How to change your life to boost your fertility

I said in a previous post that scientists are interested in finding out how massage works.  So if we accept that massage reduces muscle pain, that leaves the question, "How does massage reduce muscle pain?". In 1965, Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall outlined a scientific theory about psychological influence on pain perception; the ‘gate control theory’.  According to the gate control theory, pain signals are not free to reach the brain as soon as they are generated at the injured tissues or sites. They need to encounter certain ‘neurological gates’ at the spinal cord level and these gates determine whether the pain signals should reach the brain or not. In other words, pain is perceived when the gate gives way to the pain signals and it is less intense or not at all perceived when the gate closes for the signals to pass through. Cutaneous mechano-receptors are stimulated by touch (massage) and transmit information within large never fibres to the spinal cord.  These impulses block the passage of painful stimuli entering the same spinal segment along small, slowly conducting neurons. This theory gives the explanation for why someone finds relief by rubbing or massaging an injured or a painful area. For example, the pain gate theory explains "how"  a child feels better after mum or dad intuitively rub their knee when they have fallen over. In summary massage produces short term pain relief by being a particularly effective trigger for the pain gate process. References Melzack R, & Wall PD (1965). Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science (New York, N.Y.), 150 (3699), 971-9  Moayedi M, & Davis KD (2013). Theories of pain: from specificity to gate control. Journal of neurophysiology, 109 (1), 5-12 Jacobs M. (1960) Massage for the relief of pain: anatomical and physiological considerations.  Physical Therapy Review, 40: 93-8 Melzack R, Wall PD. Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science. 1965 Nov 19;150(3699):971–979. Wells PE, Frampton V, Bowsher D. (1988) Pain: Management and Control in Physiotherapy.  Heinemann Medical.  Chapter 13. Watson J. (1982) Pain mechanisms: a review.  1. Characteristics of the peripheral receptors.  Australian Journal of Physiotherapy.  27:135-43

Tai Chi is a traditional form of exerise developed in ancient China which combines deep breathing and slow deliberate movements.  It has already proved helpful for back pain, rheumatism and psychological disorders, but can it help people with chronic neck pain? A group of 114 people suffering from chronic neck pain performed either Tai Chi or did nothing at all for their neck pain for three months.  By the end of the period, those who did the Tai Chi reported significantly less pain and disability, plus overall improvement in their quality of life ompaired with those who did nothing.  Tai Chi is also as effective as standard exercises say researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany. This means for those people suffering from chronic neck pain there is evidence that Tai Chi help relieve chronic neck pain and is effective as standard exercises. Reference R Launche, C Stumpe, J Fehr, H Cramer et al (2016) The Effects of Tai Chi and Neck Exercises in the Treatment of Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Journal of Pain Vol 17, Issue 9, 1013-27  

Achilles tendinopathy affects 150,000 pepole in the UK every year (Davies, 2019). Tendinopathy, also known as tendinitis or tendonitis, is a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement.  Given the achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the foot at the heel - so impared function impacts your ability to walk and exercise. Scientists at the University of Iceland and University of Copehagen recruited 60 patients with Achilles Tendinopathy and assigned them to three groups:

1. Eccentric exercise protocol (rehabilitation exercises)
2. Pressure massage
3. Eccentic exercise protocol and pressure massage