2023-07-23 08:02:59
Published on :
Physical activity linked to greater pain tolerance is what this Norwegian study, published in the journal Plos One, suggests for the first time. A conclusion that confirms, but for a new reason, the importance of regular exercise, here to prevent or even reduce chronic pain and optimize quality of life.
Previous research had already suggested this, however it was generally carried out on modest samples. The team from the University Hospital of North Norway is conducting this new study on data from more than 10,000 participants and finds here a dose-dependent association, with a higher level of activity being linked to a higher pain tolerance.
Physical activity and chronic pain, the association is dose-dependent
The study precisely analyzed the data of 10,732 respondents to a vast survey representative of the general population, the Tromsø study, carried out periodically in Norway. The researchers considered data from the 2 waves, conducted from 2007 to 2008 and from 2015 to 2016, including physical activity levels and pain tolerance levels, as assessed by testing. The analysis reveals that:
- participants who report being physically active enjoy higher pain tolerance than those who lead a more sedentary lifestyle;
- the most active participants are also those who are the most tolerant of pain;
- those who practiced more activity in 2015/2016 vs 2007/2008 also have a higher pain tolerance;
- no statistically significant relationship between activity level and pain tolerance was found between the 2 waves analysed, thus remaining physically active (over the 2 waves), becoming active (during wave 2) or increasing activity levels (between the 2 waves) remains linked to increased pain tolerance.
In conclusionincreasing physical activity could be a strategy to relieve or ward off chronic pain.
Future research has yet to confirm the causal relationship (here the study only confirms the association) and show that practicing or increasing activity can contribute to relieving chronic pain, when it is already established.
Editorial team Santélog
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