Research shows elite athletes experience pain differently than everyday people. Here’s why, and how we can learn to deal with adversity and chronic pain every day.
June 28, 2024 – Lying in an ambulance, her nose busted, gums sliced to the bone after hitting a barricade on her bike, Katie Zaferes had one question on her mind: How soon can I get back to training?
Research shows that during and after a rigorous workout, the brain releases these opioids, reducing pain not just during the workout – the legendary “runner’s high” – but also for about 30 minutes after.While the science is young and research is mixed, some theorize that if the brain is repeatedly subjected to pain via training, it is constantly sending signals down the spinal cord and gets really good at reducing the pain – a phenomenon called conditioned pain modulation.
Eddie O’Connor, PhD, a clinical and sports psychologist in Grand Rapids, MI, works with both with elite athletes and chronic pain patients. He said athletes benefit from having a clear purpose to their pain, whether that is a spot at the Olympics or a personal record. “The more you understand about why you hurt, the less anxiety you have,” she said. “Your nervous system ramps up when you have fear, and that can actually lower your pain tolerance.”, researchers looked at a variety of personality traits in athletes and non-athletes. They found that those with more “grit” and less fear of pain could keep their hand in cold water longer.
All these psychological tactics – identifying a purpose to the pain, understanding the difference between dangerous pain and productive pain, and managing fear about pain – can also be applied in helping chronic pain patients, Louw said.
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