The type of sport matters: Pain perception of endurance athletes versus strength athletes

Assa, Tal; Geva, Nirit; Zarkh, Yoni; Defrin, Ruth

doi:10.1002/ejp.1335

Cited by 46 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…The difference in training between the endurance athletes included in our study (cross country skiers and runners) and the soccer players were probably not enough to produce differences in pain thresholds. A recent study (Assa et al, 2019) that included more distinct types of sports, showed that athletes in strength sports, e.g., weightlifters, hammer-and shotput throwers had increased heat pain thresholds compared to endurance athletes and controls. Like the pain tolerance measure, FPQ had also a significant impact on pain thresholds together with training volume per week.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Contrary, the findings on pain threshold and pain sensitivity (pain intensity) are mixed with some studies showing reduced thresholds in athletes compared to non-athletes, whereas other studies find results in the opposite direction (Tesarz et al, 2012;McDougall et al, 2020). The type of sport is probably a relevant cause for the divergent findings, and one study have showed that different sports are associated with different tolerance, thresholds and sensitivity for pain (Assa et al, 2019), regardless of the type of noxious stimuli.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Pain Processing in Elite and High-Level Athletes Compared to Non-athletes

2020

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Background: Previous studies shows that elite and high-level athletes possess consistently higher pain tolerance to ischemic and cold pain stimulation compared to recreationally active. However, the data previously obtained within this field is sparse and with low consistency. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the difference in pain perception between elite and high-level endurance athletes (cross country skiers and runners), elite soccer players and non-athletes, as well to explore the impact of psychological factors on pain processing. Methods: Seventy one healthy volunteers (33 females and 38 males) participated in the study. Soccer players (n = 17), cross country skiers (n = 12), and long-distance runners (n = 3) formed the athlete group, with 39 non-athletes as controls. Big-five personality traits, fear of pain and Grit (perseverance and passion for long-term goals) were measured prior to induction of experimental pain. Pain threshold and intensity was induced by a PC-controlled heat thermode and measured by a computerized visual analog scale. Pain tolerance was measured by the cold pressor test (CPT). Results: Elite and high-level athletes had increased pain tolerance, higher heat pain thresholds, and reported lower pain intensity to thermal stimulation. Endurance athletes (cross country skiers and long-distance runners) had better tolerance for cold pain compared to both soccer-players and non-athletes. Furthermore, endurance athletes reported lower pain intensity compared to non-athletes, whereas both endurance athletes and soccer players had higher heat pain thresholds compared to non-athletes. Fear of Pain was the only psychological trait that had an impact on all pain measures. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that sports with long durations of physically intense activity, leveling aerobic capacity, are associated with increased ability to tolerate pain and that the amount of training hours has an impact on this tolerance. However, the small sample size implies that the results from this study should be interpreted with caution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Pain Processing in Elite and High-Level Athletes Compared to Non-athletes

2020

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“…To our knowledge, there is no study reporting the effects of endurance exercise on thermal thresholds. One prior study has reported pain thresholds assessed in endurance athletes versus strength athletes versus controls 32 . Based on thermal threshold changes, the authors suggest that endurance-based exercise is associated with improved pain inhibition, and strength-based exercise with reduced pain sensitivity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on thermal threshold changes, the authors suggest that endurance-based exercise is associated with improved pain inhibition, and strength-based exercise with reduced pain sensitivity. In general, athletes have shown decreased ratings in temporal summation of pain (see above) 32 . In our study, we assessed the wind-up ratio as the mechanical correlate for temporal summation, and found no direct effects of exercise.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sub-maximal endurance exercise does not mediate alterations of somatosensory thresholds

Kortenjann

Banzer

Fleckenstein

2020

Sci Rep

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physical exercise has been shown to alter sensory functions, such as sensory detection or perceived pain. However, most contributing studies rely on the assessment of single thresholds, and a systematic testing of the sensory system is missing. this randomised, controlled cross-over study aims to determine the sensory phenotype of healthy young participants and to assess if sub-maximal endurance exercise can impact it. We investigated the effects of a single bout of sub-maximal running exercise (30 min at 80% heart rate reserve) compared to a resting control in 20 healthy participants. The sensory profile was assessed applying quantitative sensory testing (QST) according to the protocol of the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain. QST comprises a broad spectrum of thermal and mechanical detection and pain thresholds. it was applied to the forehead of study participants prior and immediately after the intervention. time between cross-over sessions was one week. Submaximal endurance exercise did not significantly alter thermal or mechanical sensory function (time × group analysis) in terms of detection and pain thresholds. The sensory phenotypes did not indicate any clinically meaningful deviation of sensory function. the alteration of sensory thresholds needs to be carefully interpreted, and only systematic testing allows an improved understanding of mechanism. in this context, sub-maximal endurance exercise is not followed by a change of thermal and mechanical sensory function at the forehead in healthy volunteers. Exercise-induced changes of the somatosensory profile have led to controversial discussions, in particular with regards to their effect on pain. Exercise has been shown to induce hypoalgesia in healthy subjects 1 , however, it can also induce hyperalgesia in certain chronic diseases or following exertion 2. Its effects in people with clinical pain are rather variable. In patients with neuropathic pain, exercise is considered to improve nerve function, reduce pain and other sensory dysfunction, and improve static and dynamic functional mobility 3. However, in patients with musculoskeletal pain, manual therapies on stability failed to achieve a significant pain reduction 4. A recent systematic review suggests an association between psychosocial factors and exercise-induced hypoalgesia in healthy subjects, and in patients with musculoskeletal pain 5. This is further supported by a proposed central mechanism underlying these two phenomena, such as the increased activation of NMDA receptors in pain-modulating areas 6. Exercise-induced hypoalgesia, i.e. pain reduction, can be achieved by both aerobic and resistance training, of which the latter achieves larger mean effect sizes 7. Aerobic exercise is more likely to induce generalised hypoalgesia, whereas resistance exercise is related to locoregional effect sites 1. Higher aerobic intensities (200 W or 60-75% oxygen uptake) appear more effective in mediating hypoalgesia. Isometric exercise was shown to decrease the intensity of experimental pain at lo...

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“…The pain tolerance of competitors seems to vary depending on the discipline [20]. For example, endurance-based sports are associated with improved pain inhibition and strength-based sports are associated with reduced pain sensitivity [21,22] Physical exercise results in changes in sensitivity to pain [23]. The eccentric stretching group showed a higher pressure pain threshold (PPT), determined using a pressure algometer, after exercise than the non-eccentric group [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk of Injury in Physically Active Students: Associated Factors and Quality of Life Aspects

Sieńko-Awierianów

Chudecka

2020

IJERPH

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Background: The aim of this study was to assess the potential factors of hypermobility and pain threshold on the risk of injury in physically active students and to verify which domains of quality of life are rated lower by young people with a history of injuries. Methods: The study included 278 students (138 women and 140 men) who regularly undertake physical activity. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, pain threshold, incidence of hypermobility syndrome, information on the history of injuries to the locomotor system, and the quality of life of the study participants were collected. Results: In the group studied, hypermobility and pain threshold had a statistically significant related on the risk of injury. Participants with a history of injuries had lower scores for an individual’s overall perception of their own health and the physical domain. There were also significant differences in the psychological domain of the quality of life between males and females with a history of injuries. Conclusion: In the studied group, the risk of injuries was related to diagnosed hypermobility and pain threshold measured on the lower limbs. The study also showed that people with a history of injuries had statistically significantly lower scores in the individual general perception of their own health and in the physical domain. Gender had a significant impact on the quality of life of people with injuries.

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The type of sport matters: Pain perception of endurance athletes versus strength athletes

Cited by 46 publications

References 61 publications

Pain Processing in Elite and High-Level Athletes Compared to Non-athletes

Pain Processing in Elite and High-Level Athletes Compared to Non-athletes

Sub-maximal endurance exercise does not mediate alterations of somatosensory thresholds

Risk of Injury in Physically Active Students: Associated Factors and Quality of Life Aspects

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