Discover ways for you to start getting better sleep.
August 15, 2013
This was the first report to compare sleep duration and sleep-related problems in adults living in the United States. For adults older than age 20, 23.2 percent—or 49.2 million people—reported lack of sleep affected their ability to concentrate on tasks; 18.2 percent—38.8 million people—reported it affected their ability to remember things throughout the day; and 13.3 percent—28.2 million people—reported having trouble pursuing leisure activities.
If this is an issue for you, there are several reasons why you might not be getting the best sleep. Some of those could include technological overload, stressing over a busy schedule full of visits with clients or stress caused by the lack of clients, and anxiety brought on by every day life. However, there are options and new ways for you to start getting better sleep.
Sometimes referred to as sound therapy, binaural beat therapy has been shown to improve sleep, decrease anxiety and deepen relaxation.
In 2001, researchers conducted a study titled “Use of Binaural Beat Tapes for Treatment of Anxiety” with 15 volunteers who suffered from moderate cases of anxiety.
Researchers had the volunteers listen to modulations that produced beats in the delta and theta frequency range five times for 30 minutes over a fourweek period. The volunteers kept journals to track how often they listened to the beats, how they felt, and which tone from the three tapes they liked the most.
What they found out from those 15 patients who listened to the tapes 10 to 17 times a week was that their levels of anxiety had decreased after the binaural beat sessions. Further, researchers discovered the majority of patients liked the tape with the most noticeable, drawn-out binaural arrangement.
A 2007 study titled “Binaural Beat Technology in Humans” focused on eight volunteers who had no mental or physical impairments and no significant problems with anxiety or stress. This group listened to a delta wave (also known as 0-4 hertz) for approximately two months.
After examining the participants’ notebooks, which individuals used to track their progress, researchers noted that participants saw improvements in life overall, fewer problems with anxiety, and their insulin and dopamine levels had also gone down.
Health & Wellness: The Role of Integrative Therapies
Dr. Helene Langevin discusses the role massage therapy plays in an integrated approach to care for chronic musculoskieletal pain.
Reading a Research Article
To stay current in the massage therapy profession, research literacy is essential. Learn to read, evaluate and critique research, and to adapt these skills to write your own article.