Why do humans instinctively rub on the area of a body which has had pain inflicted upon it

I smashed by shin earlier, I instinctively (without thinking) began to rub it because it was hurting. I wondered why I did that?

Thank you.

You stimulate the nerve endings around the wounded area drowning out the signals being sent to the brain to an extent reducing the overall sensation of pain.

both other answers*

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Pain is just a response by the brain due to bodily harm. Since pain is an unconscious function that is unpleasing to the conscious mind, the conscious mind seeks to distract you from it or get rid of it by adding a more soothing sensation (rubbing)

SKIN IS RICH with cutaneous receptors pain as stimulus having threshold stimulus stimulates receptors and as a response we rub the skin