Question

Define: Gate Control Theory of pain perception  

Answer 1

The Gate Control Theory of pain shows us how pain is transferred from one part of our body to another. First of all let us discuss how do we feel pain. Pain is the body's own method or way of letting us know that what we are doing or experiencing is harmful & needs to stop immediately. In short we can say pain sensations are meant for our protection purpose only. Pain starts at the source where injury generally takes place. It automatically generates pain receptors which releases chemicals carrying pain message from its receptors to the brain, in the brain that message is being forwarded to celebral cortex which in turn process the message & we ultimately feel pain sensation. There is a 'Gate' in the spinal cord between the pain site in the body & the brain. This gate can be opened or closed based on the individual response to the pain. We have two sets of nervesthat go to the brain from the body. The small nerves where the pain travels , the large nerves we use for the movement like shaking hands with someone. Let us understand giving an example- When we see a tiger then our survival instinct says leave everything & run as fast as you can as it is more important to run away to save our life in other words to feel the pain of injuries given by the tiger. So avoiding the feeling of pain becomes the main element & it let it go through the gate first & then with call gate out the pain. This theory is proposed by Ronald Melzack & Patrick Wall, suggest that our spinal cord contains neurological 'Gate' which either blocks pain signals or allows them to continue to the brain.Pain signals travelling through the small nerve fibres are allowed to pass whereas signals send by the large ones are blocked. When there is more large fiber activity in comparison to pain fiber activity, people tend to experience less pain?. This Gate Control Theory is often used to explain how touch and message can be very helpful during childbirth. This theory revolutionize the treatment of pain for all of us. This theory is used very actively to reduce pain in physiotherapy treatment which uses touch therapy since touch increases large fiber activity,it gives positive results of reducing pain as it blocks the pain .