Ever have one of those days where everything aches and nothing helps? Before you reach for another painkiller or grumble your way through it—try this: hit play on a nature video.
Yep, that’s right. A new international study led by the University of Vienna just confirmed what a lot of us kinda already felt in our bones: nature heals—even when it’s virtual.
🌲 TL;DR: Nature is magic (and science agrees)
Researchers discovered that watching nature scenes—like a quiet forest, flowing stream, or misty mountain—actually reduces how intense and unpleasant physical pain feels. Not just emotionally, but in the brain itself. People in the study had lower pain ratings and showed less brain activity in the parts responsible for processing pain.
And the best part? No hiking boots or bug spray required. Just watching a screen did the trick.
🧠 What’s going on in the brain?
According to lead researcher and PhD student Max Steininger, pain is kind of like a puzzle. One part is how bad something feels emotionally, and the other part is the raw physical signal—the “ouch” part your brain picks up. Most treatments (including placebos) work by calming your emotional reaction. But nature? It actually dials down the raw signal itself.
That’s a game changer.
Steininger and his team used brain scans to monitor participants while they were in pain. Each person watched either a nature video, an indoor scene, or a cityscape. When they watched the nature videos, pain ratings dropped, and so did the brain’s reaction to the pain. Not just “I feel better,” but “my brain is literally processing less pain right now.”
🌎 No forest? No problem.
What makes this study so exciting is how accessible the solution is. Can’t go for a walk in the woods? Just stream it. On a hospital bed? Queue up a waterfall video. Stuck in traffic? Maybe not the best time, but you get the point.
You don’t need a real-life nature escape to get the benefits. Virtual nature—through videos, VR, or even ambient screensavers—can make a real difference.
🧪 Backed by brains, built for everyday life
This research was a team effort across the University of Vienna, the Universities of Exeter and Birmingham, and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. It’s also the first time neuroscientists and environmental psychologists at Vienna worked together—and now, they’re part of a larger mission with the Environment and Climate Research Hub (ECH). These folks are exploring how nature can help us tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, from climate change to mental health.
But it’s also a reminder that sometimes, the smallest things—like a few minutes of ocean waves or rustling leaves—can shift something deep inside us.
So next time you’re hurting—physically or mentally—try a little digital detox with a side of nature. Let your brain breathe. Let the trees do their thing. You might be surprised how much better you feel.
🎧 Bonus tip: pair it with calming music or forest sounds for the full effect.
Article originally published: https://rehabpub.com/pain-management/acute/study-experiencing-nature-relieves-physical-pain/?utm_term=RM%20Rehab%20Today%20Apr%202025&utm_campaign_type=newsletter&utm_hsid=415264501&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8iqo3VlSdpmdvJXzkoT3XW51-QLBhePmyVZaX3JXI0Gzdm7On1S8maHw8H6pVf3CIc1t2RO-fnvPvI_1_BK4DkXY6OpA&_hsmi=355601600&utm_source=newsletter
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