Why moving more when you are in pain can be a good thing

Pain Free Living

We have all experienced pain, but did you know it can cause issues after the original problems have gone away? If you didn't know, you need to listen to this podcast as it's all about Kinesiophobia which is the fear of movement causing pain.

Welcome to the Pain Free Living Podcast with your hosts Bob Allen and Louise Gordon.

Bob is an osteopath who has been treating people's pain problems since 2008. while Louise, is a change coach who helps individuals and businesses to navigate change. Although she has no clinical experience she has been in pain and is qualified to ask the questions that you would if you had access to a friendly and knowledgeable medical expert.

This episode, is all about kinesiophobia which we guarantee you will have experienced even if you have never heard of it before today.

What is Kinesiophobia?

Kinesiophobia, or fear of movement, usually happens after an episode of chronic pain, typically affecting your low back but could just as easily be your neck or a shoulder. Bob explains how the body, in an attempt to protect itself, may avoid certain movements, leading to compensatory habits.

These altered movements can continue long after the problem, has healed as the brain has learned to fear the pain originally caused by those movements.

Neuroplasticity is the solution to your kinesiophobia problem

Bob explains what neuroplasticity is and how you can use it to override your brain's kinesiophobia problem. Your brain likes forming habits similar to learning how to drive which initially feels very complicated but becomes easier with proactive and experience. The good news is that the pain-avoiding movements and kinesiophobia you developed when you were in pain can be 'unlearned'.

Goodbye Kinesiophobia...

The way to address pain-avoiding movements is to teach your brain that the movements are safe. This is achieved through a combination of education, conversation, and rehabilitation exercises to gradually expand conscious and unconscious confidence that particular movements are safe.

Kinesiophobia is a complex problem to identify and can be difficult to treat unless you find a therapist who has an understanding of how the body works. If you suspect you have a problem related to kinesiophobia contact Bob to find out more.

More info on Bob and Louise

You can find out more about Bob and why he became an osteopath here

Here is something more on Louise and how She makes the complex simple

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If you want to follow Bob on social media this is the place for you linktr.ee/Painfreeliving

Takeaways:

• Kinesiophobia, or fear of movement, is a psychological response often stemming from chronic pain experiences.
• The brain learns to avoid movements that previously caused pain, leading to compensatory habits and potential long-term issues.
• Neuroplasticity allows individuals to unlearn pain-avoidant behaviors and re-establish normal movement patterns.
• Effective rehabilitation requires education on movement safety and gradually increasing activity levels.
• Support from knowledgeable practitioners is crucial for overcoming kinesiophobia and restoring confidence in movement.
• It is essential to understand that movement itself is beneficial for recovery and should not be avoided.