Pain types and Treatment

Pain is an unpleasant sensation triggered by harmful stimuli that activate nerve endings. This process is to alert us to a possibility of a injury. This causes the body to react by protecting itself and/or by withdrawing from a harmful stimulus. Pain also stimulates the gamut of physiological changes mediated by the sympathetic nerves system and resulting in the fight-or-flight response.

Types of Pain:

• Acute pain – pain of short duration. May last seconds or weeks.
• Chronic Pain – lasting months, years, or a lifetime. May be intermittent.
• Somatic Pain – arises from stimulating of receptors in the skin (superficial) or from muscle connective tissue (deep somatic pain).
• Radiating Pain – pain travels from the original site to distant places. Ex sciatica pain.
• Referred Pain – pain that is perceived in one area of the body when the actual stimulus is in another area.

Massage Effects On Pain:

MASSAGE INCREASES CIRCULATION

• Increases the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
• Speeds the removal of metabolic waste from tissues.

MASSAGE RELAXES AND WARMS THE MYOFASCIAL TISSUES

• Has a circulatory effect on myofascial tissue.

MASSAGE ACTIVATES THE GATE CONTROL

• Pleasurable sensory stimulation of the massage can override the noxious chemical and mechanical stimulus of the pain/spasm reflex.

MASSAGE ACTIVATES CHEMICAL ANALGESICS

• The bodies own pain killers are activated from massage (endorphins, enkephalins, and serotonin).

MASSAGE PROVIDES A FEELING OF WELL BEING

• The emotional/psychological impact of massage in relation to reducing the perception of pain should not be underestimated.