We all know the importance of a good night’s sleep. You wake up feeling refreshed, energetic and ready for the day. We also know that a lack of sleep can upset your day and affect everything from alertness and concentration to pain management and stress.
According to Statistics Canada, over 25% of Canadian adults are not satisfied with the amount of sleep they get. Better sleep means a better mood, increased focus and reaction times, improved immune system and reduces your risk of serious long term illnesses like heart disease and diabetes.
Physiotherapists look at the whole body, from sore muscles and joints, to how anxiety and inflammation can affect your well being. Physiotherapy in North York can also recommend several techniques to help you get a better night’s sleep. Here are just a few suggestions.
Deal With Anxiety
Physiotherapists will ask you questions about a number of issues to determine what is getting in the way of better sleep. One very common issue for many people is anxiety. Worry about work, or family obligations and finances can be very disruptive to regular sleep.
Some ways that a physiotherapist might help you deal with anxiety is to suggest relaxation techniques. These techniques can come in the form of breathing or mindfulness exercises, or they could also include stretching throughout the day to avoid tight muscles and prevent tension from building up.
Help Find the Cause of Your Issue
Your physiotherapist can also help determine what is going on with your body and find the root cause of the problem. They can also point you in the direction of other experts who can help you get the medical attention you need and coordinate your physiotherapy with the treatment. Often, just knowing what the underlying problems are can be a big relief.
Sleep Apnea
Sometimes an underlying issue is affecting the quality of sleep. Sleep Apnea is a condition where the upper airway collapses in a sleeping individual cutting off their airflow for seconds, even half a minute. Many physiotherapy techniques can help treat sleep apnea over the long term with great results.
Deal with Chronic Pain
Many people have difficulty sleeping because of issues with pain at night. Physiotherapy can also help relieve tense and sore muscles and help with issues of alignment and function. If you suffer from chronic back pain, or other musculoskeletal issues, physiotherapy can offer a number of techniques to relieve pain and get your body back in alignment. They can look at your posture and make sure your bones are working in alignment and suggest sleep positions to help support your body while you rest.
Help Develop an Exercise and Daily Routine
Getting plenty of exercise is a great way to help your body deal with stress and to help get a good night’s sleep. The problem can be that strain and injury on your body from too much exercise can lead to more pain and less sleep.
Your physiotherapist can help you develop an exercise program to help deal with any injuries or issues that your body might have and still keep you active and moving in a way that prevents and minimizes strain.
It is also recommended that you follow a regular sleep and wake routine to help get the sleep you need. Start by giving yourself lots of time to relax by buying spa supplies in Mississauga and treat yourself with self pampering. Don’t just turn your iPhone off and head up to bed.
Your physiotherapist is your partner for your overall health and well being. They would be happy to help you get a good night’s sleep.
