Sleep and Chronic Pain

Why is sleep so important for us? What happens if we don't get enough sleep? What happens if our sleep is poor quality?

Healthy sleep is associated with:

• Increased Life Expectancy

• Decreased Risk of Illness

• Decreased Risk of Disease

• Decreased Risk of Serious Injury

• Improved Mental Health

• Improved athletic performance

On the opposite side, sleep insufficiency is second only to smoking as a risk factor in reducing life expectancy!!!

What is Healthy Sleep?

The relationship between sleep and chronic pain?

• Reduced sleep increases markers of inflammation

• Poor sleep quality worsens mood and pain

• Poor sleep causes pain sensitisation

• People with chronic pain have poorer sleep

• People with chronic pain are more likely to have sleep disorders

• Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnoea can improve pain

What are our physiotherapists doing?

• Incorporating sleep assessments into our normal practice, especially for those who have chronic pain.

• If we identify a possible sleep disorder - referral to a sleep specialist for further review

• Bed fitting - Mark and Luke have now been trained in how to fit the SD Labs Z-10 bed (more information in another blog post coming soon)

Want to find out more about how a sleep assessment or bed fitting could help your chronic pain and improve your sleep. Call us now on 98388449 and one of our team will help you.