About this resource

Sleep is essential for physical health, emotional wellbeing and participation in everyday life. However, many people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience ongoing sleep disturbances, including difficulty falling asleep, waking frequently during the night, muscle spasms, pain, bladder routines and sleep-disordered breathing. These challenges can affect mood, energy levels, rehabilitation and overall quality of life.

This Hopkins Centre Seed Project explored the lived experiences of people with SCI experiencing sleep disturbances, how they seek help, and the types of support they need. Researchers worked alongside clinicians, community organisations and people with lived experience to co-design practical resources that support better sleep management and encourage conversations about sleep with healthcare providers.

Led by Dr Emily Bray, the project has produced a suite of evidence-informed, consumer-friendly resources that can be used by people living with SCI, their families and clinicians to better understand, monitor and manage sleep disturbances.

Project Resources

Sleeping Better After SCI Information Sheet

This information sheet provides an overview of why sleep is important after spinal cord injury, common causes of sleep disturbances, and practical strategies to improve sleep. It is designed to help people with SCI recognise potential sleep issues and understand when to seek further support.

Download the Sleeping Better After SCI Information Sheet

Sleeping Better After SCI Infographic

This easy-to-read infographic summarises the key causes of sleep disturbances after SCI and highlights practical tips for improving sleep health in an accessible visual format.

Download the Sleeping Better After SCI Infographic

 

Sleeping Better After SCI Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Developed in response to common questions raised by people living with SCI, this resource provides practical, evidence-informed answers about sleep disturbances, available supports and strategies to improve sleep quality.

Download the Frequently Asked Questions

Sleeping Better After SCI Worksheet

This worksheet supports people with SCI to reflect on factors that may be affecting their sleep, identify patterns, and prepare for conversations with their healthcare team about sleep concerns.

Download the Sleep Worksheet

Sleep Diary

The Sleep Diary is a practical self-monitoring tool that helps people track their sleep patterns, routines and symptoms over time. Recording sleep information can help identify potential causes of sleep disturbance and support discussions with clinicians.

Download the Sleep Diary – Version 1

Download the Sleep Diary – Version 2

Project Outcomes

The project has generated new knowledge about sleep disturbances following spinal cord injury and translated these findings into practical resources that support people with SCI and the clinicians who care for them.

• Understanding lived experiences of sleep
  Through interviews with people living with SCI, the project explored the impact of sleep disturbances on daily life, wellbeing and participation, while identifying common barriers to seeking help and accessing appropriate support.
• Co-designed sleep management resources
  Researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience worked together through a series of co-design workshops to develop a suite of practical sleep management resources tailored specifically to the needs and preferences of people with SCI.
• Improved awareness and support
  The project has increased understanding of the importance of recognising and addressing sleep disturbances after SCI. The resources provide practical guidance that supports earlier conversations about sleep and encourages people to seek appropriate care.
• Supporting clinicians and community organisations
  The research identified practical strategies that clinicians and community organisations can use to better support people experiencing sleep disturbances following SCI. Because these recommendations were developed collaboratively, they are designed to be practical and applicable in real-world rehabilitation settings.
• Lasting impact for rehabilitation
  By improving awareness, understanding and access to evidence-based sleep management strategies, the project aims to enhance health, wellbeing, participation and quality of life for people living with spinal cord injury.