Sleep Health

Sleep health has been described as a multidimensional pattern of sleep/wakefulness, adapted to individual, social, and environmental demands, that promotes physical and mental well-being. Good sleep is characterized by subjective satisfaction, appropriate timing, adequate duration, high efficiency, and sustained alertness during waking hours. The Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine emphasizes the role of sleep in overall health. Some sleep experts estimate disordered sleep as responsible for more morbidity and mortality in the United Sates than cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions combined.

From the standpoint of sleep’s influence on performance, it’s been shown that less than six hours of sleep overnight is associated with decreased time to physical exhaustion, reduced aerobic output, reduced peak and sustained muscle strength, impaired metabolic capabilities, and increased injury risk. As a Sports Neurologist, Dr. Williams is particularly concerned with the ways that impaired sleep affects the glymphatic system, which clears toxins from the brain and contributes to neurological restoration, efficiency, and performance.

As such, Dr. Williams and the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine provide access to a comprehensive sleep and fatigue management system. Dr. Williams and his team assess and review the major factors contributing to individual sleep efficiency:

• Lifestyle Decisions
• Environmental and Occupational Circumstances
• Each Individual’s Unique Biology

The Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine is the first in the nation to apply a unique, machine learning and artificial intelligence system (validated by over a decade of research) in the clinical setting. Athletes, clients, and patients complete a tablet-based series of questionnaires that results in accurate diagnoses of sleep disorders with close to 95% accuracy as compared to formal polysomnography. The program is also very effective at identifying behavioral and mood disorders. This technology allows for the assessment of individuals, small groups, or entire teams efficiently. Other assessment techniques include medical grade Actigraphy, and referral for formal sleep studies, if indicated. Dr. Williams also has access to the Fatigue Avoidance Scheduling Tool, (developed for military use and which has been used in a number of industries to assess predicted fatigue-related effects on performance). Armed with these powerful datapoints, Dr. Williams is able to advise individual athletes, clients, patients, and other key stakeholders (such as team coaching or strength and conditioning staff, as well as logistics personnel) with actionable information.

With a menu of options shown to be effective in improving disordered sleep, ranging from instruction in sleep hygiene, brain-training for autonomic quieting (with mindfulness meditation and/or biofeedback), and cognitive-behavioral therapies, pharmacologic recommendations using over the counter supplementation, or prescription medications, as well as providing access to sleep specialist consultants, patients and clients can rest assured that they are on the road to an improved night’s sleep, better health, and enhanced performance on the field or in the office.

Sleep health and optimization of sleep efficiency may be the most effective intervention an individual can make to optimize performance. Dr. Williams and his Center is poised to assist individuals and organizations in the critical aspect of health and performance.