A good sleep can beat back pain – thanks to 24-hour clock in spine

IF you want to avoid a bad back, try getting a good night’s sleep.

Scientists have discovered that our spinal discs have a 24-hour body clock that can cause debilitating pain when it gets out of synch.

More than 80 per cent of Britons suffer from back pain during their lives – and the finding suggests nightshift workers could be particularly prone.

It also suggests painkillers may be more effective at certain times of the day.

The body clock – or circadian rhythm – is a 24-hour cycle in the physiological processes of humans, animals and plants.

Previous research has linked problems with the cycle to cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity – but this is the first to show a connection to back pain.

Ageing and inflammation are major causes of disc degeneration and lower back pain and the study found both cause body-clock malfunction.

The researchers said getting a good night’s sleep would protect the body clock and help to avoid disc problems later in life.

Avoiding night shifts – or working fixed hours rather than a flexible rota – will also help.

Dr Qing-Jun Meng, of Manchester University, said: ‘It’s been known for years that, as a consequence of the daily activity and resting cycle, we are taller in the mornings by up to 2cm more than when we go to bed.

‘The discovery of body clocks in the disc may go some way to explain for the first time the science behind this rhythmic physiology of the spine. Our research shows this system is regulated by our internal body clock and when the body clock ceases to work properly during ageing or in shift workers, lower back pain is more likely. Looking after your body clock will help manage or delay the onset of your back pain.’ The research, reported in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, found a 24-hour body clock in the disc tissue of mice and in human disc cells.

Professor Judith Hoyland said: ‘If you remove the body clock from cells in the disc in mice, within six months degeneration is very noticeable and the disc is thinner by 20 to 30 per cent. Within 12 months we found evidence of fibrosis – the thickening and scarring of connective tissue prevalent in human degenerative discs.

‘This accelerated ageing of the disc in a “clockless” model indicates having a robust body clock will help slow down spinal ageing and associated spinal diseases.’ Dr Natalie Carter, of Arthritis Research UK, which funded the study, said: ‘This research is a significant breakthrough in our understanding of lower back pain.

‘Many people find that their symptoms get worse at certain times of the day and the results of this study reveal a likely biological basis to this effect.

‘Living in pain, day in and day out, can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, affecting their independence, mobility and ability to stay in work.

‘An exciting prospect is it may be possible to use this new information to improve treatments and pain relief for people affected by this debilitating condition.’