You have trouble sleeping due to stress, a demanding schedule, or other external factors. I mean, what’s the big deal? Probably not, but if these problems interfere with your everyday life, they could be signs of sleep conditions. Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do to manage stress, pain and feel ready to take on the day. When you can’t sleep, it has physical and mental consequences the next day. Insomnia, or chronic lack of sleep, can lead to or exacerbate a variety of other health problems. Physical therapy can give you strategies to help you sleep better. It can assist you in better managing pain, relaxing before bed, and identifying lifestyle adjustments that will help you sleep better.
The Symptoms of Sleep Conditions
The intensity and sleeping disturbance influence the symptoms. When another condition causes sleep disturbances, they may differ. It generally includes:
- Having trouble falling or staying asleep
- Fatigue during a day
- A great desire to nap during the day
- Unusual breathing patterns
- While going asleep, you have an unpleasant need to move
- Anxiety or irritation
- Inability to concentrate
- Depression
- Gaining weight
What Causes Sleep Disorder?
Various things might contribute to sleep conditions. Regardless of the source, the end effect of all sleep disorders is a disruption or exaggeration of the body’s natural cycle of sleeping and daytime waking.
- Physical (such as ulcers)
- Medical (such as asthma)
- Mental state (such as depression and anxiety disorders)
- Working the night shift (this schedule causes “biological clocks” to malfunction)
- Genetics (narcolepsy)
- Sleep disorders affect around half of all persons over the age of 65. It’s unclear if this is a natural feature of ageing or the result of many older individuals’ medications.
The Benefits Of A Good Sleep
To perform at their best the next day, most adults require seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
- Memory enhancement
- Decision-making and attention to detail will improve
- Tissue and muscle healing will improve
- Boost immune system functioning
- Improved insulin regulation, which aids in the control of hunger and weight
- Improved mood and less irritation
Your immune system, muscle regeneration, and mental faculties all suffer when you sleep irregularly or insufficiently. When people don’t get enough sleep, they become irritable and easily upset. Importantly, those with back pain, joint pain, neck pain, headaches, chronic pain, or traumas may discover that not sleeping worsens their discomfort, making it harder to fall asleep the next night. Breaking this pattern is critical for the body’s recovery and good pain management.
Physical Therapy: A Helping Hand
A physical therapist can advise on how to fall asleep and stay asleep so you can obtain a good night’s sleep. A physical therapist will offer exercises to complete or equipment to manage discomfort if you cannot sleep due to pain. For injury recovery or pain management, a physical therapist is an essential member of your healthcare team. Numerous things contribute to your ability to fall asleep at night. A physical therapist might suggest the following:
- Even on weekends, establish and stick to a consistent wake-up and bedtime plan.
- Create a soothing nighttime routine that you only perform before going to sleep
- Create a sleep-friendly setting that is dark, quiet, and calming. If this isn’t possible, sleep with earplugs and an eye mask.
- Avoid exercising or eating a substantial meal within an hour of going to bed.
- Before going to bed, stay away from alcohol and caffeine.
- After 3 p.m., or at all, avoid napping.
Keeping a sleep diary that details your routines before bedtime might also assist you in identifying something specific that is interfering with your sleep schedule.
A physical therapist will learn about your specific scenario and any pre-existing conditions that are affecting your sleeping patterns. They’ll work closely with you to identify behaviors, lifestyle adjustments, and routines that can help you improve your sleep habits and get back to sleeping well!
