Can sleep impact my neck and back pain?

Insights on sleep and it's effect on neck and back pain

Chiropractor Dr. Sebastian Kverneland DC and Scandinavian Health Institute in Los Angeles specializes in chronic pain and uses sleep hygiene as a key part of the comprehensive science-based healing process.

Dr. Sebastian Kverneland says: “As a chiropractor, I see patients for all kinds of problems, but primarily back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Although you wouldn't necessarily think there was a relation to sleep, for many of my patients, a lack of sleep is a strong contributing factor. This is why sleep hygiene and improving it, is nearly always a part of my recommended treatment plan. Getting sleep can help repair and rejuvenate the body.”

 

What can someone do for themselves physically to get better sleep? 

• Exercising regularly will help sleep quality. But avoid doing it tooclose to your bedtime as it can “waken” you up. 
• Go outside to do your walks and jogging (preferably in nature where you see trees. Forest bathing is good for our minds and health). 
• If jogging isn’t for you, do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) as it time efficient and has shown great results from studies. A simple YouTube search will give you plenty of options. 
• Stretch the muscles that are prone to stress, particularly the neck and shoulder area. Scandinavian Health Institute has great programs for both neck and back. 

Here is some advice for better sleep:

• Schedule in sleep time that is ideal for you
• Limit exercise and phone time before bedtime
• Meditate
• Eat healthy and avoid sugary food at night
• Turn off all devices at least an hour before bed
• When getting a mattress, invest time in finding the right mattress for your size and shape. A mattress with no flame retardants, formaldehyde, and ethers, is more likely to have been made from more eco-friendly materials and be of better quality. You want to make sure you sleep on a mattress that gives you proper alignment.

Getting a good night's rest is underrated - it is so vital for our well being and happiness. Matthew Paul Walker, professor of neuroscience and psychology at UC Berkeley says with a lack of sleep, it’s like the memory inbox of your email is shut down and incoming emails will bounce off. We are simply not able to produce memory and learn properly without sufficient sleep. Pair that with added stress in times like these and you can see how it will have effects on the work someone is producing. This is why sleep hygiene and improving it, is almost always a part of my recommended treatment plan. Getting enough of the right kind of sleep will help repair and rejuvenate the body.

As with anything, there’s no time like the present. Getting good routines is never too late, and improving something little bit, is better than nothing.

Dr. Sebastian Kverneland DC is the chiropractor and founder of the Scandinavian Health Institute in Los Angeles. He has a chiropractic doctorate from the Southern California University of Health and is in the process of being certified by the Institute of Functional Medicine. He has patients all over the world through virtual sessions. And services areas include Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Mid-City, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, West Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Hancock Park, and Larchmont Village with in-office and home visits. His work has been featured in Martha Stewart, Yahoo!, Thrive Global and Medium. To make a virtual or in-office appointment, visit scandinavianhealthinstitute.com 

For more information about Dr. Sebastian Kverneland DC and Scandinavian Health Institute, read here.

Read what our patients say about Scandinavian Health Institute here. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our office at (310) 750-9887 or contact us here.

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT AT SCANDINAVIAN HEALTH CARE INSTITUTE HERE.