Virtual Reality: A New Tool for Groton Back Pain Recovery
THE SCIENCE BEHIND VR AND PAIN RELIEF
New groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports has shown that virtual reality can plainly alter what your brain does with pain signals. The study found that patients with chronic low back pain experienced modified pain perception during movement when using VR systems with visual feedback. (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 breakthrough finding suggests that VR can help interrupt the cycle of pain-avoidance that often keeps Groton back pain sufferers from getting the exercise that can help them.
TARGETING YOUR DEEP SPINAL MUSCLES
A major challenge in back pain recovery is strengthening the lumbar erector spinae – the deep muscles that run along your spine and help stabilize it. In people with chronic back pain, these muscles commonly become weak and less coordinated which creates a vicious cycle of instability and further pain.
New research published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology reveals that these muscles show different fatigue patterns and spatial distribution patterns in older adults compared to younger individuals, highlighting the importance of age-appropriate, targeted training. (2) VR systems can provide 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 offering real-time visual feedback about your movement patterns and muscle activation, VR can help you retrain your body's natural movement patterns while making the process more enjoyable and effective.
Ask your Groton chiropractor at Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office about incorporating VR-based exercises into your treatment plan – it could be an important step toward lasting back pain relief.
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
