Love - The Driving Force Behind Movement Longevity (NRE Principle 5/5)

Writing this post has been one of the most challenging things I’ve done in a long time. How do you summarise the essence of love, family, passion, humility, gratitude, joy, and purpose into a brief blog, and then relate that to pain management and movement longevity? You simply cannot. These concepts are too vast, too intricate, to fully explain in a short space. But one thing is certain: love is the foundation for all meaningful change, especially when it comes to taking care of our bodies as we age.

When I think of love, one saying springs to mind: “You can have it all, but you cannot have it all at once.” This rings particularly true when discussing movement longevity and health. Yes, you can achieve your physical goals, overcome injury, or attain movement freedom, but it feels empty if you don’t have love—whether it’s self-love or love from others—to support and share in that journey.

The Role of Love in Movement and Healing

In my experience as a chiropractor and advocate for movement therapy, I’ve come to realise that love plays a critical role in pain management and movement longevity. It may not seem obvious at first, but love is the why that drives us to move, heal, and improve. Without it, our actions can feel purposeless, and our neural pathways adapt in erratic, unfocused ways, leading us back to where we started.

I still remember winning my first national title in 2017. It was a major milestone, but for the first time, I can admit that it felt empty. My motivation had been rooted in vanity, and when I achieved the goal, there was no one by my side to share it with. That emptiness led me to a deeper understanding of what truly matters: love and relationships.

Love and the NRE Framework

One of the core principles of Neural Re-Education (NRE) and movement longevity is the idea of purpose-driven movement. Our brains are hardwired for social connections, and without love or social interaction, the drive to improve movement or manage pain diminishes. Love, in this context, is the guiding force that channels focus, accountability, and resilience into positive neural adaptation.

Here’s how love impacts movement and pain management:

1. Social Interactions
   The importance of love in the form of social relationships cannot be understated. Loneliness has been shown to negatively impact health outcomes, particularly in relation to chronic pain. Studies have found that people with strong social connections report less pain and a greater sense of wellbeing. Without human connection, what's the point of striving for physical health?

2. Accountability
   When you have someone you care about—whether it’s a partner, a family member, or even a community—holding you accountable to your health and movement goals, the chances of achieving those goals increase dramatically. Research shows that accountability within a social network improves adherence to health routines, whether it's exercise, rehabilitation, or general health habits .

3. Perception and Stress Management
   Love helps put everything into perspective. When you're loved and supported, stress feels more manageable. The emotional buffer provided by love helps regulate cortisol levels and promotes quicker recovery from stress, which is a key element in pain management. Chronic stress, on the other hand, exacerbates pain, particularly in conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic back pain.

4. Mindset and Optimism
   Love is the foundation of a positive mindset. I often speak about the power of optimism, which I believe is directly rooted in the love I experience from those around me. Optimism and positivity help drive better outcomes in health and healing. Research in neuroplasticity shows that individuals with a positive outlook recover faster from injury and have better long-term outcomes.

Love as a Tool for NRE

Love may very well be the most valuable emotional experience we have for driving positive Neural Re-Education (NRE). When we move with love—whether it’s love for ourselves, our bodies, or the people around us—we create an emotional and neurological environment conducive to healing and growth. It’s through love that we find the motivation to improve our movement patterns, the discipline to stick to our routines, and the resilience to face setbacks.

So, to everyone reading this, remember that love is at the core of everything we do. It’s the driving force behind our health, our movement, and ultimately our purpose in life. Love may be hard to summarise, but its impact is felt deeply in every aspect of our wellbeing.

Love you all. ♥️

________________________

References:

1. Philpot LM, Schumann ME, Ebbert JO. Social Relationship Quality Among Patients With Chronic Pain: A Population-Based Sample. J Patient Exp. 2020 Jun;7(3):316-323. doi: 10.1177/2374373519862934. Epub 2019 Aug 7. PMID: 32821790; PMCID: PMC7410145. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7410145/

2. Davidson RJ, McEwen BS. Social influences on neuroplasticity: stress and interventions to promote well-being. Nat Neurosci. 2012 Apr 15;15(5):689-95. doi: 10.1038/nn.3093. PMID: 22534579; PMCID: PMC3491815.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491815/

3. Fernández-Peña, R.; Molina, J.L.; Valero, O. Satisfaction with Social Support Received from Social Relationships in Cases of Chronic Pain: The Influence of Personal Network Characteristics in Terms of Structure, Composition and Functional Content. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 2706. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082706

4. Ashton-James CE, Anderson SR, Mackey SC, Darnall BD. Beyond pain, distress, and disability: the importance of social outcomes in pain management research and practice. Pain. 2022 Mar 1;163(3):e426-e431. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002404. PMID: 34252908; PMCID: PMC8742845. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8742845/

5. Peteet, J.R., Witvliet, C.V., Glas, G. et al. Accountability as a virtue in medicine: from theory to practice. Philos Ethics Humanit Med 18, 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13010-023-00129-5

6. Alexander R, Aragón OR, Bookwala J, Cherbuin N, Gatt JM, Kahrilas IJ, Kästner N, Lawrence A, Lowe L, Morrison RG, Mueller SC, Nusslock R, Papadelis C, Polnaszek KL, Helene Richter S, Silton RL, Styliadis C. The neuroscience of positive emotions and affect: Implications for cultivating happiness and wellbeing. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Feb;121:220-249. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.002. Epub 2020 Dec 8. PMID: 33307046. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33307046/

7. Shaffer J (2016) Neuroplasticity and Clinical Practice: Building Brain Power for Health. Front. Psychol. 7:1118. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01118. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4960264/