Over 80% of women experience consistent painful periods throughout the course of their lives. But through a better understanding of the intricacies of the nervous system, women can break free of this constant struggle. Utilising the gate control theory can empower women to take control of their periods and live more fulfilling, pain-free lives.
What is the gate control theory?
Have you ever wondered why it feels better to hold your toe after you stub it? Or why you want to rub your leg after running into something? Both of these urges are due to something called the gate control theory.
The gate control theory is a mechanism in the spinal cord that affects the degree of pain that we feel. This metaphorical “gate” can be either open or closed. When the gate is open, signals travel up the spinal cord and to the brain, which causes the sensation of pain. When the gate is closed, the force of these signals is reduced, minimising the feeling of pain.
The gate control theory can be activated in various ways, one of the simplest being to touch an area that is in pain. This action blocks some pain signals, reducing the intensity of pain felt. For instance, when you stub your toe, the urge to hold or rub it provides a non-painful stimulus that distracts you from the pain.
This effect occurs due to the different roles of large and small nerve fibres: large fibres quickly send touch and pressure signals to the brain, while small fibres transmit pain signals more slowly. Since our brain can only interpret a certain amount of signals at any given moment, activating large nerve fibres by touching or rubbing the area where you are experiencing pain can bypass and block some of the pain signals sent by the small fibres.
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Large Nerve Fibres
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Small Nerve Fibres
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Responsible for sending signals to the brain regarding touch and pressure on your skin.
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Send signals for pain and temperature
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Much quicker at sending signals to the brain
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Slower at sending signals to the brain
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Without even knowing it, I have been accessing the power of the gate control theory for my entire life. As a very clumsy child, I would often bump into doorways and scrape my knees. I made a habit of putting pressure on my injuries by clutching or rubbing wherever I hurt myself. In my adult life, I have utilised the gate control theory by massaging my lower abdomen and back when I am experiencing period pain and also when I occasionally revert back to my clumsy ways!
What does that mean for me?
This means you can also experience pain relief by harnessing the gate control theory. Having a better understanding of the way that your body experiences pain and ways you can reduce discomfort will lead you to a more enjoyable, pain-free life. It could be as simple as massaging where you are experiencing soreness or using devices like the Circe TENS Device.
How can the Circe TENS Device help with my period pain?
The Circe TENS Device utilises the gate control theory by activating the large nerve fibres where it is applied to the body. The activation of these fibres blocks pain signals that are sent to the brain. The small electrical pulses can have a slight tingling or tapping feeling, which is how the large nerve fibres are activated. This sensation effectively “closes the gate” and reduces the sensation of pain caused by menstrual cramps.
How the gate control theory can empower you.
You do not have to suffer from period pain in silence. By having a better understanding of the way that our bodies work, we can gain control over our lives. Knowledge is power. Using science-backed natural pain relief methods, we can shift our ideas about what period pain is. With TENS, us women are given the power to lead more comfortable and fulfilling lives; lives free of discomfort due to periods.
If you would like to learn more about how you can live a pain-free life, explore more articles on our blog. Here, you can find other pain-relief methods, and the solutions to your unanswered questions about the Circe TENS Device.