Virtual Reality: A New Tool for Plainville Back Pain Recovery
THE SCIENCE BEHIND VR AND PAIN RELIEF
Recent groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports has shown that virtual reality can literally change what your brain does with pain signals. Patients with chronic low back pain who used VR systems with visual feedback experienced changes in how they perceived pain during movement. (1) This is not just distraction – it is your brain learning new responses to movement patterns that usually cause discomfort.
VR helps by changing the visual information you receive, creating a difference between what you see and feel that allows your nervous system to develop pain-free ways of moving. This breakthrough finding suggests that VR can help break the cycle of pain-avoidance that often keeps people with Plainville back pain from getting the exercise that can help them.
TARGETING YOUR DEEP SPINAL MUSCLES
A major challenge in back pain recovery is strengthening the lumbar erector spinae – the deep muscles that run along your spine and provide crucial stability. These muscles often become weak and poorly coordinated in people with chronic back pain, creating a vicious cycle of instability and further pain.
Recent research published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology reveals that these muscles have different fatigue patterns and spatial distribution patterns in older adults compared to younger persons, highlighting the importance of age-appropriate, targeted training. (2) VR systems can offer real-time feedback about muscle activation, guiding you to properly use these deep stabilizing muscles that can be tough to feel and coordinate.
THE FUTURE OF REHABILITATION
Virtual reality allows for the combination of pain science with interactive, engaging exercise. By providing instant visual feedback about your movement patterns and muscle activation, VR can help you redevelop your body's natural movement patterns while making the process more enjoyable and effective.
Check with your Plainville chiropractor at Layden Chiropractic about incorporating VR-based exercises into your treatment plan – it could be an important step toward lasting back pain relief.
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