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    Simple enough question, right? We all have experienced pain of some form or another at some point in our life. Some describe it as sharp, burning, dull, throbbing, aching, or even blinding. Not everyone experiences the same type of pain for the same type of injuries. So what is pain?

     Webster defines it as localized physical suffering associated with bodily disorder ( disease or injury); a basic bodily sensation induced by a noxious stimulus, received by naked nerve endings, characterized by physical discomfort and typically leading to evasive action.  Basically, we feel pain and our brain tells us to move away from what is hurting us or stop doing the painful activity. Sounds simple. The following video does a good job of explaining response to painful stimuli. 

TEDxAdelaide - Lorimer Moseley - Why Things Hurt

    What I like best about this video is the concept that memory of previous episodes of pain can influence future pain perception and how the nervous system gets "sensitized" to pain to the point that even normal stimuli causes significant pain. This is what leads to fear avoidance or the idea that the very thought of experiencing pain prevents people from being active. This fear of activity causing pain leads to chronic pain conditions because the nervous system is never given the opportunity to "de-sensitize".  

    Physical therapists are trained to prescribe exercise and use manual therapy techniques designed to help people manage their pain more effectively and help de-sensitize irritated soft tissue and nerve tissue.  

     Physical therapists often prescribe exercises for pain control. Exercise increases the output of endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals your body produces to fight pain.Exercise also helps to increase the brain's supply of serotonin. Serotonin is a substance that aids the flexibility of blood vessels. This is important because when blood vessels are flexible, they are less likely to cause painful irritation. Serotonin also improves your mood. (When you are in a good mood, pain feels better than when you are in a bad mood). Serotonin also fights pain in the brain. It fights pain by blocking the brain's perception of pain. Serotonin also helps regulate your sleep cycles. If you are in pain, it is important to get enough sleep so your body can properly combat the pain.

     Individuals with chronic pain conditions, like fibromyalgia, are often encouraged to exercise regularly, especially low impact aerobic exercise. Pool therapy is often prescribed early on in the treatment program in order to progress the individual to a land based exercise program.