26/05/2026
Sometimes, even a long time after injury, the body can get stuck in a cycle of giving pain signals when there isn't any need to.
This is commonly explained by the twin peaks model of pain.
Before injury, if load becomes too much on a muscle, tendon or joint, the body gives a warning, in the form of pain, before it reaches it's limit. This buffer zone between pain and actual tissue damage protects us from over-use injuries like tissue tears or strains.
After injury, the body can sometimes continue to act in "safe mode". The pain warning comes way before the tissues reach their tolerance. We naturally feel that pain, and think we are still injured, but actually the nervous system is just being over cautious.
So how do we overcome this increased buffer zone?
By gradually loading the tissue in safe environments, like controlled training and rehab sessions, we make the tissue stronger and more capable of manageaging load. At the same time we are training the nervous system to recognise safe zones again, and over time the buffer zone returns to normal.
Soft tissue therapy, and individually tailored rehab and prehab programs from Sports Therapists like myself, really are a great way to recover from injury, in a way that works with the body's natural responses. Understanding the nervous system and why pain occurs is important in knowing when you can push yourself and when to ease back.
Contact me today for a consultation, if you are taking a long time to recover from injury, if you suffer with chronic pain conditions or if you are newly injured and want to get back to full fitness in the fastest and safest way possible.
