Rethinking The Function of Pain

It’s the Summer Olympics, and several athletes are sporting them: those big round red areas on shoulders, chests, and the backs of swimmers, gymnasts, and track and field participants. The process of creating those round, red areas is called “cupping”, and it’s purpose is to relax sore muscles. Natalie Coughlin, an American swimmer posted a picture of cups attaches to her chest, with the note…”Laughing because it hurts so bad.” The cupping effects can take up to a week to disappear.

Years ago I went to a massage therapist who practiced deep tissue massage. Read that: painful massage. It felt awful, and painful, while she was massaging me, and only felt better when she quit. Duh! She said it was for my own good. Like what, I’m stupid and pain is good for me? And I am paying money for this? That’s crazy. I couldn’t get her to lighten up, so I found someone else.

What we know about pain is that it is a signal to the brain to change something: a behavior, a body position, some thinking. Get off that massage table. Pain doesn’t allow you to conduct your normal life. Through neuroscience, we know that the body shuts down when it experiences pain. The last time you were sick,  injured, or didn’t get enough sleep, how well did you function, or think? How pleasant was your mood? How much comfort food did you eat?

“No pain, no gain” is not a productive long term policy. Pain during the 100 butterfly or any uneven parallel bars routine? Yes. Pain as a therapy? No. Does it make sense to continue to put yourself in pain to get out of pain?

Slow down, rest when you need it, and take care of yourself. Life will give you enough pain without you having to pay for it, Olympians excluded.   

That’s Aging Intelligently.