Having trouble sleeping? Unfortunately approximately half of the population is with you, and as you all know, it can directly impact your professional, social, and physical functions on a daily basis. While there are many things that can both impact and improve your ability to sleep well through the night, today we will focus on how seeing a physiotherapist can help make a positive difference.
5 Ways Physiotherapy Can Help You Get a Better Night’s Sleep
1. Can Address the Pains That Keep You From Falling (and Staying) Asleep
Heading for the mattress while experiencing pain and discomfort will most certainly make the bed for a bad resting state. The more a part of the body is “employed” in your sleeping position, the more likely your sleep will be disrupted. That means those who suffer pain in the lower back, neck, shoulders, and hips barely have a shot at properly counting sheep. Suffer from a rotator cuff injury? Good luck getting your z’s with that. If the above sounds familiar, then it is imperative that you consult with a physiotherapist, as we can effectively diagnosis the reason for pain and discomfort (read: injury) and prescribe the necessary treatment.
2. Can Keep You From Waking Up Sore
You may go to sleep feeling physically fine, but do you wake up sore? If so, it will also have an impact mid-rest, as it will lead to restlessness and can wake you up before the alarm clock does. Like with above, physiotherapy can treat any underlying injuries that may be causing AM discomfort. In addition, a therapist can provide you with a low-stress stretching regime to do prior to bed, will analyze your sleeping position and suggest adjustments, can work to improve your core fitness, and may even help mitigate the symptoms of stress, which is indeed a precursor to a bad sleep. Learn more about how physiotherapy can keep you from waking up sore.
3. An Alternative to Sleep Disruption Inducing Pain Medications
Sleep disruption is a common side effect of both OTC and prescription medication. If you depend on medication for pain management, you may have found the key culprit in sleep prevention. Prescription painkillers are one of the biggest threats, so if you are currently on such a prescription (opioids in particular) please reference our guide to how physiotherapy can naturally replace the dependency on prescription drugs for pain management.
4. Can Treat Women’s Health Related Sleep Problems
Stats Canada reports that women are more likely to experience problems sleeping than the other half of the population. This is due to a variety of reasons.
For one, sleep disruption is a major issue for pre-natal and post-natal women. Physiotherapy can ease the bedroom burden for both. We have provided a detailed guide to the pillowing technique for pregnancy side sleeping position, but there are many other women’s health issues that have a direct impact on sleeping patterns, including pelvic floor dysfunction, osteoporosis/osteopenia, menstrual cramping, and fibromyalgia. Physiotherapy is a discipline that has proven in the treatment of these women’s health concerns and more.
5. Daily Exercise Helps You Sleep
When you make physiotherapy a part of your life, you will not only be addressing preexisting conditions that get in the way of optimal body movement and function, you will receive regular instruction to live a more fit life. You will have been prescribed a regime of exercises to be done not just at the clinic, but at home, at the gym, and wherever viable. Daily exercise is a precursor to a good night’s sleep. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation (sleep.org) and countless of other sleep experts consider daily physical activity to be an essential ingredient. Since daily physical activity and regular physical therapy go hand in hand, you can see how making physio a part of your life will reverberate into the bedroom.
There is one caveat however. You want to avoid exercising within approximately an hour of going to bed. This is because your epinephrine (adrenaline) levels will be sky high after a great workout, making it very difficult to fall asleep. Leave a three to four hour window between moderate to intense activity and bedtime.
Ready to get your first great sleep in a long time? Start your day (and nights to come) off right by scheduling a consultation with our Burnaby, Greater Vancouver clinic today.