Chiropractic and Quality of Sleep

It is fairly common knowledge that as a society, we do not get enough sleep. The effects of this widely vary, including fatigue, poor memory, poor concentration, lapses in judgement, increase of illnesses, and many other negative side effects. Many times, lack of sleep is directly related to work and stress, as people are working more than ever and sometimes simply do not attempt to get enough sleep. Sometimes, musculoskeletal pain and discomfort can prevent a person from getting a sound night’s sleep. People who suffer from sleep apnea often have problems staying asleep due to breathing issues and/or waking themselves up snoring and gasping for air. In other situations, the cause is more difficult to define, such as insomnia. The good news is, in a lot of these situations, proper chiropractic care can help one get the proper rest they need, both from a quality and quantity standpoint.

Most people associate chiropractic care with the treatment of neck, back and overall joint pain. By this basic logic alone, chiropractic can improve sleep quality in those suffering from pain. By correcting the misaligments present in the spine and elsewhere, pain and tension are released, hence increasing comfort and relaxation, making a sound sleep possible.

Insomnia can occur for a variety of reasons. Some common causes are stress (probably #1 by far), anxiety, depression, and hormone levels. Chiropractic care ensures that the body’s nervous system is functioning properly. This, in turn, will ensure that sleep hormone levels are regulated properly, which will lead to a better nights sleep. Removing interference from the body’s nervous system will help with almost all these issues, such as stress and anxiety.

While a chiropractic adjustment is not a “cure” or treatment for sleep problems or any other type of disease, removing interference from the nervous system can help sleeplessness, as well as many other unwanted conditions. Personally, I have heard countless times from patients over the years that chiropractic has helped them to get better sleep, which can change so much in a person’s life!