The exercise topic of
the month is…sleep?! Weird? Not at all! Sleep is just as valuable
as exercise for pain management as well as back pain management. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries helps many Manchester
pain sufferers manage their spine, neck, and back pain with chiropractic spinal manipulation, nutrition advice, and exercise direction. Sleep – good
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 handled rather than cured, it is a good
thing that researchers are looking into just how a back pain
sufferer can control the Manchester back pain and the frequency that it ‘rears its head.' Question any back
pain sufferer and you’ll know that warding off a pain episode is an objective. But how? Researchers are studying sleep, fatigue, emotion, and more to find out. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
shares the term “flare” as it has to do with
a back pain episode.
BACK PAIN FLARE
A Manchester low back pain flare is one that includes heightened pain,
paresthesia, or muscle tension, longer duration of symptoms, reduced
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 heightened pain, so
healthcare professionals need to look past the pain to see
what else is happening around the pain episode, what
psychosocial factors are involved. (1,2) The mind-body connection
cannot always be overlooked! 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 trigger a flare up of their pain. Researchers discovered
that poor sleep quality and morning pain were threats for such
flare-ups. Increased pain risk grew 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 role in how Manchester back pain is felt.
SLEEP QUALITY
An analysis of sleep quality in older
adults in six middle-income countries found that women experienced
more sleep problems. Additionally, age, depression, low back pain,
and poor self-rated health were also significantly linked to
sleep problems. (4) Sleep, perceived stress, and anxiety contribute to chronic low back pain. Fortunately, sleep quality is able to mediate anxiety, making sleep a practical
recommendation in the treatment plan. (5)
CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
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 preventing
him from sleeping.
Schedule your Manchester
chiropractic appointment soon. Let’s talk sleep
next time you’re in for a visit!