The exercise topic of
the month is…sleep?! Unusual? Not at all! Sleep is just as vital
as exercise for pain management as well as management for back
pain. Layden Chiropractic helps many Plainville
pain sufferers cope with their spine, neck, and back pain with chiropractic spinal manipulation, nutrition advice, and exercise direction. Sleep – adequate
sleep – is added to that list for a good purpose!
CONTROLLING BACK PAIN
Since low back pain many times is a condition
for life that is sporadic, a condition
that is handled rather than cured, it is a good
thing that researchers are studying just how a back pain
sufferer can control the Plainville back pain and the frequency that it ‘rears its head.' Question any back
pain sufferer and you will know that warding off a pain episode is a goal. But how? Researchers are studying sleep, fatigue, emotion, and more to find out. Layden Chiropractic
shares the term “flare” as it relates to
a back pain episode.
BACK PAIN FLARE
A Plainville low back pain flare is one that includes intensified pain,
paresthesia, or muscle tension, increased duration of symptoms, reduced
functional (social, cognitive, physical), and negative emotions. Researchers
found that back pain sufferers don’t consider their
back pain to be a flare just because of heightened pain, therefore
healthcare professionals need to look beyond the pain to know
what else is influencing the pain episode, what
psychosocial factors are involved. (1,2) The mind-body connection
can’t always be ignored! Nor can the time of day
that pain is felt.
PAIN: MORNING NOON AND NIGHT
Patients dealing with low back pain for over 3 months were studied to see what might bring
on a flare up 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 suggested
to decrease the intensity, frequency, and risk of back pain flares.
(3) Sleep quality
also plays a role in how Plainville back pain is experienced.
SLEEP QUALITY
A study of sleep quality in older
adults in six middle-income countries found that women had
more sleep problems. Further, 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. Fortunately, sleep quality is capable
of mediating anxiety, making sleep a practical
recommendation in the treatment plan. (5)
CONTACT Layden 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 deliver
relieving treatment for his arm pain and numbness that was keeping
him from sleeping.
Make your Plainville
chiropractic appointment now. Let us talk sleep
next time you’re in for a visit!