Many individuals view the intensity of pain as an indicator of the severity of a particular injury. However, this is not usually the case based on the current evidence. Minor tissue injury can cause someone severe pain while major tissue injury like a rotator cuff tear can sometimes go unnoticed. 

Pain can be viewed as being a part of a protective alarm system designed to keep you out of danger and enhance your chances of survival. Just as a home security system notifies you if a burglar trespasses, your body will react when something is wrong. Body tissue contains nociceptors, which send signals to the brain informing it of potential danger.

Once the brain receives this information, it will then send out signals to the body in the form of pain if it interprets a particular stimuli as dangerous. How the brain perceives these signals is based on factors such as a person’s beliefs, past experiences, and expectations. In certain situations, the brain can also react in this way even if there isn’t a real threat present. 

This can be compared to an overly sensitive home alarm system that becomes triggered when no burglars have trespassed. This increased sensitivity of the body’s internal protective alarm system can be influenced by stress, sleep deprivation, illness, poor nutrition, lack of activity, and many other factors. Having a basic understanding on these concepts can help an individual choose healthy habits while also reducing the chance of developing chronic pain.

To Learn More- Contact:

Kyle S. Kasman, PT, DPT

Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist

484-781-5341
Lightthepathphysicaltherapy.com