IT’S A COMMON TRIGGER TO SEEK MASSAGE THERAPY 09/08/2013 But what is pain? Pain. It’s generally an unpleasant experience for all human beings. We’ve all encountered pain at some stage in our lives, but have you ever stopped and wondered, why does our body allow us to experience pain, particularly if it is unpleasant? The truth is that the experience of pain is in fact a natural and required process for our body. Pain is a complex phenomenon, including how it is experienced and what we can do to address or minimise the symptoms. Pain occurs in two areas of the body. The first is the part of the body which experiences trauma and the second part is the brain, which processes information being relayed to the Thalamus within the brain which is then perceived or translated as ‘painful’ or ‘uncomfortable.’ As humans are unique, we experience pain in varying ways. What might be completely intolerable for one person may be deemed quite mild for another! The way we experience pain is determined by a multitude of factors some of which include culture/ethnicity, background, past experiences, age and gender. For many years, the perception of pain has remained a mystery, particularly due to the difficulty in accurately measuring and describing the different experiences that humans have. In modern medicine, pain is classified into two categories. This includes acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain is defined as ‘short term’ pain that comes about as a result of direct or sudden trauma. Acute pain tends to last for a period less than 3 months and usually resolves with suitable treatment or medical intervention. Chronic pain is experienced for 3 months or longer and can be resistant to interventions and rehabilitation. Due to its complexity, chronic pain often requires a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. So, why do we experience pain if it is an uncomfortable and unpleasant sensation? Essentially, pain is a required phenomenon of healthy function! It is the body’s internal warning system which allows us to identify when a part of our body is in danger due to direct trauma. The peripheral nerves in our body are activated and send warning signals to the brain which then allows us to react appropriately in an effort to protect ourselves. This might include pulling an arm away from an open flame, or even seeking medical advice. We deal with pain in different ways. In Western society, we would generally seek appropriate treatment from a medical practitioner who may provide a recommendation for suitable pain relief medication or provide a referral to seek treatment from an allied health practitioner. Massage therapy has a vital role to play in the management and alleviation of pain symptoms. Specific techniques are more effective than others in reducing pain. For example, deep and slow effleurage assists in reducing pain while the application of deep and localised frictions can have a calming effect on the nervous system. Friction is particularly effective in reducing pain when a peripheral nerve is involved (neuralgia, neuritis and radiculopathy). Pain is a complex phenomenon which the body experiences. Its subjective nature can make it difficult to interpret and therefore treat. However, whilst pain is uncomfortable, it is a vital aspect of our body’s defence mechanism encouraging us to seek interventions such as massage and other modalities to reduce symptoms and promote our overall well-being. via : © 2012 Australian College of Massage
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 02:29:05 +0000
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