Understanding Pain: The Threat Bucket Metaphor
Today, I want to introduce you to a game-changing metaphor that may seem simple at first glance, but it forms the very foundation of movement practices. It's called the "Threat Bucket," and it's a concept that can revolutionize how we perceive and manage pain.
Dr. Lorimer Moseley, a renowned expert in pain science, is the mastermind behind this metaphor kinda sorta. He created something called The Threat Neuro-Matrix. He suggests that pain is not solely a response to injury, and injury doesn't always lead to pain. This can be a tough pill to swallow, but bear with me, because it's an eye-opener. I learned this metaphor from Dr. Cobb of Z-Health while he was discussing it with another master trainer and they came up with this threat bucket. I have used it ever since, and still do and always will.
Imagine yourself as a bucket or you have a bucket and everything that has ever happened to you, whether it's your beliefs, culture, environment, ethnicity, history, geographical location, or your personal pain history, goes into this bucket. It's like your own unique collection of life experiences.
For example, you had a bout of vertigo last Sunday, indulged in pizza that didn't sit well with your stomach, had spine surgery, got a concussion in high school, fell on your head during a dance performance, have a tattoo on your left bicep, and the list goes on. Each of these experiences, big or small, contributes to filling up your threat bucket.
Now, here's where it gets interesting.
Your threat bucket can fill up quite a bit over time, and you might not even realize it. It's like adding drops to a full glass. Then, one day, something seemingly innocuous happens – you pick up a basket of laundry, reach for a pencil, or bend over to grab a bagel that your kid dropped in the car. This mundane action, let's call it "X," pushes your bucket to its limit, causing something to spill out.
That “something” is the actual experience of pain. It's not just about the laundry, pencil, or bagel; it's the cumulative effect of all the things in your threat bucket. Even minor changes, like living in a drier climate or breathing through your mouth more often, can add to the nervous system's load.
So, what's our role in this? How can we navigate the world of pain and discomfort? Our mission is 2-fold: to stay in our lanes and to lower the threats in the threat bucket.
Staying in our lanes means recognizing that some issues, like relationship troubles or unresolved conflicts, may require the expertise of a different professional. Our focus is on exploring how we can minimize the factors contributing to pain within our area of expertise.
Whether it's addressing discomfort in your right eye, dealing with numbness in your left knee, or enhancing the mobility of your left ankle, there are always steps we can take to reduce the threats. Our goal is to lower the threat level and, in turn, minimize the chances of your threat bucket overflowing, leading to pain.
So, the next time you experience pain, remember that it's not just about the immediate cause but the culmination of everything in your threat bucket. By understanding and managing these threats, we can take control of our pain experiences and live healthier, happier lives.
My advice:
Make a list of everything you can’t control and a list of everything you CAN (or do this with your clients).
Then focus on the things you CAN CONTROL since we all know there is a sh*t ton of stuff we can’t control.
Start to chip away at the lowest hanging fruit (like more water and veggies) rather than healing 20 year childhood trauma over night. Focus on the little wins, that add up overtime and watch the gap increase between the threats and the threshold.
Email me back if this was helpful or you had a little lightbulb moment!!!