Pain sensitivity and athletic performance

PurpeseTo determine whether higher pain thresholds are associated with better performance in long-distance runners.\n\nDesignCross-sectional study.\n\nMethodsSeventy participants, divided into groups of fast and non-fast runners according to peak results in a 10km run. Main Outcome Measures, Cold pressor test.\n\nResultsOf the 70 subjects, 28 were in the fastest group (less than 39 minutes in a 10km run) and 42 in the non-fast group. The faster group was characterized with older age (34.0{+/-}8.5 vs. 29.5{+/-}5.7, p=0.01), greater mean weekly running time (5.5 (0-17) vs. 2 (0- 10), p<0.001), and more years of running [10 (1.5-34.0) vs. 7 (0-20, p=0.05)]. In a multivariable analysis longer cold pressor time was associated with faster 10Km run (O.R 1.01, 95% C.I 1.00-1.01).\n\nConclusionsIt seems that higher pain thresholds play an important role in the superior ability of long distance runners.