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!