For many people, getting a good night’s sleep could be as easy as changing their pillow and mattress. Anyone who spends the night tossing, turning and wakes with aches and pains would benefit from a consultation with a physical therapist. What many individuals don’t know is that sleeping on the wrong mattress or pillow can result in muscle spasms, strains and ligament damage – even while they sleep.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists insufficient sleep as a public health epidemic. A lack of restful and restorative sleep has been cited as the cause of accidents in vehicles, industrial settings and the medical field. Wakefulness disorders have been recognized as a serious problem, with up to 70 million adults being affected.
The wrong mattress and pillow can be the impetus that transforms a minor joint, muscle or ligament problem into a chronic condition. Those with a deficit of restorative sleep show the effects physically and mentally. They’re more prone to chronic diseases that include obesity and high blood pressure.
Insufficient sleep support has a variety of emotional and psychological impacts. People that don’t obtain restful sleep have difficulty with memory and concentration, are less productive at work, and have lower grades in educational pursuits. Each individual is different in the number of hours they need to sleep, but everyone needs a supportive sleep and a physical therapist can help.