SD Laboratories

At SD Laboratories, we’re rethinking how chronic pain is managed by addressing a critical but often neglected factor - sleep. Research has long shown that sleep disorders, such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea, are common among those with chronic pain, yet they remain largely overlooked in standard treatment approaches. Given the strong evidence linking sleep to pain sensitivity and inflammation, we saw an opportunity to make a real difference. Our work began with a simple but important question: What if better sleep could help people with chronic pain regain their quality of life? Collaborating with physiotherapists, sleep scientists, and engineers, we are developing an evidence-based model of care that allows physiotherapists to assess sleep health, identify sleep disorders, and optimise how patients are supported overnight. This holistic, non-invasive approach offers a genuine alternative to pain medications and surgery, with the potential for significant long-term benefits. Now being implemented in clinics across Australia, this model is equipping physiotherapists with the tools to integrate sleep into their pain management strategies. Our aim is to ensure that every person living with chronic pain has access to care that fully considers their needs - including their sleep.