Exercise tip of the month: sleep. Weird? Not at all! Sleep is just as vital
as exercise for pain management including management for back
pain. Cross Chiropractic Center helps many Sandy Springs
pain sufferers cope with their spine, neck, and back pain with chiropractic spinal manipulation, nutrition advice, and exercise direction. Sleep – good
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 handled rather than cured, it is a positive
thing that researchers are looking into just how a back pain
sufferer can control the Sandy Springs back pain and the frequency that it ‘rears its head.' Question any back
pain sufferer and you’ll know that keeping
the pain away is an objective. But how? Researchers are looking
at sleep, fatigue, emotion, and more to figure that out. Cross Chiropractic Center
introduces the term “flare” as it relates to
a back pain episode.
BACK PAIN FLARE
A Sandy Springs low back pain flare is one that consists
of 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 increased pain, therefore
healthcare professionals need to look beyond the pain to know
what else is influencing the pain event, what
psychosocial factors are involved. (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 suffering with low back pain for more
than 3 months were studied to see what might bring
on a new episode of their pain. Researchers found
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 role in how Sandy Springs back pain is felt.
SLEEP QUALITY
An analysis of sleep quality in mature
adults in six middle-income countries uncovered 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 reasonable
recommendation in the treatment plan. (5)
CONTACT Cross Chiropractic Center
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.
Set up your Sandy Springs
chiropractic appointment today. Let’s talk sleep
next time you’re in for a visit!