Series: The Biopsychosocial Pain Model - Part 1, Biology

Pain is a complex topic. One proposed model, and the one I use at here at Elevé, is the biopsychosocial pain model. In essence, this theory proposes that the sensation of pain is made up of three different factors: biology, psychology, and social influences. The combination of these is what manifests itself as pain in your body. In this series, I'm going to go through all three of those, and today I'll start with biology.

Biology is probably what you think of most when you think of an injury. It accounts for the parts of pain that come from tissue damage or dysfunction. Lets say you scrape your knee. The scrape can damage skin cells where nociceptors (pain-sensing nerves) lie. Those nociceptors then transmit that data to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord where the information is processed. The signal then travels up the lateral spinothalamic tract to the brain where it is processed in the thalamus, and finally you perceive the sensation as pain. All this happens in less than a second.

A Neuron, which is responsible for transmitting signals throughout the body

However, pain isn’t just about sensation—it’s also about how the body responds to and adapts to injury. This is where chiropractic care can help. When joints aren’t moving properly due to injury, inflammation, or muscular tension, it can lead to persistent pain signals and altered movement patterns. Chiropractic adjustments restore normal joint motion, which can help reduce nociceptive input and improve function. Additionally, techniques like soft tissue work and Graston therapy can break up adhesions, improve blood flow, and decrease muscular tension, further aiding the body’s natural healing process.

By addressing the biological factors of pain through movement and manual therapy, chiropractic care helps not only relieve pain but also restore function—so you can stay active and move with confidence. Book your appointment now to start reducing your pain and restoring function back into your life.