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The gate control theory was first developed in the early 1960’s and later became more elaborated. It is centered on the activity of “nociceptors”. Nociceptors are various nerve receptors that sent different signals about noxious stimuli to the brain, which can but not always have to trigger pain.

According to the gate control theory these nociceptors do interact with other nerves - so called nonnociceptors - and that pain is “modulated” in the process. This pain modulation is one of the main reasons why different individuals frequently experience the “same” pain differently.

One of the main active nerves in this process are large diameter A beta fibers. A beta fibers obviously have the ability to reduce the signals of the A delta fibers and C fibers while moving towards the brain. Based on this gate control theory it can be explained how certain non-painful physical stimuli on nonnociceptor nerves will reduce pain.

In practice we can see that the theory works when we feel pain and rub the affected area and by this reduce the pain. This very same principle applies to other, more refined types of therapy like massage or acupressure. All these techniques obviously activate nonnociceptor nerves and stimulate them to suppress or inhibit pain information before it reaches the brain.