Graded Exposure: A Smarter Way to Tackle Persistent Pain with Myotherapy in Geelong
Graded Exposure: A Smarter Way to Overcome Persistent Pain with Myotherapy in Geelong
Struggling with Persistent Pain? You're Not Alone.
Pain can be frustrating, limiting—and when it lingers—deeply confusing. At The Manx Myo, we often meet clients who’ve been told their pain is something they’ll just have to “live with.”
But what if there was a better way to retrain your body and brain to move safely and confidently again?
That’s where graded exposure comes in: a clinically supported, patient-centred technique we use in our Geelong myotherapy treatments to help reduce pain and rebuild trust in movement.
💡 What Is Graded Exposure Therapy?
Graded exposure is a structured approach that gently reintroduces movements that have become painful or fear-inducing over time.
Instead of avoiding movement (which often increases fear and sensitivity), we gradually rebuild confidence by showing your body that it’s safe to move—step by step, without flaring up symptoms.
Think of it as nervous system re-education—much like how phobias are treated. We apply that same gradual approach to physical movement and pain.
🧠 Why Does Pain Persist?
Pain isn’t always a sign of damage.
With chronic or long-term pain, the nervous system can become hypersensitive—like a car alarm going off from a gust of wind instead of a break-in.
Factors that influence this heightened response include:
Previous injury or trauma
Ongoing stress or poor sleep
Fear of re-injury or movement
Negative beliefs about pain
This sensitivity can make simple tasks like bending down or lifting your arm feel threatening—even when tissues have healed.
✅ How Graded Exposure Helps (in Myotherapy Sessions at The Manx Myo)
In your Geelong myotherapy appointment, we may use graded exposure techniques alongside other therapies to help you:
🌀 Reduce fear of movement or re-injury
💪 Rebuild physical confidence
🌿 Calm your nervous system
🚶♂️ Restore function gradually and safely
Example:
If bending over to tie your shoes is painful, we don’t jump straight into forward folds. We might start with gentle hip hinges or seated lean-ins—whatever your body can tolerate without flaring up. Over time, we increase load and range, based on your personal goals.
🔍 What Graded Exposure Is Not
🚫 It’s not “pushing through the pain”
🚫 It’s not a cookie-cutter rehab plan
🚫 It’s not an instant fix
Instead, it’s a collaborative, tailored approach. At The Manx Myo, we design each plan based on your body, history, lifestyle, and even your mindset toward pain.
📍 Is Graded Exposure Right for You?
You might benefit from this approach if:
You’ve experienced long-term or recurring pain
You’re avoiding movement out of fear
You’ve had limited success with other rehab methods
Graded exposure doesn’t ignore your pain—it respects it. And it works with your nervous system, not against it.
👣 Ready to Move with Confidence Again?
At The Manx Myo in Geelong, our focus is on more than just symptom relief—we help you rebuild function, trust, and long-term wellbeing.
With 13+ years of experience, Tom (Myotherapist) brings clinical skill, care, and a tailored approach to every treatment session.
✅ Book Your Myotherapy Consultation in Geelong
🗓️ Book online here
💬 Got questions first? Use the chat icon to request a free 10-minute consult.
