Exercise tip of the month: sleep. Weird? Not at all! Sleep is just as important
as exercise for pain management as well as management for back
pain. Wilson Family Chiropractic helps many Millville
pain sufferers manage their spine, neck, and back pain with chiropractic spinal manipulation, nutrition advice, and exercise direction. Sleep – adequate
sleep – is included in that list for a good reason!
CONTROLLING BACK PAIN
Since low back pain many times is a condition
for life that is intermittent, a condition
that is managed rather than cured, it’s a positive
thing that researchers are studying just how a back pain
sufferer can take charge of the Millville back pain and the frequency that it ‘rears its head.' Ask any back
pain sufferer and you will know that keeping
the pain away is a goal. But how? Researchers are studying sleep, fatigue, emotion, and more to find out. Wilson Family Chiropractic
shares the term “flare” as it has to do with
a back pain episode.
BACK PAIN FLARE
A Millville low back pain flare is one that consists
of intensified pain,
paresthesia, or muscle tension, longer duration of symptoms, decreased
functional (social, cognitive, physical), and negative emotions. Researchers
found that back pain sufferers do not describe their
back pain to be a flare just because of increased pain, therefore
healthcare professionals need to look beyond the pain to visualize
what else is going on around the pain episode, what
psychosocial factors are at play. (1,2) The mind-body connection
cannot always be ignored! Nor can the time of day
that pain is experienced.
PAIN: MORNING NOON AND NIGHT
Patients dealing with low back pain for over 3 months were studied to see what might bring
on a new episode of their pain. Researchers discovered
that poor sleep quality and morning pain were risks for such
flare-ups. Increased pain risk rose with days of more afternoon and
evening pain, fatigue, and fear of activity. Sleep is recommended
to decrease the intensity, frequency, and risk of back pain flares.
(3) The quality of sleep
also plays a part in how Millville back pain is experienced.
SLEEP QUALITY
A study of sleep quality in older
adults in six middle-income countries uncovered that women had
more sleep problems. Additionally, age, depression, low back pain,
and poor self-rated health were also significantly associated with
sleep problems. (4) Sleep, perceived stress, and anxiety play a
role in chronic low back pain. Luckily, sleep quality is capable
of mediating anxiety, making sleep a practical
recommendation in the treatment plan. (5)
CONTACT Wilson Family Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Ted Siciliano on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses
his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease arm pain and numbness that was preventing
him from getting sleep.
Schedule your Millville
chiropractic appointment soon. Let’s talk sleep
next time you are in for a visit!