Virtual Reality: A New Tool for Vancouver Back Pain Recovery
THE SCIENCE BEHIND VR AND PAIN RELIEF
Recent groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports has shown that virtual reality can plainly change 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 – your brain is changing how it responds to movements that usually trigger 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 innovative finding suggests that VR can help interrupt the cycle of pain-avoidance that often keeps people with Vancouver back pain from getting the exercise that can help them.
TARGETING YOUR DEEP SPINAL MUSCLES
A significant challenge in back pain recovery involves strengthening the lumbar erector spinae – the deep muscles that run along your spine and provide crucial stability. In people with chronic back pain, these muscles commonly become weak and less coordinated which creates a pattern of instability and worsening pain.
New research published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology reveals that these muscles show 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 instant feedback about muscle activation, helping you learn to properly engage these deep stabilizing muscles that are often difficult to feel and control.
THE FUTURE OF REHABILITATION
Virtual reality creates an opportunity to merge pain science with engaging, interactive exercise. By providing real-time visual feedback about your movement patterns and muscle activation, VR can help you redevelop your body's natural movement patterns while making the process more enjoyable and effective.
Check with your Vancouver chiropractor at Vancouver Disc Centers about incorporating VR-based exercises into your treatment plan – it may provide a path to lasting back pain relief.
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
