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CHANGES IN PAIN PERCEPTION IN WOMEN DURING AND FOLLOWING AN EXHAUSTIVE
INCREMENTAL CYCLING EXERCISE
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Daniel
G. Drury1
, Katelyn Greenwood1, Kristin J. Stuempfle1
and Kelli F. Koltyn2 |
1Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Health and Exercise
Sciences, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA
2Psychology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University
of Wisconsin- Madison, USA
| Received |
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07 February 2005 |
| Accepted |
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03
May 2005 |
| Published |
|
01
September 2005 |
©
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2005) 4, 215
- 222
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| ABSTRACT |
| Exercise
has been found to alter pain sensitivity with a hypoalgesic response
(i.e., diminished sensitivity to pain) typically reported during and/or
following high intensity exercise. Most of this research, however,
has involved the testing of men. Thus, the purpose of the following
investigation was to examine changes in pain perception in women during
and following exercise. Seventeen healthy female subjects (age 20.47±.87;
VO2 peak 36.77± 4.95) volunteered to undergo pain assessment
prior to, during, and after a graded exhaustive VO2 peak
cycling challenge. Heart Rate (HR) and Oxygen Uptake (VO2)
were monitored along with electro-diagnostic assessments of Pain Threshold
(PT) and Pain Tolerance (PTOL) at: 1) baseline (B), 2) during exercise
(i.e., 120 Watts), 3) at exhaustive intensity (VO2 peak),
and 4) 10 minutes into recovery (R). Data were analyzed using repeated
measures ANOVA to determine differences across trials. Significant
differences in PT and PTOL were found across trials (PT, p = 0.0043;
PTOL p = 0.0001). Post hoc analyses revealed that PT were significantly
elevated at VO2 peak in comparison to B (p = 0.007), 120
Watts (p = 0.0178) and R (p = 0.0072). PTOL were found to be significantly
elevated at 120 Watts (p = 0.0247), VO2 peak (p < 0.001),
and R (p = 0.0001) in comparison to B. In addition, PTOL were found
to be significantly elevated at VO2 peak in comparison
to 120 Watts (p = 0.0045). It is concluded that exercise-induced hypoalgesia
occurs in women during and following exercise, with the hypoalgesic
response being most pronounced following exhaustive exercise.
KEY
WORDS: Nociception, cycling, hypoalgesia, pain tolerance threshold.
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