You’ve heard it many times, take a deep breath and relax. This thought process has been used a lot lot help reduce anxiety and stress. But what about pain? Well, what happens when you stub your toe on the bed or bash your knee somehow? Generally you take a sharp intake of breath and hold it as you try and cope with the pain. And there might be a good reason for this. Studies have looked at this with varying degrees of results and opinions, but a 2012 study suggested something else and that’s how you think while taking deep breaths that may help overcome pain.
This study looked at 16 adults and asked them to do deep breathing exercises while relaxed and then distracted. They were to only take deep and slow breaths in both instances, but in the distracted state also had to keep that pace while following instructions from a computer.
In both instances the study group had similar reductions in anger and depression but they observed better responses to pain when hot and cold stimulii when the group was relaxed.
This therefore suggests that thinking about each breath and not being distracted was key to helping reduce the effects of pain as well as improvements in mood and anxiety. This could well be why the disciplines in meditation and other Eastern practices have been so helpful to people for centuries.
The reduction of stress is very important to the well being of any person and things like meditation and mindfulness and indeed things like yoga considerably help a person’s mind. It stands to reason that pain relief could be helped in the same way.
At Warwick Chiropractic we also encourage such disciplines to help you manage your pain. We see your pain relief as a team effort, you come in and see us and we adjust you, but we also advise certain exercises you can do at home, and things like meditation and yoga can also play an important part in this.
So why not try it yourself? Spend a few minutes each day focusing on breathing slowly and deeply before you begin your day. It may help your pain and it will probably help your spirit. And don’t expect to be perfect at it instantly either, like many things, meditation takes practice too.
Come in and see us anytime, we would love to help you. Getting patients out of pain and back to a full life is why we do what we do. We are walk in friendly, but if you want to make an appointment, we can help you there as well. Call today 360-951-4504.
