Referred Pain Explained

Have you ever wondered why you can feel pain in one area of your body when the source may actually be somewhere else?

This is known as referred pain. Our bodies are connected through muscles, fascia and networks of nerves, and pain signals travel along nerve pathways to the spinal cord and brain. Sometimes, signals from different areas enter the nervous system through similar pathways, making it difficult for the brain to pinpoint exactly where the discomfort is coming from.

For example, tension in the muscles and fascia around the neck can sometimes contribute to pain that is felt as a headache or around the temples. The discomfort is real, but the source may not be where you actually feel the pain.

This is why looking beyond the painful area can sometimes be helpful. Rather than simply treating where it hurts, it can be useful to consider surrounding muscles, fascia, joints, movement patterns and the nervous system as a whole.

The body is much more interconnected than we often realise. However, not all pain is referred or caused by muscles and fascia, so persistent, severe or unexplained pain should always be assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional.