Sport-related injury and pain classification

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Pain Management
• Athletic Training

Background:

• Pain is prevalent in athletes and often conflated with injury management.
• Acute injuries typically present with nociceptive or inflammatory pain.
• Chronic pain necessitates evaluating biomechanical, pathological, and psychosocial factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate between pain and injury in athletes.
• To explore the multifaceted nature of pain chronification in sports.
• To establish a framework for pain classification and management in athletes.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing the relationship between sport-related injury and pain.
• Classifying pain based on nociceptive, inflammatory, neuropathic, and central sensitization components.
• Assessing autonomic, motor, and affective pain manifestations.
• Adopting an International Olympic Committee consensus framework.

Main Results:

• Pain and injury are distinct entities impacting athletic performance.
• Pain chronification involves complex pathophysiologic and neurobehavioral changes.
• A comprehensive pain classification is foundational for effective management.
• Evidence-based guidelines for sport pain management are limited.

Conclusions:

• Proper pain classification is crucial for athletes experiencing persistent pain.
• A nuanced understanding of pain mechanisms beyond injury is required.
• The proposed framework aids in managing diverse pain presentations in sports.
• This approach aligns with international consensus for athlete care.