Self-Healing: A Concept for Musculoskeletal Body Pain Management – Scientific Evidence and Mode of Action

Joyce McSwan,1,* Jeffrey Gudin,2,* Xue-Jun Song,3 Perola Grinberg Plapler,4 Neil John Betteridge,5 Hayet Kechemir,6 Iva Igracki-Turudic,7 Gisele Pickering8 1GCPHN Persistent Pain Program, PainWISE, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia; 2Department of Anesthesiology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; 3SUSTech Center of Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 4Division of Physical Medicine, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; 5Neil Betteridge Associates Ltd, London, UK; 6Consumer Healthcare Medical Affairs Department, Sanofi CHC, Paris, France; 7Consumer Healthcare Medical Affairs Department, Sanofi CHC, Frankfurt, Germany; 8Clinical Investigation Center CIC Inserm 1405, University Hospital Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Gisele PickeringClinical Investigation Center CIC Inserm 1405, University Hospital Clermont-Ferrand, rue Montalembert, CHU G Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, 63000, FranceTel +33 4 73 17 84 16Fax +33 4 73 17 84 12Email gisele.pickering@uca.frAbstract: Traditionally, musculoskeletal pain management has focused on the use of conventional treatments to relieve pain. However, multi-modal integrative medicine including alternative/complementary treatments is becoming more widely used and integrated into treatment guidelines around the world. The uptake of this approach varies according to country, with generally a higher uptake in developed countries and in females aged more than 40 years. Integral to the concept described here, is that the body has an innate ability to self-heal, which can be optimized by the use of integrative medical strategies. Stress triggers for acute or recurring musculoskeletal pain are diverse and can range from physical to psychological. The mechanism by which the body responds to triggers and initiates the self-healing processes is complex, but five body networks or processes are thought to be integral: the nervous system, microcirculation/vasodilation, immune modulation, muscular relaxation/contraction and psychological balance. Multi-modal integrative medicine approaches include nutritional/dietary modification, postural/muscular training exercises, and cognitive behavioral mind/body techniques. This article will review the self-healing concept and provide plausible scientific evidence where available.Keywords: innate, complementary, intrinsic ability, multi-modal, acute, equilibrium