The Role of Exercise in Pain Perception - Essay Example

?The Role of Exercise in Pain Perception Introduction Scholars have investigated whether decreased sensitivity to pain occurs after undertaking aerobic exercise (Koltyn, 2002), for instance, resistance or isometric exercise. Many researchers have concluded that reduced perception of pain occurs during and after exercise under experimental and clinical conditions (Smith, 2004). Other researchers contest these claims and the results of these studies stating that the hypoalgesia felt in these cases is not a response to the aerobic exercise. The following sections of this paper will evaluate the various findings of researchers who have taken time to evaluate the role and effect of exercise on the perception of pain. Aerobic Exercise Many a researcher has suggested that aerobic exercise can help in mood improvement. Others have noted that aerobic the benefits of such exercises in reducing pain. Hoffman and Hoffman (2007) note that regular exercise training has positive effects when applied to patients suffering from depression, chronic pain conditions, as well as some psychiatric conditions. Smith (2004) notes that one remarkable example of stress instigated analgesia commonly observed is the reduction in the pain felt by athletes during competition. In this respect, Smith suggests that the athletes respond to stimuli when subjected to competition stress. Smith engaged in a study to establish the nature of stress that comes with interpersonal competition. Smith’s study was also dedicated to determining which element of physical exertion, psychological stress, or athletic competition triggers pain inhibition. The study revealed that stress instigated analgesia resulted from strenuous exercise among athletes and non-athletes (Smith, 2004). Nichols and Glenn conducted a study in an attempt to evaluate the impact of aerobic exercise on psyhological, disability, and pain symptoms among persons with fibromyagia. The researchers engaged the sample consisting of two men and 17 women with fibromyalgia in aerobic exercises for a period of eight weeks (Nichols & Glenn, 1994). During the study, each element of the sample was asked to complete pre-tests and post-tests of BSI (Brief Symptom Inventory), MPQ (McGill Pain Questionnaire), and SIP (Sickness Impact Profile). The end scores were appropriately adjusted after which a covariance analysis was done. Based on the experimental study, the researchers concluded that the results that they obtained did not warrant any conclusion. Some trends suggested that aerobic exercise was beneficial while others revealed limited significance, for those with fibromyalgia. The exercise was beneficial in respect of pain and lower psychological ratings but insignificant for higher physical disability ratings (Nichols & Glenn, 1994). Pain perception response to aerobic exercise has been under investigation for several years. The modes of experimental design used by the scholars have varied. The common modes of experiment used include the intensity and duration of exercise, timing of pain experiments and pain perception measures (Nichols & Glenn, 1994). Kotlyn et al. (2002) carried out their experiment using male cyclists cycling at 75% VO2max (maximal oxygen consumption) for 30 minutes (What is it). There is an alteration in pain perception to several noxious stimuli after experiments involving aerobic exercise despite the differences in the way the experiment was carried out. According to Koltyn, decreased sensitivity to pain occurs after high intensity exercise. Drury, Greenwood, Stuempfle and Koltyn (2005) note that exercise results in the alteration of pain sensitivity during and after high intensity exercise. Specifically targeting women, the researchers engaged in a study to investigate the changes in the perception of pain among women during and after exercise. The study was conducted by the researchers was to a significant extent similar to that previously conduced by Kotlyn, only this time a different gender was taken into consideration. The study engaged a sample of 17 healthy women (volunteers). The sample members underwent pain assessment before and after an exhaustive VO2 high intensity cycling competition. For each subject, the following data was collected during the study : Oxygen uptake, Heart rate, pain tolerance, and pain threshold. The data was collected at baseline, during exercise, at exhaustive intensity, and ten minutes after recovery. This data was analysed for ANOVA measures. The researchers concluded that a reduction in pain perception occurs in women during and after exercise. This trend was most effectively felt when exhaustive exercise is done according to Drury et al. (2005). There are studies that have not shown positive results concerning exercise induced hypoalgesia. According to Padawer and Levine (1992), exercise-derived hypoalgesia is a result of repeated pain testing but not a response to the aerobic exercise. In the aerobic exercise experiments, most researchers tested pain before and after exercise. However, they did not include a control group or control condition to determine the effects of the pain testing exercise. The conflicting conclusions from the above studies may be as a result of the choice of pain stimulus(EXPLAIN DIFFERENCE) . Padawer and Levine did their study using a cold presser test while Koltyn et al. carried out the experiments using a pressure pain stimulus. Conclusion The role of exercise in mood improvement is almost certain going by the many studies that have given positive results. While this is the case, a lot of debate has erupted recently regarding the impact of exercise on the feeling of pain. Several studies have been conducted to establish the effects of exercise on pain perception. Researchers have greatly contested and debated various research findings in this respect with some arguing that the methods applied during the studies affect the results obtained. While the majority of researchers admit that exercise, especially high intensity aerobic exercise, plays a significant role in reducing pain, some believe that this is far from the case. It is evident that these studies based their conclusions and results on individuals with pain only. The latter group recommends that studies focusing on the relationship between pain and exercise should also be carried in pain free individuals. Some quarters further recommend that individuals undergoing various chronic pain conditions also need to be involved in the process; this is the only way representative samples can be obtained. This is so considering that avoiding bias should be the top priority in any study. References Drury D., Greenwood K., Stuempfle K., Koltyn K. (2005). Changes in pain perception in women during and following an exhaustive incremental cycling exercise. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine 4(2005):215-222 http://www.jssm.org/vol4/n3/1/v4n3-1pdf.pdf Hoffman M. & Hoffman D. (2007). Does aerobic exercise improve pain perception and mood? A review of the evidence related to healthy and chronic pain subjects. Current Pain Headache Reports, Apr;11(2):93-7. Koltyn K. (2002). Exercise- Induced Hypoalgesia and Intensity Exercise. Sports Medicine, 32(8)477-487. Nichols D. & Glenn T. (1994). Effects of aerobic exercise on pain perception, affect, and level of disability in individuals with fibromyalgia. Physical Therapy, 74(4):327-32. Paalasmaa P. & Kemppainen P. & Pertovaara A. (1991), Modulation of Skin Sensitivity by Dynamic and Isometric Exercise In Man. European Journal of Applied Physiology 1991(62): 279-85. Padawe, W. & Levine, F. (1992). Exercise induced analgesia: fact or artifact? Pain, 48: 131-135. Smith D. (2004) The effects of competition and exercise on pain perception. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10066/737 Read More