Virtual Reality: A New Tool for Ashburn and Herndon 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 how your brain interprets pain signals. When patients with chronic low back pain used VR systems with visual feedback, they experienced altered pain perception during movement. (1) This isn't just distraction – it's your brain rewiring its response to movement patterns that typically 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 break the cycle of pain-avoidance that often keeps people with Ashburn and Herndon back pain from getting the exercise they need.

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.

Recent research published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology reveals that these muscles display 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 instant 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 offers a unique opportunity to combine pain science with engaging, interactive exercise. By providing instant visual feedback about your movement patterns and muscle activation, VR can help you improve your body's natural movement patterns while making the process more engaging and effective.

Check with your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractor at Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn about incorporating VR-based exercises into your treatment plan – it could be an important step toward lasting back pain relief.

CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn

Schedule your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic appointment soon.