Gaby
As we all know, regular exercise offers a multitude of benefits for both mental and physical health. Recently, researchers have uncovered yet another reason why staying active is crucial. Studies show that consistent physical activity increases pain tolerance.
The Connection Between Physical Activity and Pain Threshold
Norwegian researchers observed individuals engaged in sports, with a study involving 10,732 adults. The scientists recorded results twice, with an interval of 7-8 years between assessments.
To understand how pain tolerance levels change, the researchers employed a cold press test. During this test, participants were asked to immerse their hand in cold water for as long as possible, with a maximum limit of 106 seconds.
The findings revealed that individuals with a more active lifestyle could endure cold pain for longer periods. Those who consistently made time for physical exercise during the study also exhibited a higher pain threshold.
The researchers noted that physical activity at any point during the observation period contributed to an increase in pain tolerance, even if a sedentary lifestyle did not shift to a more active one. In other words, pain tolerance rose alongside an overall high level of physical activity. If the intensity of exercise increased during the observation, so did the pain threshold.
People with Sedentary Lifestyles Have Lower Pain Tolerance
The scientists emphasized that this observational study does not definitively prove that increased physical activity directly leads to enhanced pain resistance. They suggest that other factors may also play a significant role. However, a noticeable connection between physical fitness and pain tolerance is evident.
The study showed that individuals who exercised regularly, albeit not frequently, could withstand ice-cold pain for an average of 6.7 seconds longer than those who completely ignored physical activity. Those who engaged in intense exercise regularly had an increased tolerance of up to 16.3 seconds. Among participants who maintained a high level of physical activity throughout the study, the average tolerance rose to 20.4 seconds.
The researchers indicated that these results suggest a certain relationship between physical activity and pain threshold levels. People with sedentary lifestyles may be more prone to and less tolerant of chronic pain.
By maintaining a consistent level of physical activity, one can become more tolerant of pain. Additionally, changes in physical activity levels over time may also lead to an increase in pain threshold.
The researchers noted that participants self-reported their levels of physical activity, and no scientific assessment was conducted. Although the study involved a large number of individuals, similar conclusions were observed even with fewer participants.
Exercise as a Potential Pain Reliever
According to ScienceAlert, researchers are also interested in exploring the connection between exercise and chronic pain. Preliminary studies in this area suggest that physical activity influences how the body copes with pain.
Moreover, increased pain tolerance may help reduce the risk of developing chronic pain in the future. While evidence for this is currently limited, scientists aim to investigate it further. They believe that the results obtained can be viewed as support for the potential use of increased physical activity as a non-pharmacological approach to reduce or prevent chronic pain.
