How to Sleep With Lower Back Pain

How to sleep better with lower back pain

As teenagers, many people grow to view sleep as something that’s easy to come by, but adults often have far less time for sleeping. The sleep that many adults do get might not be high-quality, or it may be interrupted by lower back pain. 

Unfortunately, there are many U.S. adults who are wondering how to sleep better with lower back pain. Research by medical professionals shows that 25% of U.S. adults reported having lower back pain within the last three months. Physical therapists can help you learn how to effectively treat your lower back pain, and they can help you learn how to sleep better as part of your lower back pain treatment program. 

Three tips that can help you sleep better with lower back pain: 

  1. Stretch before bed — For many people, what they do before bed can help reduce their chances of waking up with lower back pain. Physical therapists can help you develop a pre-bed routine intended to help you get to sleep and stay asleep. A common part of such routines are therapeutic stretching exercises. These exercises can help ease tension in your lower back muscles that can trigger pain during the night. 
  1. Lie on your back — Sleeping on your side or stomach can often make lower back pain worse. To avoid worsening your pain, you may need to consider sleeping on your back. This position allows your mattress to support your entire spine, and you can add pillows below your knees and lower back to make lying on your back even more supportive. 
  1. Target the root of your lower back pain — It’s even better to address the root cause of your lower back pain. That way you won’t have to worry about it waking you up or bothering you throughout the day. A physical therapist can evaluate your back; with the results, they can determine the precise root cause of your back pain. They can then build you a comprehensive treatment plan to address your pain. 

SOL PT is ready to help you find out how to sleep better with lower back pain

Keen to figure out how you can sleep better with lower back pain? SOL Physical Therapy has an experienced team that can help you meet your goal. We’ll start by evaluating your lower back to figure out why you’re in pain. Then, our physical therapists can construct a customized treatment plan for your pain, which can help reduce your pain throughout the day. You can even work with our specialists in virtual therapy sessions so that you don’t have to leave home. 

Contact our team today for more information about our lower back pain treatment services or to schedule an initial appointment to start addressing your pain. 

About the author

Sports + Orthopedic Leaders Physical Therapy & Performance Training serves the communities of Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Orinda, San Francisco and beyond. SOLPT’s award winning team of Physical Therapists, Performance Coaches and movement experts has helped thousands reach their rehabilitation and performance goals to move beyond pain. We're committed to helping anyone of any fitness level move effectively and more powerfully for a lifetime. We offer rehabilitation and performance services to all populations, with specialties in Sports Rehabilitation, Active Release Techniques, and Manual Therapy Techniques plus Personal and Small Group Training, Sport Clinics and Wellness Services.

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