Capital Area PT helps those in chronic pain restore normal habits, function, and way of life through a combination of education, exercise, and manual therapy as necessary.
Andrew J Gaetano, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
It’s not easy to explain to someone who is in pain why the brain/central nervous system is an important component of how pain is processed without coming across as if you are downplaying the person’s pain as being only in their head. That is not true. Every experience you have (sensations, sounds, touch, itch, warmth, pain, etc) is processed in the brain, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. Pain, however at the same time, can be misleading. The area that a person is experiencing pain doesn’t necessarily have to be the problem area. In short, pain is the brain’s interpretation of a threat or potential threat to the body and a request to change or avoid the threat. That threat may be a real one (i.e you are really in danger, you’ve injured yourself, created real damage), but doesn’t have to be. Or, the threat was real at one point but is no longer there.
How the brain perceives its body, its surroundings and movement will trigger a so-called protective signal to the body. Body isn’t moving optimally, has dysfunctional habits or positions, brain pays attention to that area or surrounding areas, is more receptive to stimuli to that area (more sensitive, in other words). Pain, compensations, anxiety/fear, or other dysfunction may be the result. Generally speaking, the longer that body stays in the process of sending signals to the area, the better it becomes at doing it (the more the signals work together) and protecting that area, even if it doesn’t need it.
If you have been in pain for a long time (more than a few weeks/months), getting the right advice on your particular scenario is an important part of the recovery process. That is where we come in. At Capital Area PT, we treat the source, not just the pain. We teach you how to create health movement patterns and keep it that way. Share this with someone in pain and make sure they call (518) 289-5242 for a consult.
Capital Area Physical Therapy and Wellness
Malta, NY 518-289-5242
Queensbury, NY 518-289-5242
