West Des Moines Back Pain Benefits from Good Sleep

The exercise topic of the month is…sleep?! Unusual? Not at all! Sleep is just as vital as exercise for pain management including management for back pain. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa helps many West Des Moines pain sufferers cope with their spine, neck, and back pain with chiropractic spinal manipulation, nutrition advice, and exercise direction. Sleep – adequate sleep – is included in that list for a good reason!

CONTROLLING BACK PAIN

Since low back pain many times is a condition for life that comes and goes, a condition that is managed rather than cured, it is a positive thing that researchers are looking into just how a back pain sufferer can take charge of the West Des Moines back pain and the frequency that it ‘rears its head.' Ask any back pain sufferer and you will know that warding off a pain episode is an objective. But how? Researchers are studying sleep, fatigue, emotion, and more to find out. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa shares the term “flare” as it relates to a back pain episode.

BACK PAIN FLARE

A West Des Moines low back pain flare is one that consists of heightened pain, paresthesia, or muscle tension, longer duration of symptoms, decreased functional (social, cognitive, physical), and negative emotions. Researchers found that back pain sufferers do not describe their back pain to be a flare just because of increased pain, therefore healthcare professionals need to look past the pain to know what else is going on around the pain episode, what psychosocial factors are involved. (1,2) The mind-body connection cannot always be overlooked! Nor can the time of day that pain is experienced.

PAIN: MORNING NOON AND NIGHT

Patients dealing with low back pain for more than 3 months were studied to see what might precipitate a new episode of their pain. Researchers found that poor sleep quality and morning pain were threats 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 decrease the intensity, frequency, and risk of back pain flares.  (3) The quality of sleep also plays a part in how West Des Moines back pain is felt.

SLEEP QUALITY

A study of sleep quality in older adults in six middle-income countries uncovered that women experienced more sleep problems. Further, 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 able to mediate anxiety, making sleep a reasonable recommendation in the treatment plan. (5)

CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa

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 ease arm pain and numbness that was preventing him from sleeping.

Make your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment now. Let us talk sleep next time you’re in for a visit!

 
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa shares research that says good sleep helps keep back pain at bay.  
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."