Chiropractic Benefits for Abnormal Sleeping Patterns

Disturbed sleep can affect your daily life in many ways, and abnormal sleeping patterns are not always easy to treat with sleep medication, herbal remedies or lifestyle changes. Some researchers suggest that chiropractic therapy may be helpful in treating people with abnormal sleeping patterns, and may especially beneficial for young children who continue to experience severely disrupted sleep.

 

A case study published in the July 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (JCCP) documented the effects of chiropractic therapy on a nine-month old infant girl who had a history of abnormal sleeping patterns. The infant would sleep about 14 hours per day, but was very fussy and woke up frequently throughout her sleep cycle. A chiropractor examined her and found that several subluxations were present. The subluxations were making it difficult for her to move her head to the left, and she was crying often because of pain in her neck. A series of adjustments were performed, and after the first adjustment, the baby girl fell asleep for five hours straight. Her sleep patterns improved dramatically as treatment continued. (Source: ChiropracticResearch.org)

Children and adults alike can experience a number of symptoms of disrupted sleep, and in some cases, they will not realize that the discomfort, pain and anxiety they are experiencing throughout the day is a side effect of poor sleep. Some of the key signs of abnormal sleeping patterns include:

 

Sleep problems may also be caused by sleep apnea where your breathings tops for a short period of time while you are sleeping. In some cases, chiropractic therapy can help to clear up the airways and improve your ability to breathe deeply.

Chiropractic adjustments can help to clear up energy blockages throughout the body and increase circulation to taut and tired muscles, thereby encouraging deeper relaxation naturally. Since chiropractic therapy can help to reduce stress and induce muscle relaxation, it may help to encourage deeper, more restful sleep on a nightly basis. This can reduce the need for naps throughout the day and improve the mood.

 

Frederick R. Carrick, DC, PhD and president of the ACA Council on Neurology points out that, “Because sleep disturbances are a nervous-system modulated event, the whole system needs to be considered…sleep disorders are prevalent and often disabling, but most are diagnosable and effectively treatable using chiropractic applications.” (Source: Journal of the American Chiropractic Association, 2001)

 

If you are noticing some of the signs and symptoms of poor sleep, make an appointment with a chiropractor in your area to find out if you may be a good candidate for chiropractic therapy. Chiropractic treatments combined with nutritional supplements and dietary modifications may help you enjoy deeper, more restful sleep on a nightly basis and improve your overall health.