Researchers at the University of Warwick in Coventry, UK, have stated that most patients who seek treatment for pain also report insomnia that is severe enough to warrant clinical attention.
Perhaps that should come as no surprise - living with chronic pain is hardly going to be conducive to a good night's sleep.
However, what is interesting about this latest research is what it tells us about the relationship between insomnia and pain (and what we can do about it).
Researchers found that the onset of insomnia in those suffering from pain can be averted by addressing physical limitations and increasing social participation. In fact, they declared that the combination of physical limitation and reduced social participation explained up to 68% of the effect of pain as a cause of insomnia.
The study found that addressing barriers to physical activity by encouraging participants to undergo physiotherapy or take exercise classes improved their physical function. Social participation was measured by evaluating participant involvement in areas such as community and religious activities, meeting up with friends, going to clubs, taking part in education or training or undertaking paid or voluntary work.
This research suggests that if you live with chronic pain, increasing both physical activity and social participation may help alleviate the onset of four common insomnia symptoms: non-restorative sleep, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and frequent nighttime awakenings.
Source: Medpage Today
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Last updated: February 4, 2016
