Virtual Reality: A New Tool for Juneau Back Pain Recovery
THE SCIENCE BEHIND VR AND PAIN RELIEF
New groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports has shown that virtual reality can plainly change how your brain interprets 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 isn't just distraction – it's your brain rewiring its response to movement patterns that typically trigger discomfort.
The key is how VR changes visual feedback to create a mismatch between what you see and what you feel, allowing your nervous system to develop new, pain-free movement patterns. This innovative finding suggests that VR can help break the cycle of pain-avoidance that often keeps people with Juneau back pain from getting the exercise they need.
TARGETING YOUR DEEP SPINAL MUSCLES
One of the biggest challenges 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 an ongoing cycle of instability and additional pain.
New research published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology reveals that these muscles have different fatigue patterns and spatial distribution alterations 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, 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 providing 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.
Check with your Juneau chiropractor at Aurora Chiropractic Center about incorporating VR-based exercises into your treatment plan – it might just be the key to unlocking your path to lasting back pain relief.
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