Concussions: Too Much Rest Can Be Detrimental
It is always troubling when our children have a fall or sports injury bad enough to receive a concussion.  Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to severe, and can affect the way the brain works. They can cause headaches, blurred vision, nausea or vomiting, sleepiness, or even loss of consciousness. When a concussion is present, the most common advice is to rest and recuperate, but for how long?
Many physicians, along with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommend rest at home for one or two days or until symptoms improve before going back to school and resuming regular activities. Other physicians recommend a much longer period of inactivity after a concussion. Still other doctors recommend what is known as “cocooining” wherein the child stays in a dark room for many days to recuperate. There is limited evidence to support any of the recommendations, so a comparison trial was performed to conclude which method is more effective.
Patients that went to a pediatric ED, that were between the ages 11-22 years old, and who were seen within 24 hours of a concussion were utilized in this trial. These 99 patients underwent the same assessments in the ED and were randomly assigned to either 1-2 days of rest with gradual return to activity, or strict rest for 5 days. Each patient recorded their activity levels (mental and physical) for each day, along with energy and symptoms. At 3 and 10 days, each patient was evaluated for neurocognitive functioning and balance.

Out of the 99 patients in the trial, 88 of them completed the full study. Both groups, strict rest versus minimal rest reported about 20% less energy and activity levels following the concussion. Those on strict rest reported less attendance at school from days 2-5 (as per doctor’s orders), and both groups were about equal in terms of neurocognitive functions and balance. Interestingly, those that were on stricter bed rest reported more symptoms of concussion than those with 1-2 days of rest, and they took longer to recover than those on light rest.
This study confirms the idea that resting too long is not beneficial for children with concussions. It is theorized that keeping a child with a concussion confined for too long causes them to dwell on the injury, thus making it take longer to recover. While those that rest less time recover faster, symptoms of concussions can still last up to 10 days. Mental activity, such as going to class or watching TV, should not be overdone, as it will also take longer to recover when mentally exhausted.
Sports medicine doctors see many patients with concussions, and 70% of them are caused by a sports injury. If a concussion is suspected, a patient should see a doctor or an orthopedist immediately. Recurring concussions over time has been known to cause Alzheimer’s, and other types of brain trauma as the athlete grows older. The best way to avoid a concussion is to keep the head and body protected as much as possible when performing activities.
If you or your child would like to undergo an evaluation by our sports medicine specialists, contact us at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego today.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Junior Galette over the past two weeks has been dealing with a knee injury.The five-year veteran played just 27 snaps in Monday’s game against the Chicago Bears, which he recorded two sacks and a forced fumble. It appears that he will continue to play in a limited role for the remainder of the season due to his injury.
Galette had suffered the injury just before halftime in the Saints’ 41-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 7. He returned to the game briefly in the third quarter, but he had a noticeable limp when attempted to tackle Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker on his 26-yard touchdown catch.
He has called the game plan for him to play a set number of snaps “smart” because he feels that his knee still isn’t 100 percent healed.
“Probably the same thing going into this game. Kind of ease off the knee a little bit,” Galette said. “Right now my knee’s not 100 percent. So just being smart and making sure I’m not playing 60 snaps on half a knee.”
This approach by Galette and New Orleans moving forward is one that is wisely on the side of caution, especially with a leg injury that has the potential to worsen if overused.

Knee injuries are common in the world of sports, which requires proper care and treatment to allow them to fully heal and prevent any further damage. The typical injuries that athletes usually suffer in relation to the knee are fractures, dislocations, sprains, and ligament tears.
In Galette’s case, he appears to have no structural damage to his knee, but there is still a probably chance that another injury can occur.
One type of cartilage injury that can take place is a meniscus tear, which is common in a contact sports such as football. The meniscus are the two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage that perform as the “shock absorbers” in the location between your thighbone and shinbone.
A tear in this area usually occurs when a player may be twisting, cutting, or pivoting their knee. This can also be the case when the knee receives direct contact in situations when the player is making a tackle.
The most common type of tears include longitudinal, parrot-beak, flap, bucket handle, and mixed/complex. These injuries often occur when a player also suffers a anterior cruciate ligament tear.
However, if Galette continues to have knee pain he can also go to route of knee arthroscopy. It is a surgical procedure in which the doctor makes a small incision that allows them to use a small camera to get a clear view of the inside of the knee. This helps the doctor to correctly diagnose and treat the injured knee(s).

That said, it will be best for the 26-year-old to remain on a limited snap count until his knee is completely pain free, which will likely be the case in the offseason. Galette may be tittering with possibly suffering a worse injury, but his limited role could go a long ways in maintaining the health of his knee and keep him on the field.
Junior Galette Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle – USA TODAY Sports
Meniscus Photo Credit: Inky Mouse Studios

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright played Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars despite having a metacarpal fracture in his right hand.
The injury occurred two weeks ago during a drill in practice which he slipped while running a route, and when he put two fingers on the ground to gather himself he suffered the injury.
He subsequently missed the following two games, and was required to wear a splint on his right hand. After an x-ray it was assessed that the injury will not require surgery to fix the bone.
It is an injury to the bone that is located at the level of the palm of the hand, which is primarily comprised of five long bones that are known as metacarpals. The metacarpal bones are in place to support the hand, and the end of the bones form the knuckles on the backside of the hand.
This type of injury typically occurs in falls, sports, fist fights, or car accidents. It also occasionally happens when there is direct impact to the hand or in Wright’s case a fall onto the fingers or thumb.
There are a few situations where surgery would be recommended such as if there are multiple fractures, or open fractures of the hand, or if the fracture pattern is inherently unstable. If the patient has an isolated metacarpal fracture, the orthopedic sports medicine specialist will determine if surgery is required to fix the injury by looking at two factors: length and rotation.

In terms of length, if the finger is shortened due to the fracture surgery would be required to return the finger back to normal size.  With regard to rotation, this can be assessed by the patient making a fist with the fractured hand. If the finger that has the fracture crosses other fingers when a fist is made, surgery would be required to fix the deformity; this is called scissoring.
The surgery to fix the ailment entails either the doctor using wires, plates or screws. The type of method of fixation depends on the particular type of fracture.
In Wright’s case he appears to have suffered an isolated fracture that doesn’t require surgery to repair the bone. He has stated that the bone is “pretty much intact” and is something that he can play through as long as he is able to keep his fingers together.
The 25-year-old was able to participate fully in practice this week and displayed that he can still catch the ball despite the injury. This coupled with reduced swelling and pain in the injured area resulted in him suiting up for the Titans’ Week 16 game against the Jaguars.
In the game, Wright didn’t wear a splint to protect the injury, and was quite productive with four catches for a team-leading 73 receiving yards. Following Thursday’s game, Wright didn’t state that the injury had worsened or bothered him more.

So in order for the third-year wide receiver to remain on the field as desires for the team’s season regular finale against the Indianapolis Colts, it will come down to his pain tolerance and if he can keep the swelling down.

If you have injured your hand or wrist, contact our sports medicine specialists at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego to undergo an evaluation.

Kendall Wright Photo Credit: Don McPeak – USA TODAY Sports

Several studies conducted in 2014 indicated that “super-short” workouts are effective in attaining health and fitness goals, the New York Times reported. Regular exercise helps prevent obesity, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. It also strengthens muscles and joints, resulting in less pain in their shoulders, hips and knees. People who work out and keep fit are much less likely to suffer a joint injury. One of last year’s studies revealed the benefits of a daily workout that begins with walking briskly for one minute, then strolling for a minute, and repeating the process six times. Research volunteers who did the exercise had better blood-sugar levels than others who instead took normal, 30-minute walks. The study, which a group of New Zealand researchers published in Diabetologia, featured nine men and women diagnosed with insulin resistance (which often leads to Type 2 diabetes). Each volunteer walked at a regular pace on a treadmill for one-half hour, completing the task 30 minutes before eating a meal. The scientists measured blood-sugar levels that day and the following day. Next, the participants engaged in three daily workouts that the researchers called “exercise snacks.” Alternating periods of fast and slow walking on treadmills were repeated six times. The study’s final stage entailed walking; then doing one minute of high-intensity upper-body resistance training with stretchy bands; and finishing by walking on the treadmills again. The volunteers performed this workout before each of their three daily meals. All the participants had lower blood-sugar levels immediately after they took the half-hour walks and ate dinner. However, the shorter exercises produced more long-lasting effects, as blood sugar remained healthy for 24 hours. James D. Cotter, a professor at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, was one of the study’s lead scientists. He concluded that “high-intensity exercise shows a more potent effect” on blood sugar than more moderate workouts. Treadmills are not required. Cotter told the Times: “For some people, simply walking anywhere will provide ample stimulus, whereas fitter individuals might need to go up one or even a few flights of stairs or up a slope, or jog somewhere. Jogging on the spot would be just as good.” The study confirmed the results of research conducted in 2012, in which participants were able to regulate their blood pressure better by taking three 10-minute walks per day than by walking just once for 30 minutes. Another team of scientists reported in July 2014 that running just five minutes daily can add years to a person’s life, the Times’ Gretchen Reynolds wrote.
She noted that scientists have long believed short, repetitive workouts are as worthwhile as longer, more strenuous activity. That is good news for people on tight schedules who struggle to find time to exercise. Researchers last year had those folks in mind when they developed a one-minute workout consisting of three 20-second periods of intense exercises. Study participants, who were overweight, enjoyed “robust improvements in (their) endurance and health,” according to Reynolds. She reported that, in a June 2014 clinical trial, mice that raced fast on running wheels gained more strength than a control group of mice due to “distinctly different biochemical responses within their muscle cells.

” Additional studies last year found that people who exercise regularly are less susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia; and that working out improves a person’s mood, and may protect the brain from depression and stress (Xanax). In one trial, mice were separated into groups that either ran or remained sedentary. Neurons in the inactive rodents’ brains that are key to controlling blood pressure reportedly changed in shape and function. Reynolds wrote that “in various experiments (during 2014), physical activity was found to lessen and even reverse the effects of aging on human skin; protect against age-related vision loss; improve creativity; lower people’s risk of developing heart disease, even if they had multiple risk factors for the condition; increase the numbers of good bacteria in athletes’ guts; raise exercisers’ pain tolerance; and alter, in desirable ways, how DNA works.” She cited a study published in October that showed how people who maintain fitness are “biologically younger” (and live longer) than those who are out of shape. The study’s senior author told Reynolds: “There is a huge benefit (of exercise), larger than any known medical treatment, in improving your fitness level to what is expected for your age group.” If you are experiencing pain in a shoulder, knee or hip (or have sustained an injury in one of the joints), schedule an appointment for an evaluation by the sports medicine surgeons at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego. They can diagnose the cause of the discomfort, and recommend appropriate exercises or treatments.

It is so important to maintain good health and eating habits during childhood. This sets them up for a lifetime of good choices and better health. Unfortunately, children can only learn what their caregivers teach them, and many are also not versed in good eating. This leads to children becoming overweight, and leading a sedentary lifestyle.
The answer to keeping a child’s weight down seems obvious: sports and activity. Keeping the child moving will burn calories, keep their metabolism going strong, and slimming them down. This is great, in theory, but there are many activities that can actually cause pain in the feet of overweight children that may not in those at a healthy weight.
Overweight children tend to have flatter feet due to the extra weight on their bodies. Their feet can also be larger, and this causes more pressure on their arches.  The added pressure and pain on their feet will dissuade children from physical activity. Then the circle continues of being sedentary, which adds more weight, which leads to less activity and so forth.

Diane L Riddiford-Harland led a study
at the University of Wollongong, located in New South Wales, Australia, on the effect of physical activity and feet of overweight children. She suggests low impact activities, such as swimming or biking, would be beneficial to children with foot pain due to their weight. In this study, thirty-four children, ages 5 to 9, who were participating in an obesity treatment, were divided into three groups. Group one focused on physical activity, group two focused on physical activity, and a parent led diet program, and the third group focused only on diet.
After six months of this study, all children had grown taller and lost weight. Their feet grew in both length and arch. Surprisingly, there was not much difference in the structure of the feet between the groups of children who participated in physical activity versus those that were only on a modified diet. The theory is that the 6 month measurement might have been too lengthy of a time to wait since the weight loss trial only lasted 10 weeks.

Overweight children are not the only ones at risk for foot pain, however. Children that participate in sports can suffer from pediatric overuse syndrome. This is damage to bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments from repetitive injury and stress and not enough time to heal in between injuries. This can cause pain, injury, and suffering, along with the child withdrawing from physical activity. When this happens, again, the child can start to become sedentary, which could lead to weight gain.
In order to prevent overuse, children that participate in sports should attempt to stay fit during the offseason, and allow themselves time to heal when injured. Orthotic shoes, or good support shoes, while beneficial for overweight children, can also be useful to children of healthy weight to keep their feet supported. Parents need to be cognizant of their children’s level and amount of activity.
If your child suffers from foot pain or other ailments that prevent him/her from properly exercising or engaging in activities, contact our pediatric sports medicine specialists at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego.

A type of workout called  may be an effective way to build core strength, relieve chronic pain and reduce the risk of an injury to the shoulder or other joint, according to the method’s proponents.
MELT (myofascial energetic length technique) also reputedly improves flexibility and mobility, relieves tension and stress, fights wrinkles and cellulite, aids digestion, boosts energy, prevents insomnia, improves posture, enhances athletic performance and helps people maintain a health weight.
Therapist Sue Hitzmann developed the technique. Since she published her book “The MELT Method” in 2013, the number of MELT instructors in the United States has grown to more than 1,300, the New York Times reported.
The self-treatment involves “manipulating and rehydrating connective tissue” (also known as fascia), the Times explained. The tissue contains fluid that cushions muscles, bones, nerves and organs. It wears away over time, possibly due to dehydration. Sedentary behavior, or physical activity entailing repetitive motions, also can cause fascia to dry. This problem can be addressed with three 10-minute MELT sessions per week, according to Hitzmann. She wrote on her website that the method is helpful “even if you are pregnant, injured, post-surgery, overweight, sedentary, out of shape; or have limited mobility, chronic pain, knee or hip replacements, or bone disorders.” She said people of all ages benefit.
MELT creates a strong, flexible body that maintains its upright posture for life,” Hitzmann claimed. “You will see and feel results after just one session.”
She said “stuck stress” in the connective tissue results from physical activity, emotions, foods, drugs and environmental toxins. The trapped tension damages cells and saps the tissue of moisture, leading to headaches, stiff lower backs, trouble sleeping and increased susceptibility to injury.
“When the connective tissue is hydrated and free of roadblocks, our bodies function at a more optimal level,” Hitzmann wrote. “MELT is a breakthrough technique that keeps our connective tissue and nervous system in top condition, and slows down the aging process. … No other proactive approach directly treats the connective tissue, including nutrition, exercise, yoga, meditation or vitamins.

” The method features simple workouts with soft body rollers and small rubber balls. According to Hitzmann, “it’s like getting all the benefits of a great massage, yet it lasts longer and takes only minutes a day to get lasting results.”
In classes, students stand with their eyes closed. They raise one toe, take three breaths and lower the digit. This is done with each toe. Then, a ball is placed beneath one foot and people push down with each of their toes. The ball is moved to various parts of the heel and arch.
The next three components of the workout are performed while lying on the back. The roller is put under the spine, and rotated forward and backward while the person strongly exhales. That is followed by the roller being placed under the calves, thighs and pelvis. This “gets the fluid moving again in the fascia,” according to the Times.
If you are experiencing pain and decreased mobility due to a condition like a shoulder injury, or simply wish to build up your core strength, MELT might be worth considering. Schedule an evaluation by the renowned sports medicine staff at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego to learn about the best ways to address your symptoms.

According to researchers, daily weight training combined with aerobic exercise is the best way to maintain a trim waistline.Men who work out with weights for 20 minutes per day experience a smaller increase in belly fat as they age, scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) concluded.
Their study, which tracked 10,500 men, showed that those who did resistance training not only achieved better fitness; they enjoyed enhanced overall health and wellness. Other research has indicated that people who lift weights and eat a nutritious diet are less likely to be diagnosed with orthopedic problems.
While aerobic exercise is a proven method of losing weight, it is not as effective as weight training in reducing abdominal fat and strengthening abdominal muscles, according to the Harvard scientists.
Their report, published online in December 2014 in the journal Obesity, stated that combining the two types of workouts achieves “the most optimal results.” The study’s lead author was Rania Mekary, a researcher at Harvard’s Department of Nutrition and an assistant professor of pharmacy (no prescription). She wrote:
 “Because aging is associated with sarcopenia, the loss of skeletal muscle mass, relying on body weight alone is insufficient for the study of healthy aging. Measuring waist circumference is a better indicator of healthy body composition among older adults.”
Previous studies comparing the relative benefits of resistance training and aerobic exercise produced mixed results, according to the HSPH. The trials were short term, and involved participants who had been diagnosed with conditions such as obesity or Type 2 diabetes. The Harvard researchers recruited healthy volunteers with varying body mass indexes, and monitored them for 12 years.
The participants were U.S. men 40 years of age or older. The scientists measured their physical activity, waist circumference and body weight. They compared changes in the men’s activity levels to detect how different kinds of exercise affected their waistlines.
The volunteers who increased their weight training by 20 minutes a day lost an average of three-quarters of a centimeter in waist size. Men who engaged in “moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise” for the same amount of time decreased their abdominal circumference by just one-third of a centimeter. Yard work or stair climbing resulted in a reduction of .16 of a centimeter, while participants who increased their sedentary behavior by 20 minutes a day saw their waistlines expand.
“This study underscores the importance of weight training in reducing abdominal obesity, especially among the elderly,” said Frank Hu, the study’s senior author and a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the HSPH. “To maintain a healthy weight and waistline, it is critical to incorporate weight training with aerobic exercise.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, “having an apple shape” (characterized by excessive fat around the middle of the body) increases the risk of coronary heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, gallstones, several kinds of cancer, menstrual issues and female infertility.
In addition, obesity damages the lower back, knees and hips. Protective cartilage in the joints gradually deteriorates, resulting in pain and decreased range of motion. This often leads to osteoarthritis, a leading cause of disability for people over 50 years old.
If you are suffering from pain and decreased mobility in a knee or hip, the discomfort may be relieved by adopting a balanced diet and engaging in a fitness program that features the right kinds of exercise. Schedule an evaluation by the sports medicine staff at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego to learn about the best treatments to improve your health and wellness.

injury is trauma to a group of muscles and tendons found in the shoulder area. The function of this group of muscles is to firmly hold the head of the upper arm bone to the socket of the shoulder. This is common to people who are likely to require overhead motions of the shoulder such as badminton players, carpenters and other construction jobs, and painters. It may also develop because of falling, repetitive stress, and lifting or pulling. The risk of developing rotator cuff injury also increases with age as muscles tend to wear as years go by.
The characteristic manifestation of shoulder injury is a dull aching shoulder pain that is aggravated by pressure on the affected area such as sleeping on the involved site or movement of it. It can greatly reduce an individual’s quality of life. For diagnosis, physical assessment as well as various imaging scans will be used such as x-rays, CT scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Usual treatment is surgery. Over the years, surgery did not increase healing rate of rotator cuff injuries and so most of the time, it leads to permanent occupational disability.
Hence, a team of researchers from Milan, Italy unravelled a new alternative to treating rotating cuff injuries without necessarily breaking through the skin. The study entitled,” Regenerative Medicine in Rotator Cuff Injuries” was conducted and led by Pietro Randelli. The study was published in BioMed Research International on August 2014.
Basically, the study revolved around the utilization of tissue-engineering strategies which ‘involve the use of cells and/or bioactive factors to promote tendon regeneration via natural processes.’ These tissue-engineering strategies referred to are the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), growth factors, and stem cell.

Growth factors are molecules actively involved in cell growth during inflammatory process. Since rotator cuff healing undergoes inflammation phase, growth factors can help in healing through tissue growth while degrading dead tissues. On the other hand, PRP is a plasma concentration with high platelet volume and provides growth factors. Lastly, stem cells are basically, unspecialized cells that can be manipulated to become any specific cell. This can replace damaged cells in the rotator cuff injury site.
Efficacy of growth factors to treat rotator cuff injuries was analyzed through in vitro and animal models. It showed hopeful results. A follow-up study for its effectiveness of humans is recommended as there is none as of now. Various ways to administer growth factors were examined such as through injections, sutures, and heparin delivery system. Also, cell-based approach showed positive result in treating rotator cuff injuries. The use of stem cells by injecting it to the site was found safe. However, researchers recommended conducting additional studies about the use of stem cells in treating rotator cuff injuries to further explore the subject matter and as well as contribute to the advancement of sports medicine.
If you have shoulder pain or have been told you need surgery, contact our sports medicine specialists at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego today for an evaluation.

As our bodies begin to age, our bones become weaker, our joints stiffer, and our memories fuzzier. We begin to feel the Earth’s gravity taking its toll, and we move slower as a result. For women, menopause hovers around the corner at middle age. Menopause generally comes with it symptoms of night sweats, mood changes, weight gain, and sleep problems. The most common symptom of menopause are “hot flashes” which is a sudden feeling of heat and sweating. More than two-thirds of women in the United States suffer from hot flashes during menopause.
If that weren’t bad enough, a new study has shown that women who do experience hot flashes are twice as likely to suffer from hip fractures. This study examined records for over 23,000 women, ages 50-79 who were members of a “Women’s Health Initiative Clinical Trial” that took place at 40 U.S. Medical Centers. Along with those 23,000 they studied almost 5,000 women who took part of a bone mineral density study. It’s important to note that these 5,000 were not taking any type of hormone therapy to treat their menopause symptoms.
Bone mineral density is used to measure the health of the bones and is also used to diagnose osteoporosis. While not many hip fractures occurred in the women that were studied, those that had moderate to severe hot flashes during menopause had lower bone density than women who did not suffer from hot flashes. Because of the lowered bone density, they were also almost two times likely to suffer from a hip fracture at some point in the future.
While the data shows this to occur, the “why” has still not been determined. Researchers ruled out age, weight, and race as causes, along with estrogen medication and smoking.  Hot flashes and cardiovascular risk markers were found to be associated but there was no relation researchers could find. While something different is occurring in women with hot flashes, medical technology is not able to determine the cause at this time.
While 60 percent of women suffer from hot flashes, a whopping 80 percent of them have them for up to five years. Hot flashes can last up to ten years on some women. Knowing that these women are twice as likely to have hip fractures, which most kinds require surgery, is alarming. Hip fractures occur in over 300,000 people ages 65 and older every year, with 20 to 30 percent of these patients dying within a year.
Hot flashes in women with menopause, while a nuisance, are normal and nothing to be alarmed about. Deep breathing and hormone therapy are used to treat hot flashes if needed. Women with hot flashes should do their best to protect their bone health. Activities such as walking, swimming, or staying mobile will help keep joints moving. It is important to avoid tobacco and alcohol as they can make hot flashes worse and decrease good health.. Taking care of yourself is important to improve over all well-being.
If you have hip pain, contact our sports medicine specialists at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego today to undergo an evaluation.

Curling up with a good book might be a better idea than  an electronic device in bed, according to a limited study conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
The researchers, who published their findings online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, concluded that the use of e-books may disturb sleep patterns. They enlisted 12 healthy young adults, who read either e-books or printed books in poorly lighted rooms for about four hours before bedtime for five straight nights. Each participant was tracked while performing both tasks. The e-books were set on maximum brightness.
Blood samples were drawn to detect levels of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, the New York Times reported. The researchers wrote that “participants reading a (light-emitting) e-book took longer to fall asleep and had reduced evening sleepiness, reduced melatonin secretion, later timing of their circadian clock, and reduced next-morning alertness than when reading a printed book.”
The Times, in its “Well” blog, noted that the volunteers who used Apple iPads took an average of 10 minutes longer to fall asleep. They got less rapid eye movement, or “dream,” sleep. The scientists wrote that the results have “important implications for understanding the impact of such technologies on sleep, performance, health and safety.”

The lead author of the report was Anne-Marie Chang, assistant professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State. She told the Times that “much more has to be known about the kind of impact these devices have on our health and well-being.” She pointed out that “the technology moves quickly, and the science lags.”
Previous sleep studies suggested that watching television, working on a computer or using other devices with artificial lights in the evening can affect sleep patterns, according to a Wall Street Journal story. “The type of short-wavelength enriched light, also known as blue light, that many backlit devices emit is especially powerful at suppressing the release of melatonin,” the story stated.
Blue light shining into the eyes “is exactly what you don’t want to do at bedtime,” said Charles Czeisler, the study’s senior author (and head of the Boston hospital’s division of sleep and circadian disorders). “Many people read things to help them fall asleep. They probably don’t realize that this technology is actually making them less likely to feel sleepy.”
The Journal reported that “although the study used only iPads, in separate tests the researchers found that iPhones, iPods, the Nook Color and the Kindle Fire all had similar short-wavelength emissions.” The original Kindle, which lacks its own light source, reflects the same amount of ambient light as a printed book.
The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, did not test the Kindle Paperwhite or the Kindle Voyage. The manufacturer of those devices, Amazon, claims that they employ “a different front-lighting technology designed to be easier on the eyes.”
On many e-books, the screen’s brightness can be adjusted. Readers of certain devices have the option of reading white words on a black background, which some experts believe to be less harmful to sleep. The study did not test the theory.
The researchers explained that “the use of light-emitting electronic devices for reading, communication and entertainment has greatly increased recently”; and that “in the past 50 years, there has been a decline in average sleep duration and quality, with adverse consequences on general health.”
A recent survey involved 1,508 U.S. adults. Ninety percent of them said they operated some sort of electronic device at least a few nights a week during the hour before they went to sleep.
The use of e-books continues to increase, despite “mounting evidence from countries around the world (revealing) the negative impact of such technology on sleep,” according to the researchers in Boston.