Exercise tip of the month: sleep. Odd? Not at all! Sleep is just as important
as exercise for pain management including management for back
pain. Johnson Chiropractic helps many Richmond
pain sufferers manage 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 reason!
CONTROLLING BACK PAIN
Since low back pain often is a condition
for life that comes and goes, a condition
that is managed rather than cured, it is a positive
thing that researchers are studying just how a back pain
sufferer can take charge of the Richmond back pain and how
often 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 looking
at sleep, fatigue, emotion, and more to find out. Johnson Chiropractic
shares the term “flare” as it relates to
a back pain episode.
BACK PAIN FLARE
A Richmond low back pain flare is one that incorporates increased pain,
paresthesia, or muscle tension, longer duration of symptoms, decreased
functional (social, cognitive, physical), and negative emotions. Researchers
found that back pain sufferers don’t describe their
back pain to be a flare just because of increased pain, therefore
healthcare professionals need to look past the pain to see
what else is happening around the pain event, what
psychosocial factors are involved. (1,2) The mind-body connection
can’t always be overlooked! 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 precipitate a new episode of their pain. Researchers found
that poor sleep quality and morning pain were threats 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) Sleep quality
also plays a role in how Richmond back pain is felt.
SLEEP QUALITY
A study 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 capable
of mediating anxiety, making sleep a practical
recommendation in the treatment plan. (5)
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Ted Siciliano on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes
his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease arm pain and numbness that was keeping
him from getting sleep.
Make your Richmond
chiropractic appointment soon. Let us talk sleep
next time you are in for a visit!