The Healing Power of Sleep: A Physiotherapist's Perspective on Sleep Awareness Week
- SMARTPHYSIO
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
During Sleep Awareness Week, I find myself reflecting on what might be the most undervalued component of recovery I see in my physiotherapy practice: quality sleep.
After years of working with patients managing pain and recovering from injuries, I've observed a clear pattern. Those who prioritise sleep tend to make more consistent progress in their rehabilitation. It's not just anecdotal – the research strongly supports this connection.
As a physiotherapist, I often focus on exercise prescription, manual therapy, and movement education. But increasingly, I find myself having crucial conversations about sleep with almost every patient.
When a patient reports persistent pain despite following their exercise program diligently, I now ask about their sleep patterns. The answers are often revealing: "I only get about 5 hours," or "I wake up several times a night," or "I sleep with my phone beside my pillow."
The evidence connecting sleep and physical recovery is compelling:
During deep sleep stages, our bodies release growth hormone essential for tissue repair and muscle recovery.
Pain sensitivity increases with poor sleep – research shows that even a single night of disrupted sleep can lower pain thresholds.
Cognitive function, motor learning, and movement control are all compromised when we're sleep-deprived, affecting how effectively we can engage in rehabilitation.
Sleep affects inflammation levels, which directly impacts healing time for injuries.
For my patients dealing with chronic pain, improving sleep quality often becomes a central intervention. Sometimes, this means collaborating with other healthcare providers to address underlying sleep disorders or implementing cognitive-behavioral strategies for insomnia.
Simple sleep hygiene adjustments can make significant differences:
Consistent sleep-wake times
Creating a cool, dark, quiet sleep environment
Limiting screen time before bed
Being mindful of caffeine and alcohol consumption
Gentle stretching or relaxation exercises before sleep
What continues to fascinate me is how bidirectional the relationship is – while better sleep improves pain and function, targeted physiotherapy interventions can also improve sleep quality. Appropriate exercise and pain management strategies often help patients break the cycle of pain and poor sleep.
This Sleep Awareness Week, I'm reminded that as healthcare providers, we must look beyond the isolated injury or pain presentation to the whole person. Sometimes, the most effective physiotherapy intervention isn't another exercise but rather a conversation about the healing power of sleep.
To my fellow physiotherapists: How often do you discuss sleep with your patients? And to those currently in rehabilitation: How might prioritising your sleep affect your recovery journey?
You can learn even more about how to improve your sleep in “The Good Sleep Guide” by Sammy Margo. For further advice call us on 020 7435 4910 or check us out at www.smartphysio.co.uk
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