+ This post is sponsored. All opinions and experiences are completely my own and written by me.

If you suffer from any type of chronic pain, then you are going to love learning about this fantastic science backed pain management app called Flowly.

When I first learned about this app, I was intrigued on the science and research behind how this works!

One of our top asked questions on Chemistry Cachet is about managing chronic pain.

Let’s learn more about how this science backed pain management app can reduce chronic pain WITHOUT medication!

Science Backed Pain Management App For All Types Of Chronic Pain

Maybe you have a disease or just your everyday aches, but most people suffer from some sort of pain. It can be frustrating trying to live life and do the things you love when you have a continuing pain! This is why I am constantly searching, learning, and finding things to help with chronic pain.

Anything to benefit people like us, I am willing to try out. I have been using this app for 4 weeks now, and I knew this was something to share with readers.

First, I want to share with you the science behind how this works, then I will share my experience with it.

Science Makes This One of The Best Pain Management Apps

The science behind this app is biofeedback training. This app collects your real-time heart rate from a sensor, shows it to you, and through a virtual reality, shows you how to control your heart rate. It is all about the Heart Rate Variability or HRV.

HRV actually originates from your nervous system. Understanding your HRV can help you better understand your stress levels, nutrition, sleep, mental health, and risk of disease. I have heard a little about this over the years from my husband’s highly active fitness life. When he was in military training,  they mentioned many times controlling your heart rate would lead to better fitness results.

Your HRV can also play a role in managing chronic pain through virtual reality. Let’s talk more about this virtual reality.

Virtual Reality For Pain Management

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology allowing users to be transported to another world. This study from NIH concludes that virtual reality consistently shows to reduce pain, anxiety, unpleasantness, and time spent thinking about pain. VR makes it easier for you to focus on the task at hand by using your breath to control the visuals around you.

This study also goes on to say that typically, VR has been incredibly expensive and not really achievable in a home setting. However, as this technology has continued to advance over the years, it is becoming more obtainable for everyone. This is where the pain management app Flowly comes in.

How Does Flowly Work?

First, you open up the app and start the first session. They provide a quick video intro about your HRV. The first session is a baseline to determine what your HRV is and to start you off with a breathing chart. You can choose to use the VR headset and stick your phone inside, or you can use your phone completely. If you use the headset, you attach the heart rate monitor to your earlobe. If using just your phone, you put your finger over the camera lens so it can monitor your heart rate through that.

I was very surprised in the first session how difficult it was to breath in and out through my nose slowly following the chart! I guess my breathing is shallower than I realized.

After the third session, I started breathing a lot better and learning how to slow my breathing down! It takes practice, but it is incredible what a difference it makes in your heart rate when you follow the breathing chart. While you follow the breathing chart, it takes you into a virtual world. Like summer at the lake or a beautiful autumn scene. You hear birds chirping, water flowing, and trees moving. It is so peaceful, the scene itself immediately calms you. Using that with your breathing chart relaxes you so much!

Like we mentioned above, learning to control your HRV (heart rate variability) is the key to pain management and anxiety. You can use this app for pain any time of day, but doing it before bed can also help you sleep better!

How Has Flowly Pain Management App Helped Me So Far?

I have to admit, I am a little surprised at the results I have already seen. You don’t realize how much pain impacts your stress levels! Not only does chronic pain give me a lot of stress, but I think stress also causes the chronic pain. It is a difficult cycle! Those of you with chronic pain know exactly what I am talking about too!

The first thing I noticed after just one session was a subtle relaxation. I didn’t even realize it was happening, but I was calmer. After the second session, I felt very restful. These sessions are less than 10 minutes, but just that short amount of time spent breathing slowly according the chart really benefits anxiety and stress.

How My Elbow Felt After Session Number 5 in Flowly:

I thought it would helpful to also report how it helped pain in real-time. As I began session number 5, my elbow was acting up. I woke up with a burning arthritic pain, so I jumped right on the Flowly app to see how it would impact the current pain.

It was interesting to see how my heart rate was higher starting this session. When I am having a lot of pain, my heart rate is high. After the 7-minute session, I just wanted to see how the burning and aching felt. I felt SO much better when the session ended! More relaxed, but that deep burning had gone down in my elbow! Throughout this morning, I just practiced my breathing like the session had my do, and that constant pain was better!

After One Full Month Of Use:

It has now been one full month of using this app. I try to do a session every couple of days. It is so simple to use, I really love how I can hop on the app at anytime with just a few minutes of my time to finish the session.

Overall, I feel more calm and have much less anxiety. I also seem to be sleeping better if I do it before bed. Learning to breathe like this is also helping me throughout the day manage stress.

Pain management wise, I am doing really well! Like I mentioned before, it has really helped the chronic pain in my elbow when it is aching and throbbing. Each time I use the app, I feel better. I think it has helped most on focusing on breathing instead of pain. I use the breathing techniques they teach throughout the day too, and it has been a valuable tool.

Try it Out:

If you are someone with chronic pain and anxiety looking for a non-medicinal way to manage pain, then this subscription is something you should try! More and more readers have been reaching out to me about natural ways to manage chronic pain. I love trying out methods for you to see what works. This app couldn’t be easier to use, and the techniques they teach you with breathing are tips you can carry throughout the day and for years to come. Since this is also backed by science, you can feel confident about these breathing practices too.

I think you will enjoy this!

For more information about this app, you can check out their introduction video below:

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