Sleep: we all know it's essential for function in everyday life, and plays an important role in recovery and managing musculoskeletal pain. How much did you learn about assessing and managing sleep dysfunction in your musculoskeletal degree program?

Today, Dr Mark Shepherd (Bellin College) shares practical tips to help you assess sleep, identify common sleep disorders, and incorporate behavioural strategies into your musculoskeletal rehabilitation practice.

------------------------------

RESOURCES

Clinician's guide to assessing and addressing sleep dysfunction in people with musculoskeletal pain: https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/josptopen.2025.0198

Spine pain and sleep study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35642567/

UK Biobank study on predictors of persistent pain: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37414898/

Systematic review on lack of sleep measures: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37259893/

APTA position paper on the PT’s role in sleep health: https://www.apta.org/apta-and-you/leadership-and-governance/policies/role-pt-apta-sleep-health

DPT students and sleep behaviours: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39425093/