Various types of sleep disturbance due to different sorts of low back pain: A literature review: 4: Mechanisms and theories as to how back pathology might cause sleep disturbance

Abstract

Aim: This is the fourth and last part of a series of literature reviews, which seek to find out whether different types of sleep disturbance can be caused by different sorts of back pain. Here in Part 4 we show how researchers have assumed, speculated, or theorized upon the mechanisms whereby back problems can cause sleep disturbance. Methods: The same search of Medline, Embase, Psycinfo, and the OVID journals databases using the keywords ‘low back pain’ and ‘sleep’ was used as in the previous reviews. Results: It was difficult to synthesize a unified theory of back pain insomnia from the available literature. This was mainly because few researchers have tried to distinguish different sorts of back pain. This has resulted in an inability to compare for their different response to banishing the vertical gravitational forces on adopting the horizontal posture and the other phenomena associated with quiet repose. Though the introduction or discussion section of published articles might have permitted more speculation on relevant mechanisms, most authors have limited their propositions to the data collected. Discussion: Some of the more interesting observations on the matter of back pain insomnia found in the literature are presented.