Sleep, the secret to injury recovery

Getting too little sleep can have serious health consequences. We’ve all felt the effects of sleep deprivation like having difficulty focusing or feeling a little irritable. But, consistently getting too little rest severely impacts your health. This includes links to hypertension, diabetes, depression and decreased immune system function.

It also inhibits your body’s ability to recover from injury. Growth hormone that stimulates tissue growth and muscle repair is secreted from the pituitary gland during deep sleep. If the amount or quality of rest is decreased, the release of growth hormone declines, limiting muscle healing.

Interestingly, there are studies linking fewer hours of sleep with increased rates of injuries in junior high and high school athletes. So, adequate sleep not only helps you recover from injury, but it may play an important role in injury prevention as well!

So, what is an adequate amount of rest? The National Sleep Foundation recommends between 7-9 hours a night for the average adult. Of course this varies slightly from person to person, but the key is consistency. One night of missed sleep will likely have few side effects, but cumulatively, you will negatively impact your health.

How should you go about getting a good night’s rest? Here’s a great infographic that covers the basics.

And if you want all the key points about sleep in one place, this is the infographic for you!

If you’re having difficulty recovering from an injury, examine your sleep habits and patterns. Put the electronics away at night, avoid caffeine and establish a routine. It may be just the thing you need to fully heal. Your body will thank you!