Does Sleep Help Heal Injuries?

Athletes and active folks alike have probably wondered, does sleep help heal injuries? After stepping off the field or ending an intense workout session, we’ve always been told to “cool down” with stretches and deep breathing to benefit our bodies — or, in the case of serious injuries, undergo physical therapy to restore our strength and hopefully get off the bench. 

Well, it turns out that physical therapy, medications, and stretching aren’t the only helpful forms of injury recovery. Sleep and injury recovery go hand-in-hand, and the mattress experts at Texas Mattress Makers are here to explain why and how a supportive mattress can help you bounce back from injuries faster. 

Is sleep important for healing injuries?

In our article “Is Beauty Sleep Real?”, we explain how sleep is essential for your body’s organ functionality. Just as your brain needs sleep to operate, your muscles, bones, and tendons also need that resting period to perform properly. 

The science behind sleep and injury recovery

Sleep is a crucial part of the injury recovery process. Throughout the night, our bodies go into different stages of sleep where certain processes take place. 

• Stage 1: Stage 1 of NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the stage in which we fall asleep, our muscles begin to relax. 
• Stage 2: Also known as N2, in stage 2 of NREM sleep our body temperature drops and our heart rate slows. 
• Stage 3: Also known as N3, the final stage of NREM is when our bodies begin the restorative process. 
• Stage 4: REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, while REM sleep is not linked to increased energy or healing, it is important for cognitive function. 

During N3, the deep NREM sleep, there is an increase in oxygen and blood flow to your muscles as well as the release of growth hormones that work to repair the muscle tissue and promote cell regeneration. This can only be achieved during a deep sleep due to your brain’s dormancy during this time. Our brains are kind of energy hogs during the day, so the body takes advantage of sleep in order to give other resources to other organs and muscles. 

Without proper sleep, your body won’t be able to send the proper nutrients to your muscles which can result in a slower recovery from your injuries or muscle damage. 

Why your mattress matters for injury recovery

Does sleep help heal injuries? Yes, but only if you are sleeping on the right mattress. We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again, no other sleep habits matter if you do not have the proper foundation. In other words, sleep and muscle recovery cannot happen if your mattress is not properly supporting your body or providing the right amount of cushion for your pressure points. 

Therefore, it is crucial that you invest in a mattress that is high-quality and made with you in mind. 

What is the best mattress for muscle recovery?

Contrary to what other online retailers will claim, there is not one best mattress for muscle recovery. The mattress that will help you heal and recover properly is a mattress that has the proper comfort and support components suitable for your unique needs. 

Your perfect mattress will depend on your body type, your sleep preferences (sleeping position), and any other circumstances that can affect your sleep quality. If you are an athlete or someone who is active on a daily basis, we would recommend certain components to help aid in both your sleep and muscle recovery. 

For example, our Comfort and Individually Wrapped Coil components are made with innovative technologies that add durability and softness to the mattress so that your injuries won’t keep you up at night. The individually fabric-wrapped coils move independently and respond with more accuracy to different areas of your body for muscle relief and motion isolation, making them a great choice for those who lead active lifestyles.

If you’d like to see our selection of these mattresses, visit the link below. You can also view our expert mattress recommendations that our mattress experts have hand-selected.

Sleep Better, Recover Faster

Shop Mattresses for Sports Injuries

Find Your Perfect Mattress for Injury Recovery With Texas Mattress Makers

So, does sleep help heal injuries? Yes, it absolutely does. Quality sleep and injury recovery cannot exist without one another, so take a look at your current mattress and ask yourself if it is helping you get the best sleep possible to help you maintain peak performance.  

Whether you’re searching for the best mattress for lower back and leg pain or wondering if mattress coil count matters, our experts are here to help you find your perfect mattress match. With our expertise and wide selection of handcrafted mattresses, you can sleep better and recover faster. 

Visit our mattress stores in Katy, Downtown Houston, The Woodlands, Rosenberg, Humble, and Baybrook, TX for the best mattress deals in Houston.

More Helpful Articles by Texas Mattress Makers:

• Bad Mattress Symptoms 
• What to Look for in a Mattress
• Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain
• How to Find the Best Mattress for Hip Pain
• How to Choose a Mattress for Your Body Type