Sleep Issues After a Brain Injury? Here’s How Physiotherapy Can Help
Struggling with sleep after a brain injury? You’re not alone. Sleep issues are common among people recovering from a brain injury, whether it’s difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or simply feeling rested. Lack of quality sleep can make recovery even harder, affecting mood, focus, and overall energy levels. But here’s some good news: Brain injury physiotherapy in Edmonton can help improve sleep patterns and promote better rest.
Physiotherapists work with individuals to address physical and neurological factors that may be contributing to poor sleep. In this post, we’ll explore how targeted therapy can make a difference, helping you get the rest your body and brain need for healing.
Why Do Brain Injuries Affect Sleep?
After a brain injury—whether from a concussion, stroke, or other traumatic event—your brain’s natural processes that regulate sleep can get disrupted. These changes can lead to various sleep issues, including difficulty falling asleep, fragmented sleep, frequent awakenings, and daytime sleepiness. These disruptions can cause ongoing brain fog, mood swings, and slower recovery, making it essential to address sleep as part of a comprehensive brain rehab plan.
How Physiotherapy Helps Improve Sleep After a Brain Injury?
Brain injury physiotherapy in Edmonton takes a holistic approach to recovery, addressing the physical and cognitive aspects of healing. Our therapists work with you to improve sleep quality through targeted techniques, exercises, and lifestyle adjustments. Here’s how physiotherapy can help:
Nervous System Regulation
Physiotherapy incorporates techniques that help calm the nervous system, making it easier for you to fall and stay asleep. After a brain or head injury, your body might remain in a heightened stress state, which disrupts sleep. Our team uses manual therapy, deep breathing exercises, and guided relaxation techniques to help bring your nervous system back into balance, promoting a more restful night’s sleep.
Pain and Muscle Tension Relief
Pain, headaches, and neck tension are common after a brain injury and can make it difficult to relax. Our therapists use gentle mobilizations, stretching, and manual therapy techniques to relieve muscle tension and alleviate pain. By reducing physical discomfort, physiotherapy can help you sleep better, allowing your brain to rest and recover more effectively.
Establishing a Routine and maintaining good Sleep Hygiene
Sleep issues often require structured routines to improve over time. Our therapists work with you to establish a daily routine that supports regular sleep cycles, including setting consistent sleep and wake times, practicing good sleep hygiene, and incorporating brain exercises during the day. These adjustments help retrain your brain and body to follow a healthier sleep pattern, leading to better sleep quality and more energy.
Brain Exercises for Cognitive Rehabilitation
Quality sleep is necessary for cognitive function, and lack of it can worsen symptoms like brain fog, memory problems, and concentration issues. Brain injury physiotherapy includes brain exercises designed to stretch cognitive skills such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. These exercises not only help with mental clarity but also support brain health by encouraging neuroplasticity—your brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself. Improved cognitive function during the day often translates to better sleep at night.
Exercise: Memory Recall
How to Do It: Start by looking at a group of 5-10 everyday items (like a pen, key, coin, etc.) for one minute. Then, cover them or turn away, and try to recall each item. As you get better, increase the number of items or reduce the time you get to look at them.
Exercise for Better Brain Health
Physical activity is mandatory for brain health and can significantly improve sleep quality. Our physiotherapy sessions include gentle aerobic exercises, stretching, and balance exercises to boost blood flow to the brain, release endorphins, and reduce stress levels. This physical activity primes your body for sleep, making it easier to fall asleep through the night.
Exercise: Gentle Walking with Coordination Steps
How to Do It: Take a 10-minute walk at a comfortable pace. Every couple of minutes, add a coordination challenge, like crossing one foot over the other for a few steps or swinging your arms in a larger motion.
Breathing Exercises and Mindfulness
Mindfulness and breathing exercises are simple but effective techniques used in brain rehab to help manage stress and improve sleep quality. Diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscle relaxation will help slow down racing thoughts, preparing you for restful sleep. These exercises are especially beneficial if anxiety or stress post-injury is making it hard for you to relax at night.
Exercise: Diaphragmatic Breathing
How to Do It: Sit or lie comfortably and place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly. Breathe slowly through your nostril, allowing your belly to rise as you fill your lungs. Exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat for 5-10 breaths, focusing on the movement of your belly.
Addressing Brain Fog Through Physiotherapy
Brain fog—characterized by mental fatigue, lack of focus, and memory issues—is a common issue following a brain injury, often worsened by poor sleep. Our physiotherapists address brain fog by incorporating cognitive exercises that stimulate brain function, improve focus, and reduce mental fatigue. By enhancing brain health through targeted activities, brain injury physiotherapy in Edmonton helps you feel more alert and clear-headed during the day, which in turn supports better sleep at night.
Ready to Improve Your Sleep and Recovery?
At In Step Physical Therapy, our brain injury physiotherapy is designed to support your journey to better sleep, brain health, and overall recovery after a head injury. Sleep issues like difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling groggy and unfocused can slow down healing and lead to symptoms like brain fog. Don’t let lingering sleep issues hold back your recovery. Reach out to In Step Physical Therapy to learn how our specialized brain injury physiotherapy in Edmonton can help improve your sleep patterns, boost brain health, and get you feeling more like yourself again. Contact us today to book an appointment and take the next step toward restful nights and a clearer, healthier mind!