The study was published in the academic journal PLOS One . It's a large study, collecting and analyzing data from over 10,000 adults, according to the Australian science news site Science Alert .
Regular exercise can help increase pain tolerance in people with chronic pain.
In the study, pain tolerance was measured using the cold receptor stimulation test (CPT). Participants had their hands immersed in ice-cold water to see how long they could withstand the pain. For the study participants, the CPT was performed twice, 8 years apart. In addition, they completed a report detailing the frequency and intensity of their exercise.
After analyzing the data, the research team found that people who exercise regularly have a higher pain tolerance. Specifically, those who exercise at a moderate to high intensity have a better pain tolerance than those who exercise less frequently.
The research team believes this finding could be a groundbreaking contribution to treatment plans for patients with chronic pain. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than a few months without relief.
"The study results support the idea of increasing physical activity as a non-pharmacological method to reduce or prevent chronic pain," the study authors said.
This isn't the first time research has shown that exercise may be a potential treatment for chronic pain. However, most previous studies on this topic were small-scale and followed patients for only one year. Most studies confirmed that exercise improved pain and had very few side effects, which are often unavoidable with long-term use of pain medication.
Chronic pain is a fairly common condition, especially among older adults. In many cases, patients experience pain, but doctors need time to pinpoint the exact cause. Prolonged pain limits the ability to work and engage in physical activity, thereby increasing the risk of anxiety and depression.
For people with chronic pain, exercising can be challenging at first. Experts recommend that patients try gentle exercises such as walking, yoga, swimming, or tai chi.
If the pain becomes severe two hours after exercising, switch to a different exercise. The initial workout may be difficult, but it will become much easier once you get used to it. Your body will then clearly feel the benefits of exercise, according to Science Alert .
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