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Increased conditioned pain modulation in athletes.
Andrew Flood1,2, Gordon Waddington2,3, Kevin Thompson2
1a Centre for Applied Psychology, Faculty of Health , University of Canberra , Canberra , Australia.
Journal of Sports Sciences
|July 26, 2016
Summary
Athletes exhibit enhanced endogenous pain modulation compared to non-athletes. This study investigated conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in athletes versus non-athletes, revealing superior pain inhibitory capacity in athletes.
Area of Science:
- Pain research
- Exercise physiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The relationship between physical activity and endogenous pain modulation is not fully understood.
- Previous research has yielded mixed findings regarding pain modulation in athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the pain modulatory responses between athletes and non-athletes.
- To investigate differences in conditioned pain modulation (CPM) capacity.
Main Methods:
- Assessed CPM in 15 male athletes and 15 male non-athletes (aged 18-40, pain-free).
- Utilized a sequential CPM protocol involving pressure pain threshold (PPT) testing before and after a cold-pressor test.
- Collected pain intensity ratings using a numerical rating scale during the conditioning stimulus.
Main Results:
- Athletes had significantly higher baseline PPTs than non-athletes (P = .03).
- Athletes reported lower mean and maximum pain intensity ratings during the cold-pressor test (P < .001).
- Athletes demonstrated enhanced CPM, indicating a stronger inhibitory effect on pain (P < .05).
Conclusions:
- Athletes possess a demonstrably enhanced capacity for endogenous pain modulation compared to non-athletes.
- This finding clarifies previous inconsistencies in the literature regarding physical activity and pain modulation.
- Enhanced CPM in athletes may have implications for exercise performance and injury risk.
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