What kind of pain are you describing?

There are many different kinds of pain.

Understanding some of the presentations and behaviors that go with pain can help you dial in your client and athlete sessions better!

It can also help you decide if you need to make a referral.

There are two very important presentations that every practitioner should know about.

If you've ever invested time into trying to help people eliminate stubborn pain you probably are going to recognize what I am talking about!

I mean the kind of pain that frustrates the heck out of you and leaves you confused!

Viscerally mediated pain

Think organ referral.

Here's the scenario - client is highly emotional about the pain. Not necessarily crying but the way they describe what they are feeling is emotional and exhausting for them.

Compare this to a none visceral pain and the client usually describes frustration about the situation.

People with visceral pain will tell you that people think they are crazy because sometimes the pain is there and sometimes it's not!

Sometimes it hurts them to move, other times it doesn't.

They are unable to show you a movement that hurts but they will swear it hurt yesterday.

They cannot point to the exact location of pain and they show you a very broad area.

Then they will show you a slightly different location every time you ask.

Metabolic Mediated Pain

We call this "the floating pain."

Here's the scenario - client shows you a definitive location of shoulder pain.

You help them with an exercise.

They immediately think you are a hero and they feel amazing!

You're thinking "wow I'm a hero!"

2 minutes later, they say now my neck hurts!

You do your thing, become a hero and now their neck is better but their thumbs hurt!

So, you deal with that and all of a sudden it's as if they never had shoulder pain and they are more focused on their hip pain!

You didn't even know they had hip pain!

And the cycle continues.

The pain floats.

Metabolic dysregulation is a common culprit here!!

Knowing your various presentations on pain and behavior is instrumental for helping people succeed!

About the Author:

Taylor Kruse, recently featured in Men's Health, is dedicated to empowering you with the truth and tools for improved health and performance.

His inspiration stems from more than 10 years of education and coaching through systems like Zhealth Performance, The Burdenko Method, and various movement practices.