Can Physical Therapy Help You Sleep Better?

February 5, 2018 5:33 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 83.6 million adults in the U.S. are sleep deprived, which can lead to a variety of health risks, including high blood pressure, depression, obesity and diabetes. So why aren’t Americans getting enough sleep? While stress tops the list, pain is also one of the main reasons why people either can’t get to sleep or can’t stay asleep. In fact, two out of three people who suffer from chronic pain also suffer from insomnia.

In order to get a restful night’s sleep, adults need at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. Getting seven hours of sleep allows your body to go through all three stages of the sleep cycle—light sleep, deep sleep, and REM (rapid eye movement)—which are necessary if you want to feel rested and stay healthy. But if pain is keeping you from falling asleep or waking you up in the night, chances are you’re only ever getting through the first stage, light sleep. In addition, the less sleep you get, the more severe your pain becomes, which creates a cycle where pain keeps you from sleeping and the lack of sleep causes you to be in more pain.

If pain is keeping you up at night, physical therapy in Napa County, CA can help. At Focus Forward Wellness & Physical Therapy, we specialize in Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT), which is a whole-person approach to wellness. Instead of only treating your pain, which is really only a symptom of something else going on, we take a whole-body approach to identify the source of your pain and focus on a long-term treatment plan that will not only help you feel better, but help you sleep better, too.

If pain is keeping you awake, we’d love to get to know you and show you how our whole-person approach to physical therapy in Napa County, CA can help you sleep better. But if you want to get a jumpstart on sleeping better tonight, here are a few “sleep hygiene” tips you can put into practice now:

  • Keep a consistent sleep schedule
  • Establish a relaxing bedtime routine
  • Use your bed only for sleeping
  • Make your bedroom a relaxing environment
  • Turn off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before getting into bed
  • Don’t go to bed unless you are sleepy
  • Keep your room cool
  • Don’t watch the clock
  • Only consume caffeine in the mornings
  • Don’t eat a large meal right before bed
  • If you don’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, get up, do something relaxing and then try again

Patients looking for physical therapy in Napa County, CA often come to us seeking relief from pain or following an injury or surgery, but they often leave us with a whole new lease on life. If you are looking for relief from pain that is keeping you awake, Focus Forward Wellness & Physical Therapy can help. All you need to do is give us a call and schedule your first appointment today!

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