We spend about one -third of our lives on the sleep. Both its duration and quality affect, positively or negatively, many aspects of it.
Bad sleep increases the risk of developing serious illnesses, such as hypertension, the diabetes and the obesity, It aggravates energy levels the next day, makes it difficult for spiritual concentration, slows down on daily activities, spoils the mood. It is also very likely to cause the immune fall and prolong the recovery. Therefore, good, sufficient and quality sleep every night is particularly important.
Sometimes, however, he is disturbed by the existence of diseases and habits that cause pain. OR sleeping attitude It is one of those that contributes to growth and its deterioration. THE shoulder pain It is one of the most common and most annoying, as it can keep us awake or appear as soon as we wake up and seriously disturb our daily lives.
“One night with a bad sleep, an uncomfortable shoulder positioning for many hours caused occasional pain a breakfast is not a worrying event. However, if these episodes are daily it is preferable to investigate the cause as soon as possible, as the wrong position of the upper limb at bedtime can permanently harm shoulder joints or exacerbate joint diseases that could have a better run, “warns Orthopedic surgeon Dr., Director of the Orthopedic Clinic of Upper Limb at the Athens Medical Center and Ostthopedic & Spine Clinic.
It is certain that repeated shoulder pain against or after sleeping is not caused without cause. There are many people who sleep on the side, who is considered an aggravating attitude, without ever aching.
Although it may be due to diseases such as diabetes, Thyroid disorders and Parkinson’s diseasethe most common causes are shoulder rotation injury, shoulder folliculitis, shoulder impact syndrome, frozen shoulder and osteoarthritis in the joint. These diseases occur more frequently in older people and those who have a family history.
In addition to the pain that may be severe, especially when lifting the hand, some symptoms common to these diseases after bedtime are the inability to extend the hand, retaining objects, normal shoulder movement, and even the difficulty of performing routine tasks.
“Pain in the glue joint is the third most common musculoskeletal problem, with shoulder spinning tendonitis being the most common cause of its challenge. Sleeping position is a risk factor for its development – not just an indication of damage. Studies have proven, through measurements of hypromery pressures during the most frequent sleeping postures, that the lower pressures receive the shoulder when the person sleeps on the back and the highest when sleeping on the side, more when the hands are high, or when sleeping face.
One of the latest studies that proved it was published in the journal Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation. He found that there was a significant relationship between sleeping on the side and shoulder rotation ruptures. Scholars found that 89.7% of patients preferred the lateral bed and sleep position, “he said.
The rotational horseshoe It is a set of four muscles and their corresponding tendons that are an integral part of the normal function of the glory joint. Injuries are common in the general population, with prevalence ranging between 6% and 39%, which is even greater in people over 50 years of age. Some studies show that ruptures exceed 50% in people over 80 years.
Diagnosis of the disease is performed by high precision and sensitivity tests – magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound imaging, which can show ruptures of partial or total thickness. Only a small percentage of ruptures are cured – over time the majority of incidents are deteriorating.
Conservative treatment is the first option for partial ruptures, which is in taking with the patient analgesic and anti -inflammatory drugs in combination with physiotherapy and muscle strengthening. If the symptoms do not improve or worsen, then the only path of treatment is the staple of arthroscopic tendons (not with open surgery), as this ensures faster recovery, the patient loses less blood and experience less pain.
“Those who sleep on the side, face down or back with their hands above the head are more likely to develop or worsen shoulder damage. The best sleep posture is supine. Many people, however, find it extremely uncomfortable – they often can’t even fall asleep. But everything can be overcome with perseverance and effort.
“There are mattresses where it is easier to sleep on back, maybe adding an anatomical pillow to the neck. To avoid back pain and better spine support, it is sufficient to place a pillow under the knees.
Another solution is for patients to sleep in a more upright position, placing a small pillow between the shoulder blades, a good pillow that offers adequate neck support and, when there is enough space, one in each hand. Thus, the pressures exerted on the shoulders are minimized and at the same time patients, having a pillow on each side, are gradually learning not to turn to the side when they fall asleep.
The supine sleep posture is ideal for any shoulder pain, but also for those recovering from surgery in that joint.
Those who have a diagnosed condition and cannot sleep on their backs despite their efforts, there is the solution to turn to the side with a healthy shoulder on the mattress and placing 1-2 pillows in the arms to naturally touch the hand that hurts them, ”concludes Dr. Pantos.