I don’t think I had ever paid close attention to the effects of a lack of sleep until I had my first child. And then I experienced firsthand just how detrimental consistently losing sleep can be. My head was foggy, I was super forgetful, and I was very short tempered. It was then that I started to look into how valuable sleep is to all areas of life- especially in the areas of injury prevention and recovery.
So how does good sleep prevent injury?
Well, for one, sleeping solidly for the recommended number of hours allows us time to recuperate from the work of the day. The less time we sleep, the less time we have to recover. Over time, decreased recovery time really starts to wear on us. Losing an hour or two of sleep for a day or two may not make much of a difference. But a chronic sleep loss situation can lead to issues that would take time to recover from.
Also, losing sleep makes your brain less sharp during activity. The higher the level of activity you are participating in, the sharper you need your mind to be to prevent injury. So, adequate rest is key for making sure you are able to do what you love pain-free for years to come.
Additionally, sleep is very important after you’ve suffered an injury and you are working your way through, sleep is very important as you rehab. When injured, we need the growth of new, healthy tissues. This occurs when we sleep, as hormones that stimulate growth are released.
So bottom line, whether you are recovering from an injury or working to prevent one, sleep is VERY important.
If you have any other questions, holler at me!
Rachel Atufunwa, PT, DPT