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Pain Management in Fitness Training
A Biopsychosocial Approach
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At some point, we will all experience pain management challenges in our fitness journey. It's inevitable, and if you expect to never experience it in training, you're in for an unpleasant surprise. I thought it useful to talk about some things to consider around ongoing pain and its incredibly complex nature.
The Complexity of Pain
Collectively, we want a single definitive answer as to what is causing our pain. We want to point to one thing and say "that is the reason," however it is likely just part of the reason. Effective pain management in fitness requires understanding this complexity.
Most people's understanding of pain is based on this idea that pain means damage or injury. That it is purely a result of a "biological issue."
The Biopsychosocial Model of Pain
I have used the term biological, which might seem a little odd, but when we look at pain science, we can see why. Modern pain science is broken down into what is called the "biopsychosocial model." It encompasses your biology, your psychology, and social environments.
It is quite easy to sustain a significant injury, having a huge impact on your biology, and experience no pain at all. Stories of soldiers not realising they have been shot in battle, sportsmen walking off the pitch with tears and breaks.
Personal Experiences with Pain Management
From a purely anecdotal perspective, after ripping my pec tendon off the bone, and after the subsequent surgery to repair it, I had zero pain. Go figure?!
On the flip side, I have coached two people in the past whose ongoing lower back pain only resolved itself after the first one left a job which had been the source of extreme stress and occasional misery, and in the second case, when we addressed their fear and belief about the risk to their lower back from not having a completely neutral spine when picking up literally anything from the floor.
The Importance of Psychology and Social Environment
What I am saying is that pain is complicated and multifaceted, it is there as a protective mechanism that may come into play even when it isn't needed. It would also seem that your psychology and social environment are far more important than your biology in your experience of ongoing pain.
Psychologically, stress and expectation play a huge role in pain. Pain experiences may lead to catastrophic thoughts and with that a heightened pain experience. Many people hurt themselves on a movement and a seed of fear, and an expectation of pain will be planted for that movement in the future.
Social Narratives and Pain
If we then look at the social element and we think about the prevailing narratives that exist around lifting weights and training, it is easy to see these activities as risky and dangerous.
As a result, there is a lot of fear and foreboding around certain movements, unsolicited comments and advice about lifting being dangerous and "you'll hurt your back doing that" abound everywhere and constantly reinforce this narrative.
Understanding Pain as a Signal
When we go back to looking at pain through the biology lens, it is important to consider that pain, instead of being a signal about injury or damage, may well be a signal about tolerance or capacity of certain tissues.
In order to address tolerance, simple things like reducing the load, adding in a tempo, or opting for a variation of a movement for a few weeks may be all that is needed to resolve that pain before returning to training as normal.
Final Thoughts on Pain Management
It is important to consider that at present you may be suffering, but it will get better. Having a better understanding of all the factors that contribute to your pain experience, and having knowledge about where certain beliefs and expectations come from, I think is empowering.
Combining this with an appreciation that your body will heal and adapt, and that things like lower back pain usually resolve themselves within 6 weeks are useful messages to keep in mind.
Hopefully, you found this whistle-stop tour around some of the factors that contribute to pain useful, and you now have some other avenues to explore when it comes to pain management in your fitness journey.
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life- MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
ENGINE
Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises.
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’re focusing on pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping, and butterfly will appear, followed by lat and core supersets.
On Thursday evening, we’ll focus on handstand hold progressions before having some fun with handstand walks and finishing off the session with core and strength work.
HYROX
This is the Last Simulation before race week. We will lower the volume but keep the intensity high to make sure you are ready for race day!
ENGINE: Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises
MOBILITY
This week, we have the topic: Why are your calves and hamstrings always tight? What can we do to remedy this? Get yourself booked in, and I will show you! This is a great session for everyone, but it is extra beneficial to those runners out there!
PURE STRENGTH
This week's pure strength, we have a chance to progress our 20 RM RDL, followed by some heavy press and strict press cluster sets.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are focusing on the squat clean. With a fun complex followed by some pulls. Perfect technique session, working on the barbell timing and full depth in the clean
Monday Ride
A ride dedicated to group riding skills and some fitness. Coach Rob Foster leads this ride, if you'd like to join email Rob Foster.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Jebel Jais Ride
Today our weekly endurance ride is at Jebel Jais! If you're interested to join email us here.
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Monday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. This week we will be running 600m repeats. Which will start at 5km pace and progress to 3km pace, so that the pace increases within each rep.
Wednesday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be running a negative split session, meaning that the second half is faster than the first. After 30 mins of easy running, lock into a 20 mins block of effort from 7 - 9 RPE.
Saturday
Time: 5:15am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 56km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Sunday
Time: 6:00am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 21km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
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Eid Mubarak, we hope you all have a great long weekend! Class times are different this week, so please check the schedule on Mindbody! We have a great week lined up, so see you all on the gym floor!
Monday:
We start the week with an epic partner workout. Grab a partner, and let's start the week with a bang!
Conditioning:
40 min amrap in pairs
50 Cal Row
6 wall walks
50 CB Clean and Jerk
6 Wall Walks
50 Box Jump Overs
6 Wall Walks
Tuesday:
On Tuesday, we have some push-and-pull work in our strength area, focused on overhead pressing, and then 2 12-minute AMRAPs for you to get stuck into.
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 Alt between
A: 8 Dual DB Z press
B: 20 Alt Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
12 min amrap
30 Wall balls
30/25 cal ski
30 Double Unders
Rest 3 Mins
12 min amrap
30/25 Sal Ass bike
20 V Ups
20 Russian KB Swings
Wednesday:
Wednesday, we are hitting some paused back squats in the strength, and then we get after a real grind of a WOD with some burpee pull-ups, front squats, and running.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 6 - 3/3/2/2/1/1 Tempo Back Squats @21X1
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time
5 Front Squats
Pool Run
5 burpee pull-ups
Thursday:
Thursday, snatch complex with some accessory, followed by the workout ACID BATH.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 8 - 1 Snatch Pull + 1 hang Power Snatch +
1 Power snatch
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 3 - 5 Snatch Grip Deadlift
Conditioning:
For time
500m ski
500m row
1000m c2 bike
Friday:
FUF - Finishing the week with some push-pull work in the strength, before an all-in barbell workout to end the week! What Better!
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 push press
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 4 complete 6 DB bench Press @ 30x1 + 3-5 strict pull ups
Conditioning:
5 min amrap
9 Deadlift
6 Hang Power Clean
3 STOH
Rest 3 mins x 3
At some point, we will all experience pain management challenges in our fitness journey. It's inevitable, and if you expect to never experience it in training, you're in for an unpleasant surprise. I thought it useful to talk about some things to consider around ongoing pain and its incredibly complex nature.
The Complexity of Pain
Collectively, we want a single definitive answer as to what is causing our pain. We want to point to one thing and say "that is the reason," however it is likely just part of the reason. Effective pain management in fitness requires understanding this complexity.
Most people's understanding of pain is based on this idea that pain means damage or injury. That it is purely a result of a "biological issue."
The Biopsychosocial Model of Pain
I have used the term biological, which might seem a little odd, but when we look at pain science, we can see why. Modern pain science is broken down into what is called the "biopsychosocial model." It encompasses your biology, your psychology, and social environments.
It is quite easy to sustain a significant injury, having a huge impact on your biology, and experience no pain at all. Stories of soldiers not realising they have been shot in battle, sportsmen walking off the pitch with tears and breaks.
Personal Experiences with Pain Management
From a purely anecdotal perspective, after ripping my pec tendon off the bone, and after the subsequent surgery to repair it, I had zero pain. Go figure?!
On the flip side, I have coached two people in the past whose ongoing lower back pain only resolved itself after the first one left a job which had been the source of extreme stress and occasional misery, and in the second case, when we addressed their fear and belief about the risk to their lower back from not having a completely neutral spine when picking up literally anything from the floor.
The Importance of Psychology and Social Environment
What I am saying is that pain is complicated and multifaceted, it is there as a protective mechanism that may come into play even when it isn't needed. It would also seem that your psychology and social environment are far more important than your biology in your experience of ongoing pain.
Psychologically, stress and expectation play a huge role in pain. Pain experiences may lead to catastrophic thoughts and with that a heightened pain experience. Many people hurt themselves on a movement and a seed of fear, and an expectation of pain will be planted for that movement in the future.
Social Narratives and Pain
If we then look at the social element and we think about the prevailing narratives that exist around lifting weights and training, it is easy to see these activities as risky and dangerous.
As a result, there is a lot of fear and foreboding around certain movements, unsolicited comments and advice about lifting being dangerous and "you'll hurt your back doing that" abound everywhere and constantly reinforce this narrative.
Understanding Pain as a Signal
When we go back to looking at pain through the biology lens, it is important to consider that pain, instead of being a signal about injury or damage, may well be a signal about tolerance or capacity of certain tissues.
In order to address tolerance, simple things like reducing the load, adding in a tempo, or opting for a variation of a movement for a few weeks may be all that is needed to resolve that pain before returning to training as normal.
Final Thoughts on Pain Management
It is important to consider that at present you may be suffering, but it will get better. Having a better understanding of all the factors that contribute to your pain experience, and having knowledge about where certain beliefs and expectations come from, I think is empowering.
Combining this with an appreciation that your body will heal and adapt, and that things like lower back pain usually resolve themselves within 6 weeks are useful messages to keep in mind.
Hopefully, you found this whistle-stop tour around some of the factors that contribute to pain useful, and you now have some other avenues to explore when it comes to pain management in your fitness journey.
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life- MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
Monday Ride
A ride dedicated to group riding skills and some fitness. Coach Rob Foster leads this ride, if you'd like to join email Rob Foster.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Jebel Jais Ride
Today our weekly endurance ride is at Jebel Jais! If you're interested to join email us here.
Monday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. This week we will be running 600m repeats. Which will start at 5km pace and progress to 3km pace, so that the pace increases within each rep.
Wednesday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be running a negative split session, meaning that the second half is faster than the first. After 30 mins of easy running, lock into a 20 mins block of effort from 7 - 9 RPE.
Saturday
Time: 5:15am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 56km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Sunday
Time: 6:00am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 21km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Eid Mubarak, we hope you all have a great long weekend! Class times are different this week, so please check the schedule on Mindbody! We have a great week lined up, so see you all on the gym floor!
Monday:
We start the week with an epic partner workout. Grab a partner, and let's start the week with a bang!
Conditioning:
40 min amrap in pairs
50 Cal Row
6 wall walks
50 CB Clean and Jerk
6 Wall Walks
50 Box Jump Overs
6 Wall Walks
Tuesday:
On Tuesday, we have some push-and-pull work in our strength area, focused on overhead pressing, and then 2 12-minute AMRAPs for you to get stuck into.
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 Alt between
A: 8 Dual DB Z press
B: 20 Alt Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
12 min amrap
30 Wall balls
30/25 cal ski
30 Double Unders
Rest 3 Mins
12 min amrap
30/25 Sal Ass bike
20 V Ups
20 Russian KB Swings
Wednesday:
Wednesday, we are hitting some paused back squats in the strength, and then we get after a real grind of a WOD with some burpee pull-ups, front squats, and running.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 6 - 3/3/2/2/1/1 Tempo Back Squats @21X1
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time
5 Front Squats
Pool Run
5 burpee pull-ups
Thursday:
Thursday, snatch complex with some accessory, followed by the workout ACID BATH.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 8 - 1 Snatch Pull + 1 hang Power Snatch +
1 Power snatch
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 3 - 5 Snatch Grip Deadlift
Conditioning:
For time
500m ski
500m row
1000m c2 bike
Friday:
FUF - Finishing the week with some push-pull work in the strength, before an all-in barbell workout to end the week! What Better!
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 push press
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 4 complete 6 DB bench Press @ 30x1 + 3-5 strict pull ups
Conditioning:
5 min amrap
9 Deadlift
6 Hang Power Clean
3 STOH
Rest 3 mins x 3
ENGINE
Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises.
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’re focusing on pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping, and butterfly will appear, followed by lat and core supersets.
On Thursday evening, we’ll focus on handstand hold progressions before having some fun with handstand walks and finishing off the session with core and strength work.
HYROX
This is the Last Simulation before race week. We will lower the volume but keep the intensity high to make sure you are ready for race day!
ENGINE: Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises
MOBILITY
This week, we have the topic: Why are your calves and hamstrings always tight? What can we do to remedy this? Get yourself booked in, and I will show you! This is a great session for everyone, but it is extra beneficial to those runners out there!
PURE STRENGTH
This week's pure strength, we have a chance to progress our 20 RM RDL, followed by some heavy press and strict press cluster sets.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are focusing on the squat clean. With a fun complex followed by some pulls. Perfect technique session, working on the barbell timing and full depth in the clean
At some point, we will all experience pain management challenges in our fitness journey. It's inevitable, and if you expect to never experience it in training, you're in for an unpleasant surprise. I thought it useful to talk about some things to consider around ongoing pain and its incredibly complex nature.
The Complexity of Pain
Collectively, we want a single definitive answer as to what is causing our pain. We want to point to one thing and say "that is the reason," however it is likely just part of the reason. Effective pain management in fitness requires understanding this complexity.
Most people's understanding of pain is based on this idea that pain means damage or injury. That it is purely a result of a "biological issue."
The Biopsychosocial Model of Pain
I have used the term biological, which might seem a little odd, but when we look at pain science, we can see why. Modern pain science is broken down into what is called the "biopsychosocial model." It encompasses your biology, your psychology, and social environments.
It is quite easy to sustain a significant injury, having a huge impact on your biology, and experience no pain at all. Stories of soldiers not realising they have been shot in battle, sportsmen walking off the pitch with tears and breaks.
Personal Experiences with Pain Management
From a purely anecdotal perspective, after ripping my pec tendon off the bone, and after the subsequent surgery to repair it, I had zero pain. Go figure?!
On the flip side, I have coached two people in the past whose ongoing lower back pain only resolved itself after the first one left a job which had been the source of extreme stress and occasional misery, and in the second case, when we addressed their fear and belief about the risk to their lower back from not having a completely neutral spine when picking up literally anything from the floor.
The Importance of Psychology and Social Environment
What I am saying is that pain is complicated and multifaceted, it is there as a protective mechanism that may come into play even when it isn't needed. It would also seem that your psychology and social environment are far more important than your biology in your experience of ongoing pain.
Psychologically, stress and expectation play a huge role in pain. Pain experiences may lead to catastrophic thoughts and with that a heightened pain experience. Many people hurt themselves on a movement and a seed of fear, and an expectation of pain will be planted for that movement in the future.
Social Narratives and Pain
If we then look at the social element and we think about the prevailing narratives that exist around lifting weights and training, it is easy to see these activities as risky and dangerous.
As a result, there is a lot of fear and foreboding around certain movements, unsolicited comments and advice about lifting being dangerous and "you'll hurt your back doing that" abound everywhere and constantly reinforce this narrative.
Understanding Pain as a Signal
When we go back to looking at pain through the biology lens, it is important to consider that pain, instead of being a signal about injury or damage, may well be a signal about tolerance or capacity of certain tissues.
In order to address tolerance, simple things like reducing the load, adding in a tempo, or opting for a variation of a movement for a few weeks may be all that is needed to resolve that pain before returning to training as normal.
Final Thoughts on Pain Management
It is important to consider that at present you may be suffering, but it will get better. Having a better understanding of all the factors that contribute to your pain experience, and having knowledge about where certain beliefs and expectations come from, I think is empowering.
Combining this with an appreciation that your body will heal and adapt, and that things like lower back pain usually resolve themselves within 6 weeks are useful messages to keep in mind.
Hopefully, you found this whistle-stop tour around some of the factors that contribute to pain useful, and you now have some other avenues to explore when it comes to pain management in your fitness journey.
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life- MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
Monday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. This week we will be running 600m repeats. Which will start at 5km pace and progress to 3km pace, so that the pace increases within each rep.
Wednesday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be running a negative split session, meaning that the second half is faster than the first. After 30 mins of easy running, lock into a 20 mins block of effort from 7 - 9 RPE.
Saturday
Time: 5:15am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 56km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Sunday
Time: 6:00am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 21km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Eid Mubarak, we hope you all have a great long weekend! Class times are different this week, so please check the schedule on Mindbody! We have a great week lined up, so see you all on the gym floor!
Monday:
We start the week with an epic partner workout. Grab a partner, and let's start the week with a bang!
Conditioning:
40 min amrap in pairs
50 Cal Row
6 wall walks
50 CB Clean and Jerk
6 Wall Walks
50 Box Jump Overs
6 Wall Walks
Tuesday:
On Tuesday, we have some push-and-pull work in our strength area, focused on overhead pressing, and then 2 12-minute AMRAPs for you to get stuck into.
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 Alt between
A: 8 Dual DB Z press
B: 20 Alt Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
12 min amrap
30 Wall balls
30/25 cal ski
30 Double Unders
Rest 3 Mins
12 min amrap
30/25 Sal Ass bike
20 V Ups
20 Russian KB Swings
Wednesday:
Wednesday, we are hitting some paused back squats in the strength, and then we get after a real grind of a WOD with some burpee pull-ups, front squats, and running.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 6 - 3/3/2/2/1/1 Tempo Back Squats @21X1
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time
5 Front Squats
Pool Run
5 burpee pull-ups
Thursday:
Thursday, snatch complex with some accessory, followed by the workout ACID BATH.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 8 - 1 Snatch Pull + 1 hang Power Snatch +
1 Power snatch
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 3 - 5 Snatch Grip Deadlift
Conditioning:
For time
500m ski
500m row
1000m c2 bike
Friday:
FUF - Finishing the week with some push-pull work in the strength, before an all-in barbell workout to end the week! What Better!
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 push press
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 4 complete 6 DB bench Press @ 30x1 + 3-5 strict pull ups
Conditioning:
5 min amrap
9 Deadlift
6 Hang Power Clean
3 STOH
Rest 3 mins x 3
ENGINE
Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises.
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’re focusing on pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping, and butterfly will appear, followed by lat and core supersets.
On Thursday evening, we’ll focus on handstand hold progressions before having some fun with handstand walks and finishing off the session with core and strength work.
HYROX
This is the Last Simulation before race week. We will lower the volume but keep the intensity high to make sure you are ready for race day!
ENGINE: Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises
MOBILITY
This week, we have the topic: Why are your calves and hamstrings always tight? What can we do to remedy this? Get yourself booked in, and I will show you! This is a great session for everyone, but it is extra beneficial to those runners out there!
PURE STRENGTH
This week's pure strength, we have a chance to progress our 20 RM RDL, followed by some heavy press and strict press cluster sets.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are focusing on the squat clean. With a fun complex followed by some pulls. Perfect technique session, working on the barbell timing and full depth in the clean
Monday Ride
A ride dedicated to group riding skills and some fitness. Coach Rob Foster leads this ride, if you'd like to join email Rob Foster.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Jebel Jais Ride
Today our weekly endurance ride is at Jebel Jais! If you're interested to join email us here.
At some point, we will all experience pain management challenges in our fitness journey. It's inevitable, and if you expect to never experience it in training, you're in for an unpleasant surprise. I thought it useful to talk about some things to consider around ongoing pain and its incredibly complex nature.
The Complexity of Pain
Collectively, we want a single definitive answer as to what is causing our pain. We want to point to one thing and say "that is the reason," however it is likely just part of the reason. Effective pain management in fitness requires understanding this complexity.
Most people's understanding of pain is based on this idea that pain means damage or injury. That it is purely a result of a "biological issue."
The Biopsychosocial Model of Pain
I have used the term biological, which might seem a little odd, but when we look at pain science, we can see why. Modern pain science is broken down into what is called the "biopsychosocial model." It encompasses your biology, your psychology, and social environments.
It is quite easy to sustain a significant injury, having a huge impact on your biology, and experience no pain at all. Stories of soldiers not realising they have been shot in battle, sportsmen walking off the pitch with tears and breaks.
Personal Experiences with Pain Management
From a purely anecdotal perspective, after ripping my pec tendon off the bone, and after the subsequent surgery to repair it, I had zero pain. Go figure?!
On the flip side, I have coached two people in the past whose ongoing lower back pain only resolved itself after the first one left a job which had been the source of extreme stress and occasional misery, and in the second case, when we addressed their fear and belief about the risk to their lower back from not having a completely neutral spine when picking up literally anything from the floor.
The Importance of Psychology and Social Environment
What I am saying is that pain is complicated and multifaceted, it is there as a protective mechanism that may come into play even when it isn't needed. It would also seem that your psychology and social environment are far more important than your biology in your experience of ongoing pain.
Psychologically, stress and expectation play a huge role in pain. Pain experiences may lead to catastrophic thoughts and with that a heightened pain experience. Many people hurt themselves on a movement and a seed of fear, and an expectation of pain will be planted for that movement in the future.
Social Narratives and Pain
If we then look at the social element and we think about the prevailing narratives that exist around lifting weights and training, it is easy to see these activities as risky and dangerous.
As a result, there is a lot of fear and foreboding around certain movements, unsolicited comments and advice about lifting being dangerous and "you'll hurt your back doing that" abound everywhere and constantly reinforce this narrative.
Understanding Pain as a Signal
When we go back to looking at pain through the biology lens, it is important to consider that pain, instead of being a signal about injury or damage, may well be a signal about tolerance or capacity of certain tissues.
In order to address tolerance, simple things like reducing the load, adding in a tempo, or opting for a variation of a movement for a few weeks may be all that is needed to resolve that pain before returning to training as normal.
Final Thoughts on Pain Management
It is important to consider that at present you may be suffering, but it will get better. Having a better understanding of all the factors that contribute to your pain experience, and having knowledge about where certain beliefs and expectations come from, I think is empowering.
Combining this with an appreciation that your body will heal and adapt, and that things like lower back pain usually resolve themselves within 6 weeks are useful messages to keep in mind.
Hopefully, you found this whistle-stop tour around some of the factors that contribute to pain useful, and you now have some other avenues to explore when it comes to pain management in your fitness journey.
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life- MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
At some point, we will all experience pain management challenges in our fitness journey. It's inevitable, and if you expect to never experience it in training, you're in for an unpleasant surprise. I thought it useful to talk about some things to consider around ongoing pain and its incredibly complex nature.
The Complexity of Pain
Collectively, we want a single definitive answer as to what is causing our pain. We want to point to one thing and say "that is the reason," however it is likely just part of the reason. Effective pain management in fitness requires understanding this complexity.
Most people's understanding of pain is based on this idea that pain means damage or injury. That it is purely a result of a "biological issue."
The Biopsychosocial Model of Pain
I have used the term biological, which might seem a little odd, but when we look at pain science, we can see why. Modern pain science is broken down into what is called the "biopsychosocial model." It encompasses your biology, your psychology, and social environments.
It is quite easy to sustain a significant injury, having a huge impact on your biology, and experience no pain at all. Stories of soldiers not realising they have been shot in battle, sportsmen walking off the pitch with tears and breaks.
Personal Experiences with Pain Management
From a purely anecdotal perspective, after ripping my pec tendon off the bone, and after the subsequent surgery to repair it, I had zero pain. Go figure?!
On the flip side, I have coached two people in the past whose ongoing lower back pain only resolved itself after the first one left a job which had been the source of extreme stress and occasional misery, and in the second case, when we addressed their fear and belief about the risk to their lower back from not having a completely neutral spine when picking up literally anything from the floor.
The Importance of Psychology and Social Environment
What I am saying is that pain is complicated and multifaceted, it is there as a protective mechanism that may come into play even when it isn't needed. It would also seem that your psychology and social environment are far more important than your biology in your experience of ongoing pain.
Psychologically, stress and expectation play a huge role in pain. Pain experiences may lead to catastrophic thoughts and with that a heightened pain experience. Many people hurt themselves on a movement and a seed of fear, and an expectation of pain will be planted for that movement in the future.
Social Narratives and Pain
If we then look at the social element and we think about the prevailing narratives that exist around lifting weights and training, it is easy to see these activities as risky and dangerous.
As a result, there is a lot of fear and foreboding around certain movements, unsolicited comments and advice about lifting being dangerous and "you'll hurt your back doing that" abound everywhere and constantly reinforce this narrative.
Understanding Pain as a Signal
When we go back to looking at pain through the biology lens, it is important to consider that pain, instead of being a signal about injury or damage, may well be a signal about tolerance or capacity of certain tissues.
In order to address tolerance, simple things like reducing the load, adding in a tempo, or opting for a variation of a movement for a few weeks may be all that is needed to resolve that pain before returning to training as normal.
Final Thoughts on Pain Management
It is important to consider that at present you may be suffering, but it will get better. Having a better understanding of all the factors that contribute to your pain experience, and having knowledge about where certain beliefs and expectations come from, I think is empowering.
Combining this with an appreciation that your body will heal and adapt, and that things like lower back pain usually resolve themselves within 6 weeks are useful messages to keep in mind.
Hopefully, you found this whistle-stop tour around some of the factors that contribute to pain useful, and you now have some other avenues to explore when it comes to pain management in your fitness journey.
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