22/03/2025
๐ ๐๐๐ฎ โ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐จโ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ง๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค
I recently came across a comment on social media that said, โDo not trigger the pain receptorsโ in response to someone lying still on a foam roller. At first glance, it sounds logical, but when you understand modern pain science, it falls apart.
๐ซ First, pain receptors do not exist.
What we do have are nociceptors, sensory neurons that detect potential (or actual) threat such as extreme temperatures, pressure, chemical changes which send signals to the brain. But, and this is the key part, these nociceptive signals are not the same thing as pain.
๐ง Pain is an output, not an input.
More specifically, it is a perception created by the brain when it decides that a situation is threatening enough to warrant a protective response. This is why:
โ๏ธ You can have nociceptive input (signals from nociceptors) without pain.
โ๏ธ You can also have pain without nociceptive input (like in phantom limb pain).
๐ก So, what happens when you lie on a foam roller?
Nociceptors might detect pressure and send signals to the brain. But whether you experience pain or just discomfort depends on how your nervous system interprets the situation. Factors like:
๐น Past injuries ๐น Emotions ๐น Stress levels ๐น Expectations ๐น Context
all influence whether the brain decides that pain is required as a protective mechanism.
๐ฅ Pain does not live in the tissues.
It is not something you โtriggerโ like flipping a switch. Instead of blaming the tissue, we need to ask why the nervous system is interpreting something as a threat.
๐ Next time you hear someone say โdo not trigger the pain receptorsโ, remember:
๐ซ There are no pain receptors.
๐ซ Pain does not live in the body.
๐ซ Pain is not a simple mechanical response.
Pain is a whole-person experience, not just a single-point event. Letโs keep the conversation evidence-based and move beyond outdated ideas! ๐