World Sleep Day is an annual event organized by the World Sleep Society. The day is designed to raise awareness of sleep as a human privilege that is often compromised by the habits of modern life. The theme of the 2021 Day is Regular Sleep, Healthy Future.
Ample evidence suggests that sleep and pain are associated with each other. Disturbed sleep is a key complaint of people experiencing acute and chronic pain. The relationship seems to work in two ways – poor sleep can be associated with the development or worsening of pain, or having pain can be associated with developing poor sleep.
There is moderate evidence that exercise training and relaxation in the form of breathing or cognitive behavioural therapy can help improve sleep in people with pain. The European Pain Federation’s ‘On The Move’ campaign has extensive resources to help people participate in more exercise/physical activity.
To access detailed resources on how to improve one’s sleep, please visit the World Sleep Day website at https://worldsleepday.org/usetoolkit/resources
