Pain isn't just about the injury - why we ask uncomfortable questions
Ever wondered why your physiotherapist asks about your lifestyle during appointments?
We use SNAPSS as a guide to understand how lifestyle factors deeply affect how you feel pain and how your body handles inflammation. Let's explore why SNAPSS matters and how it plays a crucial role in tailoring treatments for better pain relief and improved recovery.
SNAPSS covers Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol, Physical Activity, Stress, and Sleep. These aspects of your lifestyle have a powerful impact on how you experience pain and deal with inflammation in your body. Understanding each of these factors helps us create a more effective plan to manage your pain and support your healing process.
Smoking:
Lighting up or vaping might seem unrelated to your injury, but nicotine from smoking slows down the body's ability to repair tissues. Research indicates that both smoking and e-cigarettes can disrupt the healing process post-surgeries or injuries, affecting tendon health and impeding repair and blood flow. Hence, understanding your smoking or vaping habits assists us in gauging your body's healing potential more accurately.
Nutrition:
Picture body fat as a factory producing inflammatory substances. When there's too much fat, it's like this factory is on overdrive, causing constant low-level inflammation. This can lead to problems like joint pain – and main reason people are often told to “lose some weight” when they have joint pain (not because it “reduces load on the joint”.
Additionally, insufficient protein intake is a key factor contributing to sarcopenia, a condition characterised by the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength in older individuals. As we age, our bodies may become less efficient at using dietary protein to support muscle maintenance and repair. So low protein intake can hinder the body's ability to build and maintain muscle tissue, accelerating the decline in muscle mass and strength associated with sarcopenia.
Alcohol:
A night of drinks can affect how your body heals from injuries - it's like having a hurdle in the way of your body's repair process. Your body's natural response to heal that injury might be slowed down because of the alcohol in your system. This can cause delays in healing and might make the injury more prone to complications like infections. So, whether it's a small cut or a more serious injury, alcohol can interfere with the body's ability to heal itself properly.
Physical Activity
This isn’t just about hitting the gym; it's about understanding how your body moves. Overdoing certain activities without proper rest can lead to injuries, but not doing any strengthening at all might mean you’re a bit too weak and prone to injuries! That's why your physio asks about your workout routine. Exercises that strengthen your muscles are crucial. Weak muscles, especially as we get older, can cause problems, so focusing on strength training is key to staying active and injury-free.
Sleep
Sleep plays a vital role in pain perception and tolerance. When we don't get enough quality sleep, our pain threshold tends to decrease, meaning we might feel pain more intensely. It's like our body's defence system becomes a bit more sensitive. Additionally, sleep deprivation can affect our body's natural pain-relieving mechanisms, making it harder to cope with discomfort. Research suggests that lack of sleep can disrupt the body's ability to regulate pain and may amplify the perception of pain signals. In essence, prioritising good sleep isn't just about feeling refreshed; it also helps in managing pain more effectively, making it an essential factor in overall well-being and pain management strategies.
Stress
Stress can significantly impact both pain tolerance and tissue healing. When we're under stress, our bodies produce cortisol, a hormone associated with the body's "fight or flight" response. Elevated cortisol levels can heighten pain perception, making us more sensitive to discomfort. Stress also messes with your body's natural healing, making injuries take longer to heal.
Putting It All Together
We employ SNAPSS to gain a comprehensive overview of your health - these factors aren't a mere afterthought, it's crucial in your journey to managing pain effectively. By making changes in these areas, you're not just helping your pain; you're improving your overall health too.
Remember, pain is complex and influenced by various factors beyond just the injury itself. Taking charge of your lifestyle and making small, sustainable changes can pave the way for reduced pain, improved health, and a more vibrant life. So, let's work together to not only manage your pain but also enhance your overall quality of life.
This blog and the contents within are shared to enrich the understanding that members of the Elevation One community have in relation to physiotherapy and general health. It should not be used to diagnose any medical conditions and is not health advice. We always recommend seeking a medical professional for your health concerns.
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