Exercise tip of the month: sleep. Odd? Not at all! Sleep is just as important
as exercise for pain management including back pain management. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn helps many Ashburn
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 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 take charge of the Ashburn back pain and the frequency that it ‘rears its head.' Question any back
pain sufferer and you will know that keeping
the pain away is a goal. But how? Researchers are studying sleep, fatigue, emotion, and more to find out. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
introduces the term “flare” as it relates to
a back pain episode.
BACK PAIN FLARE
A Ashburn low back pain flare is one that consists
of increased pain,
paresthesia, or muscle tension, longer duration of symptoms, reduced
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 heightened pain, therefore
healthcare professionals need to look beyond the pain to know
what else is going on around the pain episode, what
psychosocial factors are at play. (1,2) The mind-body connection
can’t always be ignored! 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 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 grew with days of more afternoon and
evening pain, fatigue, and fear of activity. Sleep is suggested
to reduce the intensity, frequency, and risk of back pain flares.
(3) Sleep quality
also plays a part in how Ashburn back pain is experienced.
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 associated with
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 Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
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 deliver
relieving treatment for his arm pain and numbness that was keeping
him from getting sleep.
Set up your Ashburn
chiropractic appointment soon. Let’s talk sleep
next time you’re in for a visit!