Virtual Reality: A New Tool for Manchester Back Pain Recovery
THE SCIENCE BEHIND VR AND PAIN RELIEF
Recent groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports has shown that virtual reality can literally alter 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's your brain adapting its response to movement patterns that normally 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 innovative finding suggests that VR can help break the cycle of pain-avoidance that often keeps Manchester back pain sufferers from getting the exercise they need.
TARGETING YOUR DEEP SPINAL MUSCLES
Strengthening the lumbar erector spinae presents a major challenge in back pain recovery – the deep muscles that run along your spine and help stabilize it. These muscles often become weak and poorly coordinated in people with chronic back pain, creating an ongoing cycle of instability and additional pain.
New research published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology reveals that these muscles display different fatigue patterns and spatial distribution changes in older adults compared to younger persons, highlighting the importance of age-appropriate, targeted training. (2) VR systems can offer instant 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 offers a unique opportunity to combine pain science with engaging, interactive exercise. By providing instant visual feedback about your movement patterns and muscle activation, VR can help you improve your body's natural movement patterns while making the process more engaging and effective.
Ask your Manchester chiropractor at Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries about incorporating VR-based exercises into your treatment plan – it could be an important step toward lasting back pain relief.
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