Which of These 4 Pain Relieving Neuro Techniques Surprises You the Most?

Which of These 4 Pain Relieving Neuro Techniques Surprises You the Most?

Did you know that pain is 100% of the time an OUTPUT from your BRAIN?

This means it makes perfect sense to use a NEUROLOGICAL approach to manage and alleviate pain.

Everything we do has a neurological basis. Understanding the communication between the body and brain via the nervous system can make a significant difference in pain management.

Here are 4 effective tools you can use, with a neurological context, to achieve better results for your clients:

1. Move Better

A lot of pain stems from poor mapping of the body in the brain. When the brain's representation of the body is blurry, movement can feel threatening.

To reduce this threat, focus on precise and mindful movements that clean up joint movement. This helps the brain feel safer and reduces pain.

2. Breathe Better

Dysfunctional breathing is a highly threatening situation for the brain, often resulting in pain signals. Many of the breath teaching that we work on focuses on CO2 Exhalation breathing. For a more in-depth look at this join our newsletter and find our educational piece on CO2 vs O2.

Breathing is a fundamental process that significantly impacts our overall well-being, and its role extends beyond basic survival. Better breathing techniques can prove to be powerful tools in relieving stress. When we encounter stressful situations, our breathing patterns often become irregular and shallow, which can further exacerbate the stress response. By consciously practicing deep, diaphragmatic breathing, we can activate the body's parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels.

Whether it's neck pain, back pain, or headaches, these transient pains can often be alleviated with better breathing techniques. Focus on long exhales to calm the nervous system and reduce pain.

3. Use Opposing Joints

Our body’s joints are intricately connected through spinal cord reflexes, and they work together to help us move and absorb force efficiently. When one joint is in pain, it’s often due to an imbalance or stress elsewhere in the body.

Interestingly, you can alleviate pain in a specific joint by working on its opposing counterpart. This means you don't need to directly address the painful joint to see improvements. By focusing on the movement and health of the opposite joint, you can create positive changes through the interconnected network of our body’s reflexes.

For example, if you have pain in your left knee, working on mobility and stability exercises for your right knee can help reduce discomfort. This approach leverages the body's natural mechanics and neurological connections, providing a holistic method of pain relief without direct pressure on the injured area.

4. Mind-Body Connection

The mind-body connection is a powerful tool when it comes to managing pain. Our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs can greatly influence our perception of pain. Negative thoughts and emotions can exacerbate pain levels, while positive thoughts and emotions can help reduce them.

By practicing mindfulness techniques such as meditation, yoga, or journaling, we can cultivate a more positive mindset and reduce pain.

The mind-body connection is a powerful tool for managing pain. Our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs significantly influence how we (the brain) perceive pain. Negative thoughts and emotions can amplify pain, making it feel more intense, while positive thoughts and emotions can help reduce pain perception. The big takeaway here, the brain sees physical and mental pain as the same. One is not more stressful than the other. Pain is pain.

Practicing mindfulness techniques such as meditation, yoga, or journaling can cultivate a more positive mindset and, in turn, help reduce pain or what we call at Next Level Neuro, threat. Meditation can calm the mind, yoga can relax the body, and journaling can help process and release negative emotions. By harnessing the mind-body connection, we can take a more holistic approach to pain management, improving both mental and physical well-being.

4. Try Inhibition

Sometimes, pain signals indicate that the brain is overwhelmed and needs to reduce the stress meter.

If you've ever gotten a headache in a noisy, crowded room, try using sensory inhibition techniques like wearing a hat, colored glasses, ear plugs, or compression clothing to turn down the sensory input your brain processes.

Using applied neurology to help people manage pain and improve performance is transforming the industry. Embrace these applied neurology techniques and see the difference they make in your practice.