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REVIEW article
Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1543421
This article is part of the Research TopicMechanisms and Interventions for Post-Operative Neurocognitive Disorder and Sleep DisruptionsView all 12 articles
The Impact of Postoperative Pain Interventions on Circadian Rhythm Disruptions: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
Provisionally accepted- Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
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Postoperative pain is a prevalent clinical issue that significantly impacts patient recovery, making its management crucial for rehabilitation. Recent studies have shown that postoperative pain not only affects the physiological state of patients but may also disrupt their circadian rhythms, leading to decreased sleep quality and physiological dysfunctions. This review aims to explore the effects of postoperative pain interventions on circadian rhythm disturbances, analyze the underlying mechanisms, and summarize the effective strategies currently used in clinical practice. Through a comprehensive analysis of the relevant literature, we will highlight the importance of pain management during the recovery process and emphasize its potential role in regulating circadian rhythms. Pharmacological treatments like NSAIDs and melatonin have shown efficacy in regulating circadian rhythms and improving sleep quality in postoperative patients. Multimodal analgesia combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods (e.g., CBT, acupuncture) can optimize pain relief while minimizing side effects. However, further research is needed to clarify the bidirectional relationship between pain perception and circadian rhythms and translate these findings into clinical practice.
Keywords: Pain, postoperative, Pain Management, Circadian Rhythm, Sleep Disorders, Physiological process
Received: 11 Dec 2024; Accepted: 07 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ma, Li and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Dongmei Ma, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.