To sleep tight you should sleep right.

Abstract

The impact of environmental context and lifestyle to our health is crucial. Balancing physical activity and rest, especially sleep, is the key to healthier ageing and greater functional capacity. Humans spend about 1/3 of their lives sleeping, usually in the recumbent position. Favourable sleeping environment is not only a quiet place but also an adjustable sleep system may hold one of the keys to sleep right and tight. All systems deteriorate with ageing, and the vascular system is particularly affected, which in turn aggravates the natural limitations that occur in the musculoskeletal system. In this paper we will see why sleeping system should be addressed to meet the increased impairment of the musculoskeletal system and the sleep function. The age-related decrease in vascular function affects all body systems, and also exposes the musculoskeletal system to greater risk factors for chronic pain conditions. Changes occurs also in sleep architecture, the decreasing shifting of positions while asleep, the adoption of side lying and less posture options due to health conditions alone are some of the risk factors for sustained compression on all the musculoskeletal structures, particularly in the side of the body in contact with the bed. Shoulders and hips are the regions of the body that suffer greater pressure and impaired blood perfusion. Musculoskeletal conditions and sleep disorders in the United States alone affect about 50%of the 126.6 million American adults; about 40% of those subjects who suffer from low back/neck pain, sustain pain and sleep disturbances despite analgesic treatment. Women are more susceptible to these complaints, especially those with more prominent body contours, or frail people with severe muscle atrophy. Ageing increases the demand for a better contextual environment, not only during activity but also at rest and especially during sleep. This paper based on the records of a case-series study of 19 subjects focusing only on paraesthesia and comorbid insomnia and their evolution with the systematic application of a customised topper.