Secrets about posture and physical therapy you should know: Exclusive webinar with Leticia Castañeda

“For quality sleep, we must address all the factors that could be disturbing it.”

This was confirmed by Mexican physiotherapist Leticia Castañeda, spokesperson for Theramart and creator of the Instagram account Fisioterapia Sin Mitos .

The expert joined a Facebook webinar organized by Theramart to discuss sleep hygiene and bedridden patients. During the meeting, she emphasized the importance of both good posture and a suitable pillow.

The physiotherapist commented that sleep problems could have a wide variety of causes , both psychological (stress, anxiety) and physical (apnea, injuries) and even bad habits (watching television before bed or not having defined sleep schedules).

Sleeping positions and their relationship with sleep

"We wake up in the night for two reasons: either we're tired of the same position or something hurts." This, he said, is due to a lack of adequate support, such as pillows, mattresses, and cushions .

"They should be comfortable, have sufficient durability, be cool, allow for good joint alignment, and avoid excessive pressure on the joints," he noted.

In this sense, Theramart has developed technology capable of offering quality rest. Both its pillows and mattresses and cushions are made to standards that contribute to better sleep, thanks to their ergonomics, freshness, durability, and comfort .

 "The ideal pillow is one that feels comfortable to you. To do this, it's important to educate yourself about its features or consult a healthcare professional to recommend the pillow that's best for you," the expert commented.

And when it comes to sleeping positions, Leticia recommended pillows that allow for proper spinal alignment, like the Theracurve Pillow , which offers just that . It features a pleated texture whose design helps relieve head pain and tension.

The patient's posture in bed

Leticia Castañeda also spoke about those people who, due to a health condition, spend most of their time in bed . The postures these patients should adopt, she said, are similar to those of a normal person. However, it is important to change posture approximately every two hours.

"Therefore, the props we use must be strong enough to maintain the position ; and at the same time, soft and conforming enough so there is no excess pressure on the edges of the joints," he suggested.

The consequences of not doing it correctly range from joint difficulty and pain to pressure ulcers and joint deformities.

In this regard, the expert recommended a series of aids that can help the bedridden patient:

• Articulating beds. According to Leticia, this device can help change the patient's posture. Within the Theramart family, for example, there are adjustable beds like the Theravita Bed (with a solid construction and ultra-quiet motor).
• Anti-bedsore mattresses. “They are placed on the bed mattress, and their shape allows air to pass through. This helps a lot with moisture and distributes pressure, which would prevent pressure ulcers,” the physical therapist noted. Theramart has a wide range of anti-bedsore mattresses, with an ergonomic structure and support, that dissipate heat and have a waterproof cover, and whose layers would prevent the appearance of bedsores. Some examples are the Theratrio Mattress (with three layers of foam), the Theragel Mattress (made of breathable material and elastic bands), the Therafoam Mattress (a hypoallergenic, zero-friction cover), the Therazona Mattress (with polyurethane foam and a grooved design), the Multifoam Mattress (with an isometric design and heel support), and the Theradays Mattress (with multiple comfort zones that redistribute pressure).
• Crotch cushion. They feature a curve that reduces joint pressure. The Therafix Cushion has an anatomical design that adapts to the body, a breathable mesh, and a design that helps restore alignment to the knees, hips, and spine. "I recommend that it be particularly cool because it would go between the thighs, which is an area where heat accumulates."
• Pillows that maintain temperature and humidity control. "In addition to allowing the pillow to breathe, some patients secrete saliva while sleeping, and that moisture stays inside. So, I recommend a pillow that isn't as permeable," Leticia commented. For these cases, a pillow like Therafreeze could be ideal. In addition to its non-stick cover, it absorbs heat from the skin and dynamically recycles it , thanks to its temperature control and continuous airflow, providing maximum freshness.

The importance of sleep

During the webinar, Leticia took the opportunity to share with the audience "The 10 Commandments of Sleep Hygiene for Adults," created by the World Sleep Society.

Some of these include not smoking, avoiding caffeine before bed, not exercising before bed , wearing comfortable clothes while sleeping, and eliminating distractions, among others.

Another commandment refers to sleeping temperature. Sometimes pillows get hot and prevent people from sleeping.

Hence the importance of a pillow that offers both freshness and comfort . The Theragel Pillow , for example, offers complete muscle relaxation during sleep and a much deeper rest .

This is possible thanks to a gel cover that keeps it at the perfect temperature and facilitates air circulation , as well as a hypoallergenic cover for healthy sleep.

Quality of sleep, quality of life

Quality sleep can bring broad benefits to humans , from improving attention and consciousness to maintaining a healthy weight and even promoting cell regeneration and emotional health. Hence the importance of discussing the topic.

Since the patient is bedridden, the measures to be taken to improve his quality of life have to do with the accessories used for his rest , from the pillow to the cushion, the mattress and the bed.

Posture, both while sleeping and during the day, is another important factor, especially nowadays, when many people spend several hours sitting.

“I often tell my patients, 'The best posture is the one that lasts the shortest .' That is, it's best for the person to be moving. If they have to spend eight hours sitting at work, they should get up every hour, walk around for a while, or do a short exercise routine.”

Regarding a more serious problem, Leticia recommended consulting a health specialist for a personal assessment of the case.

If you haven't seen it yet, don't miss Leticia Castañeda's seminar with Theramart, which we've posted above. It's sure to be very helpful in improving your rest and sleep.