When it hurts
Applied pain science, movement and internal arts
I wrote this article to kick off some discussions about pain among practitioners of internal martial arts (Tai Chi, qigong, Bagua …). Originally it was on another platform dedicated to the broad study of martial arts. So what’s in it?
We start with a summary of how I understand pain science which is meant to be practical and easy to follow.
I follow this up with a short personal example, osteoarthritis in a martial arts professional. Fun.
Next, how the science can apply to movement training. If you don’t practice a martial art what you read can equally apply to Yoga and dance. You may find that with thought and experimentation it’s possible to lever this knowledge to your advantage.
There is a short consideration of models, and how the while valuable it can be useful to suspend Western scientific views for a full immersion in experience. This includes how not to turn into a new age conspiracist.
Finally, I invite you to share your experiences and understanding.
Pain science
Pain science has a large body of research, and it is far from complete Also, I am not at all an expert. If you are troubled by pain, this article is not meant to be a substitute for…
