The Critical Role of Sleep in Pressure Injury Healing

Pressure injuries are a significant concern for individuals who are immobile or bedridden for extended periods. These injuries can lead to severe pain, disrupt sleep, and increase the risk of infection, all of which severely affect a person’s quality of life. While pressure injury prevention and management typically focus on physical interventions such as repositioning, proper nutrition, and pressure-relieving devices, sleep is an often-overlooked yet crucial factor in the healing process.

We believe that taking a holistic approach to pressure injury management is essential, considering both the physical aspects of care and the environmental factors that support recovery. This includes ensuring that individuals with pressure injuries have access to restorative sleep. Sleep plays a vital role in everything from immune function to tissue repair, making it essential for optimising pressure injury healing.

Why Sleep is So Important in Pressure Injury Healing

Research conducted by industry experts, including Care of Sweden , has highlighted the biological connection between sleep and the body’s ability to heal. Here are some key reasons why sleep is indispensable in the healing process of pressure injuries.

1. Sleep and Tissue Repair

One of the most important processes that occur during sleep is tissue repair. During the deeper stages of sleep, the body produces growth hormones that stimulate the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues, including those affected by pressure injuries. Studies have shown that inadequate sleep can impair wound healing, prolonging recovery times and increasing the risk of complications (Parsons, 2019). Ensuring proper sleep helps promote the body's natural healing processes and accelerates recovery.

2. Pain Management

Pressure injuries are often associated with significant pain, which can interfere with both daily functioning and recovery. Inadequate sleep can exacerbate pain, making it more difficult for individuals to cop, whereas restorative sleep helps reduce pain by decreasing inflammation and promoting the release of natural pain-relieving hormones, such as endorphins (Sutton et al., 2021). Ensuring that individuals with pressure injuries get sufficient quality sleep can improve their pain management and overall comfort, aiding in faster recovery.

3. Immune Function

A healthy immune system is crucial for preventing infection and supporting tissue repair in individuals with pressure injuries. Sleep has a significant impact on immune function by boosting the production of immune cells, such as T-cells and cytokines, which help fight infection and promote healing (Irwin, 2019). Poor sleep weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of wound infections that can slow the healing process. Ensuring adequate sleep helps strengthen the body’s immune response, which is essential for faster recovery.

How to Ensure Restorative Sleep for Pressure Injury Healing

Given the importance of sleep in healing, it is essential to implement strategies and technologies that promote undisturbed and restorative rest for individuals with pressure injuries.

1. Pulsation Mode for Comfort and Stability

Care of Sweden’s Pulsation Mode technology, designed for pressure-relieving mattresses, can help improve sleep quality for individuals with pressure injuries. This mode creates alternating cycles across air cells to provide stable, even support, which reduces excessive movement and pressure fluctuations during sleep. By maintaining comfort and stability, Pulsation Mode helps users sleep more restfully, supporting tissue repair and accelerating recovery.

2. Quiet and Comfortable Environment

A quiet, comfortable sleep environment is crucial for promoting restorative sleep. Care of Sweden’s Air Flow Control? system, which reuses air to operate quietly and intermittently, reduces noise and creates a more peaceful atmosphere). Minimising environmental distractions such as noise or discomfort can significantly improve sleep quality, allowing the body to rest and heal more effectively.

Sleep is an essential component of pressure injury healing, playing a vital role in tissue repair, pain management, immune function, and overall well-being. Ensuring adequate, undisturbed sleep accelerates the physical recovery process and helps the body manage the pain and stress that often accompany pressure injuries. By prioritising sleep alongside other physical interventions, caregivers and healthcare providers can significantly improve recovery outcomes for individuals with pressure injuries. Ensuring access to quality sleep is not only a key factor in managing pressure injuries but also in promoting overall health and healing.

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Learn more at www.juvo.com.au.

References

Care of Sweden. (2024). Pulsation Mode and Air Flow Control? system. Retrieved from www.careofsweden.com

Irwin, M. R. (2019). Sleep and inflammation: Partners in health and disease. Journal of Sleep Research, 28(6), e12958. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.12958

Parsons, D. R., Hill, P. J., & Rose, P. (2019). The role of sleep in wound healing and tissue repair. Wound Practice and Research, 27(1), 5-11. https://doi.org/10.33235/wpr.27.1.5-11

Sutton, E. F., Suri, R., & Lee, T. (2021). Sleep, pain, and healing: The impact of rest on recovery from pressure injuries. Clinical Journal of Pain, 37(4), 235-241. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000001069

Van Cauter, E.(2000). "The effects of sleep and sleep deprivation on the growth hormone response to stimulation." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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Krueger, J. M. (2008). "Sleep as a fundamental building block of health." Journal of Sleep Research.

Irwin, M. R. (2009). "Sleep deprivation and inflammation: evidence from a human study." JAMA.

Eisenberger, N. I (2010). "The influence of sleep on pain perception and recovery." Pain.

Dinges, D. F., et al. (2004). "Sleep and recovery: implications for healing and recovery from trauma." The American Journal of Physiology.