Exercise, Hypoalgesia and Blood Pressure

Abstract

A number of studies have indicated that exercise is associated with alterations in pain perception. In general, investigators have typically found a hypoalgesic response (i.e. diminished pain perception) to occur during and following exercise. It is currently unclear why exercise alters pain perception but some research indicates that there is an interaction between pain modulatory and cardiovascular systems. Elevated resting blood pressure (BP), such as hypertension, has been associated with reduced sensitivity to noxious stimulation. In addition, acute elevations in BP (pharmacologically) have also been associated with alterations in pain perception. Exercise elevates BP due to the physiological demands of the activity, but only a limited amount of research has been conducted examining the interaction between exercise, hypoalgesia and BP. Results from this research indicate that exercise significantly alters cardiovascular responses, and these alterations appear to be associated with alterations in pain perception. However, the interaction between exercise, pain perception and BP has been primarily examined indirectly. The mechanisms underlying the interaction between BP and pain perception are currently not entirely understood. It has been suggested that endogenous opioids may be involved in the interaction between BP and pain perception; however, results appear to be equivocal in the human research that has been conducted in this area. It has also been suggested that baroreceptor activation may play a role in the interaction between BP and pain perception.

Effects of regular physical activity on pain, anxiety, and depression in patients with treatment-resistant arterial hypertension

“…we also discuss the correlation between the cardiovascular system and pain perception, including the participation of baroreceptor activation in arterial blood pressure regulation and the experiencing of pain [4]. Defective activity of the autonomic system with adrenergic activity dominating over the parasympathetic system is significant for chronic pain and arterial hypertension [5].…”

Avaliação comportamental de ratos treinados em natação forçada

“…Ainda, possui ações anti-inflamatórias por ativação imune, que culminam em eventos antidepressivos [14,15]. Contudo, em animais submetidos a modelo experimental agudo de dor articular em joelhos, a natação por 10 minutos não produziu diminuição do quadro álgico [16], provavelmente por causa da pequena duração e intensidade do exercício, visto que, segundo Koltyn e Umeda [17], a hipoalgesia parece ocorrer quando o exercício é realizado em altas intensidades. Ainda, observaram, em camundongos, que a corrida voluntária em esteira gerou aumento na ansiedade, avaliado pelo teste de campo aberto, labirinto elevado e caixa claro/escuro, além de altos níveis de corticosterona nas fezes dos animais [18].…”

“…Contudo, em animais que realizam caminhada em esteira do tipo forçado, os níveis de corticosterona podem aumentar, o que subsequentemente regularia para baixo a neurogênese e pioraria a função cognitiva [19]. Desta forma, o exercício físico é utilizado tanto visando redução de quadros de dor [17] quanto de ansiedade e depressão [4]. Assim sendo, considerando as controvérsias, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, por meio de testes comportamentais, o efeito da natação forçada crônica, sem e com sobrecarga, sobre parâmetros de ansiedade em ratos.…”

(343) Dose-response effect of isometric force production on the perception of pain

“…There is a long history of studying the effects of exercise on pain perception (for review see [1,2,3]). Exercise can reduce the perception of pain-eliciting mechanical, thermal, and electrical stimuli [4,5,6,7,8,9,10].…”