The importance of sleep in recovery and the role of a pressure care mattress.

In the last article we spoke about Pressure Injuries and how a Pressure Care Mattress can help prevent pressure injuries and provide support and comfort. We touched briefly on the types of mattresses (Air and Foam) and the benefits of each. In this article we will focus on the importance of sleep, its role in healing, and benefits for physical and mental health. We will also look at why it’s vital that quality of sleep is a determining factor in choosing a pressure care mattress.

Although repositioning and pressure-relieving devices are crucial for preventing and managing pressure injuries in immobile individuals, the vital role of sleep in the healing process is frequently underestimated and neglected.

During sleep, the body cycles through stages. Initially, muscles relax, and then heart rate and body temperature decrease. In the stage of deep sleep, blood flow increases, and growth hormones are released. These growth hormones help with muscle repair and growth. Without adequate deep sleep, growth hormone levels drop, impeding the body’s ability to heal.

Adequate sleep also significantly reduces stress by lowering cortisol levels and enhances overall mood, creating a positive cycle where improved mental health supports physical health and recovery.

During times of sleep, our sleep patterns continue to cycle, and although the duration of sleep stages will vary per individual and potentially per night depending on a range of factors. The more hours spent asleep equals higher growth hormone levels thanks to more deep sleep phases. A body allowed to fully rest and heal is crucial for injury recovery.

Sleep has a major and important role in the recovery of pressure injuries in three major areas, tissue repair, pain management and immune support.

Tissue repair – When you don’t get enough deep sleep, the body’s ability to repair itself is compromised. Deep sleep is when the body releases growth hormones promoting tissue repair and wound healing. Consequently, insufficient sleep impedes these vital processes, potentially leading to delayed recovery and increased complications. (Parsons, 2019).

Pain management – By diminishing inflammation and fostering natural pain relief and enhancing the brains’ ability to regulate pain signals, restorative sleep plays a vital role in recovery.

Immune support – Quality sleep strengthens the immune system by increasing the activity of crucial cells like T-cells and cytokines, both critical components of the body’s defense against infection and the body’s ability to heal.

When choosing a pressure care mattress, the focus really needs to be on the quality of care for an individual from a holistic perspective.

A focus on optimising sleep for healing is being recognised as a fundamental element of clinical care. Effective sleep strategies are essential for patient care and improving pressure injury recovery. As always, individual needs will vary, and equipment and support must be tailored to provide the best care and assistance because – getting it right matters!

References: Parsons, 2019; Sutton et al., 2021; Irwin, 2019.