Did You Know That Changing Your Sleeping Position Can Help You Get Rid of Aches and Pains?
Imagine waking up fully rested after a good night’s sleep. As you slowly awaken, you move to sit up… only to be met with a backache. As you move, the aches in your shoulders and neck become more noticeable, but as you stand up, they are overshadowed by the dull ache in your hips and legs.
How can you feel so bad after a good night’s rest? It’s possible that your mattress is to blame. Still don’t believe us? Call to schedule a free consultation with a physical therapist to learn how your mattress affects your morning aches and pains.
How can I know it’s time for a new mattress?
According to Spine Health, “Sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause or worsen lower back pain. Lack of support from a mattress reinforces poor sleeping posture, strains muscles and does not help keep the spine in alignment, all of which contribute to low back pain.
Sleep comfort is also sacrificed if a mattress does not match one’s individual preferences. A mattress that provides both comfort and back support helps reduce low back pain, allowing the structures in the spine to really rest and rejuvenate during the night.”
According to a 2008 study, sleep problems are responsible for 1 in every 15 to 20 cases of chronic pain. Long-term malpositioning is one of the most common causes. This refers to the negative effects on your body after it has been in the wrong position for far too long.
Bad posture, poor workstation positioning, and even sleeping on the wrong mattress and pillow can put your back, hips, shoulders, neck, and head in positions they are not designed to be in. Even if you get enough sleep at night, you will feel achy in the morning.
While the Better Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress every 7 to 10 years, your morning pain level is a better indicator that it’s time to replace your sleep surface.
If your mattress was once comfortable but is now the source of your aches and pains, it’s time to replace it. Physical changes such as injuries, surgery, and weight loss can all alter your body’s position while you sleep, necessitating a more rapid change in your mattress.
Your sleeping position and its impact
The amount of support you require from your mattress will be determined by your typical sleeping position. People who sleep on their backs will experience low back pain if their hips rest on top of the mattress.
Side sleepers may experience hip and low back aches and pains if their knees rest below their hips. Because their shoulders are resting behind their hips, stomach sleepers may wake up with back pain.
While properly placed pillows can help with morning aches, they cannot replace a mattress that supports your natural sleeping position.
How will physical therapy benefit me?
While it may seem strange to see a physical therapist for aches and pains caused by your mattress, their knowledge and experience may be exactly what you need. A physical therapist, as an expert in posture and movement, can assess your body’s position while you sleep and make recommendations for the type of mattress that best supports your body.
They will also examine your posture and movement to rule out any underlying conditions that could be causing your morning aches and pains. The physical therapist may devise a physical therapy treatment plan to help you improve your posture, strengthen your body, and sleep better.
Your first appointment with a physical therapist will include a discussion of your symptoms and medical history, as well as some simple tests.
Prepare to answer questions about previous injuries that may have contributed to your current aches and pains. We’ll also talk about your diet, exercise routine, and daily activities. This will help your therapist determine the possible cause or causes of your aches and pains.
Based on your description of your symptoms, you will then be subjected to a number of tests. These will include posture and range of motion exercises, as well as possible strength and resistance tests.
When your therapist has determined the likely causes of your aches and pains, your personalized physical therapy treatment will begin.
Contact (Practice Name) to unlock pain relief
With some effort and time, your physical therapist can help you say goodbye to morning aches and pains and hello to a restful night’s sleep. Contact us today to get started.
