Have you been struggling to get a restful night’s sleep? Does pain wake you up and make it hard to fall asleep again? At Elite Health Services in Old Greenwich, CT, our physical therapists are highly skilled at helping to identify the sources of your sleep problems and helping you find solutions so you can enjoy a good night’s sleep!
It has been reported that up to 70% of adults report experiencing insufficient or inadequate sleep at least one night every month. For some, their sleep issues are more significant, with over 10% of people reporting difficulty every night.
More and more research has demonstrated significant health problems associated with sleep problems, from poor mental focus to increased mortality. Sleep apnea is associated with heart disease and can be fatal if left unchecked. For younger people, especially school-aged children, performance in school is directly related to adequate sleep.
More recently, lack of sleep has dramatically increased athlete injury rates. Athletes that get less than 6 hours of sleep per night are up to 150 times more likely to get injured than those that sleep 8 hours or more.
Our physical therapists are up to date on the most advanced techniques and recommendations to help our patients improve their sleep habits, so they can do the things they love.
What are the best sleep positions?
Sleep is the body’s uninterrupted time to repair tissue damage, heal wounds, restore organ function, stabilize chemical imbalance, refresh areas of the brain that control mood and behavior, and improve performance. Restful sleep– and a proper sleeping position– is a critical part of maintaining good health.
It’s critical that we learn to sleep in the best position for proper spinal alignment. The better shape our spine is in, the lower our chances of developing neck, pain, or shoulder pain become. The better our spinal alignment is, the better our overall posture will be during the day.
Do you sleep on your back?
If so, placing a small pillow under your knees can help to reduce stress and strain on your spine and support the curve in your lower back. The pillow your head is resting on should support your head and the angle of your neck and shoulders.
Are you a stomach sleeper?
Sleeping on your stomach can cause stress on the back because the spine can be thrown out of position. To avoid this, place a flat pillow under your stomach and pelvis area. This will keep your spine in better alignment, as will sleeping with a flat pillow under your head or without a pillow at all.
Or are you a side sleeper?
This is the most commonly used sleep position. And it is vital to have good neck support for all side sleepers. The thickness of the neck pillow may create muscle spasms and strain on either one or the other side of the neck, which may cause pain and headache. Roll up a soft towel and put it under a thin pillow on your preferred sleeping side to support your neck in a good alignment.
For some people falling asleep is the biggest problem, whereas others wake up from a restful sleep and then struggle to get back to sleep. One of the most common complaints in physical therapy is how the pain intensifies when trying to fall asleep.
It is often thought that as the night approaches, the number of distractions diminishes, making the pain more noticeable. For some people, it is hard to believe that lying still could be the problem, but certain pain conditions are worse when people are still, which is a problem if you are trying to sleep.
Fortunately, at Elite Health Services, our physical therapists have a lot of experience working with people to help them find ways to get a good night’s sleep. We’ll guide you through the steps that help most people and give you tools to try at home to ensure you can finally fall asleep!
What to expect from your physical therapy sessions
A physical therapist with experience helping people struggling to sleep through the night will conduct a thorough evaluation and determine if/how an injury or physical condition influences sleep. Our team will identify any other weaknesses or limitations that may be causing pain or interfering with their recovery and overall health.
Next, your therapist at Elite Health Services in Old Greenwich, CT will create a targeted, individualized plan of care for you to promote accelerated recovery and future injury prevention. We will guide you through a series of exercises designed to help with any injury and pain so you can be physically ready to get a good night’s sleep.
Whether you are dealing with pain from arthritis or back pain or just need some guidance, physical therapy will provide the foundation for a successful night’s sleep to ensure you are rested and ready to take on the activities you enjoy!
Request an appointment at Elite Health Services today!
Our highly trained physical therapists can guide you to resolve your pain and improve your mind and body for a good night’s sleep!
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!