’s 100 fastest-growing small public companies by Fortune Small Business (FSB) magazine.  Span-America was ranked 78th on the list based on the company’s stock performance, earnings and revenue growth over the past three years.

"We are pleased to be recognized by FSB for the solid returns delivered by Span-America over the past three years,” stated James D. Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of Span-America. “We remain focused on delivering long-term shareholder value and believe our excellent earnings performance and 19-year history of paying cash dividends highlights our success."

The FSB ranking of the 100 fastest-growing small companies in America was compiled by the financial research firm Zacks.  The survey looked at all public companies with annual revenue of less than $200 million and a stock price of more than $1.  Within that group, companies were ranked based on the past three years' earnings growth, revenue growth, and stock performance. For the first time this year, companies with losses in any of the four quarters ended on or before December 31, 2008, were excluded from the list, resulting in a list of companies that have been profitable through the recession.  The ninth annual list of America’s 100 fastest growing small public companies appears in the July/August issue of Fortune Small Business and at http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb100/2009/full_list/

About Span-America Medical Systems, Inc.

Span-America manufactures and markets a comprehensive selection of pressure management products for the medical market, including Geo-Matt®, PressureGuard®, Geo-Mattress®, Span+Aids®, Isch‑Dish®, and Selan® products.  The Company also supplies custom foam and packaging products to the consumer and industrial markets.  Span‑America's stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "SPAN."

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