Virtual Reality: A New Tool for Auburn 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 isn't just distraction – it's your brain rewiring its response to movement patterns that typically trigger discomfort.
The magic lies in how VR manipulates visual feedback to create a disconnect between what you see and what you feel, allowing your nervous system to relearn pain-free movement patterns. This innovative finding suggests that VR can help break the cycle of pain-avoidance that often keeps people with Auburn back pain from getting the exercise that can help them.
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. In people with chronic back pain, these muscles commonly become weak and less coordinated which creates a cycle of instability and increased 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 offer real-time feedback about muscle activation, teaching you how to effectively engage these deep stabilizing muscles that are typically challenging to feel and manage.
THE FUTURE OF REHABILITATION
Virtual reality allows for the combination of pain science with interactive, engaging exercise. By delivering immediate 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 Auburn chiropractor at Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. about incorporating VR-based exercises into your treatment plan – it might just be the key to unlocking your path to lasting back pain relief.
CONTACT Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
