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There are many forms of exercise, which can include stretching and strengthening, motor control, balance, and coordination. I recommend exercise to nearly all of my patients as an effective self-management strategy. The exercise plan will be personalised based on your specific condition, level of motivation, and experience.

In terms of pain management, exercise is a very effective intervention. It has been shown to aid in a variety of painful conditions, including low back pain, neck pain, tendon issues, arthritis, muscle pain, and nerve pain. Exercise releases neurotransmitters that act as natural pain inhibitors, increasing our pain tolerance threshold and causing the body tissues to adapt positively.

Moreover, exercising regularly can help reduce the risk of developing chronic musculoskeletal pain, significantly reduce falls, and lower mortality by up to 30%.

The articulation and manipulation of joints have a similar effect on the nervous system. They trigger a response within the peripheral and central nervous systems, resulting in the release of neurotransmitters that act as natural pain inhibitors.

These inhibitory neurotransmitters also reduce muscle tension and feeling of stiffness, which in turn increases the joint range of motion, allowing you to move freely and engage in physical activities. This facilitates your return to meaningful activities that you enjoy, which can further aid in your mental and physical recovery by generating an additional release of hypoalgesic neurotransmitters.

Massage therapy can similarly affect the peripheral and central nervous systems, as mentioned above, inhibiting pain signals. Additionally, this treatment can decrease the painful chemicals that may be present within the muscles and surrounding tissues.

Moreover, massage can potentially increase the production of specific proteins and neuropeptides that signal other cells to repair damaged tissue and affect our emotional and cognitive state, which is why people report feeling good following massage therapy.

Pain, particularly prolonged pain, can have a profound effect on our emotional and cognitive state. Often, when we experience pain, it is very distressing, and we are unsure of the best course of action and if certain activities are making things worse. This can lead to costly and ineffective treatments, decreased meaningful activities, and prolonged use of painkillers, all of which can seem never-ending and can significantly impact our health and quality of life.

How can Overton and North Waltham Osteopathy help?

I have specialised in strategies for managing chronic pain and have promote the biopsychosocial model of Osteopathy. Pain can have a profound effect on our lives, but we can positively affect how we experience pain by understanding it and recognising the factors that intensify it.

Neck pain can affect a vital area known as the sensorimotor system, which is often overlooked by traditional forms of treatment. This area can be impacted whether the pain develops gradually or suddenly after an injury. As a result, neck movements can become impaired, unwanted muscle contractions may occur, and posture can be altered.

Management includes treating the neck and incorporating tailored exercises that improve altered sensorimotor control, including head and eye movement.

Dry needling is a treatment option recommended by the National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) for chronic pain, chronic tension-type headaches, and migraines.

Its mechanism of working is similar to that of the other manual therapy modalities mentioned: By stimulating the sensory nerves of the peripheral nervous system, natural pain inhibitors are released, reducing chronic pain in the short term. This technique is used as an adjunctive therapy.