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Published on: July 17, 2020
Pain sensitivity increases more in younger runners during an ultra-marathon
James W Agnew1, Alexandre L Roy1, Steven B Hammer1
1Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, FL, USA.
Pain sensitivity increases during ultra-marathons, but less so in older runners. This suggests protective factors in older athletes may attenuate pain perception during extreme endurance events.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Pain Research
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Ultra-endurance activities are growing in popularity worldwide.
- Limited data exists on pain perception in ultra-endurance athletes, especially concerning aging populations.
- Previous research indicated increased peripheral and central pain sensitivity during ultra-marathons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in pain sensitivity changes during ultra-marathon running.
- To compare pain sensitivity variations between younger (≤39 years) and older (≥40 years) ultra-marathon runners.
- To identify potential factors contributing to differences in pain perception between age groups.
Main Methods:
- Recruited ultra-marathon runners from events in Florida over three years.
- Measured Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) and Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) before and after the ultra-marathon.
- Analyzed changes in PPT (ΔPPT) and CPM (ΔCPM) using a Mixed 2x2 MANOVA.
Main Results:
- Both PPT and CPM decreased significantly in younger runners (p<0.05).
- Older runners showed a significant decrease in CPM (p=0.031) but not PPT.
- The increase in pain sensitivity (ΔPPT) was significantly less in older runners compared to younger runners (p=0.018).
Conclusions:
- Pain sensitivity increases differently between younger and older ultra-marathon runners.
- Older ultra-marathon runners exhibit an attenuated increase in pain sensitivity.
- Potential contributing factors in older runners include immune response, fitness, exertion levels, and psychological aspects.
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