The exercise topic of
the month is…sleep?! Odd? Not at all! Sleep is just as important
as exercise for pain management as well as back pain management. Apple Country Chiropractic helps many Williamson
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 purpose!
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’s a good
thing that researchers are looking into just how a back pain
sufferer can control the Williamson back pain and the frequency that it ‘rears its head.' Ask 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 find out. Apple Country Chiropractic
shares the term “flare” as it relates to
a back pain episode.
BACK PAIN FLARE
A Williamson low back pain flare is one that consists
of increased 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 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 influencing the pain episode, 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 experienced.
PAIN: MORNING NOON AND NIGHT
Patients suffering with low back pain for more
than 3 months were studied to see what might precipitate a flare up 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 recommended
to reduce the intensity, frequency, and risk of back pain flares.
(3) Sleep quality
also plays a role in how Williamson back pain is felt.
SLEEP QUALITY
A study of sleep quality in older
adults in six middle-income countries found that women had
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 Apple Country Chiropractic
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.
Make your Williamson
chiropractic appointment today. Let’s talk sleep
next time you’re in for a visit!