Pain sensitivity is reduced by exercise training: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Daniel L Belavy, Jessica Van Oosterwijck, Matthew Clarkson, Evy Dhondt, Niamh L Mundell, Clint T Miller, Patrick J Owen

Journal: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2021;120():100-108

PMID: 33253748

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Abstract

BELAVY, D. L., J. Van Oosterwijck, M. Clarkson, E. Dhondt, N. L. Mundell, C. Miller and P. J. Owen. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV 21(1) XXX-XXX, 2020. Exercise training is capable of reducing pain in chronic pain syndromes, yet its mechanisms are less well established. One mechanism may be via the impact of exercise on increasing a person's pain threshold. Here we show, via meta-analysis of fifteen exercise training studies in pain syndromes that exercise training leads to increased pressure pain thresholds (low to moderate quality evidence). We also find low to moderate quality evidence exists that exercise training was more effective than non-exercise interventions, such as pain education, massage and stress management for improving pain sensitivity. Further, the effect of exercise was greater locally at the site of pain and less so at remote regions. These finding suggest that adaptations in central inhibition occur over time with exercise training and, more widely, add to the mechanistic understanding of how effective interventions can improve pain in chronic pain syndromes.

Address: Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].; Ghent University, SPINE Research Unit Ghent, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Belgium; Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium; Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be. Electronic address: [email protected].; Deakin University, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].; Ghent University, SPINE Research Unit Ghent, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent, Belgium; Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be. Electronic address: [email protected].; Deakin University, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].; Deakin University, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].; Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.012

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MeSH Terms: Chronic Pain, Exercise, Exercise Therapy, Humans, Pain Threshold