Central and peripheral pain sensitization during an ultra-marathon competition

Background and aims: The participation in ultra-marathons and other ultra-endurance events has increased exponentially over the past decade. There is insufficient data on variation in pain mechanisms in exercise overall but especially in the ultra-endurance athlete population. To further understand peripheral and central pain sensitization we have investigated pressure pain threshold and conditioned pain modulation during three separate ultra-marathon competitions. Methods: Each ultra-marathon investigated was held in the state of Florida, USA, over flat, sandy and paved surfaces under generally warm to hot, humid conditions. Pressure pain threshold was measured utilizing a Baseline © Dolorimeter. The blunt end of the dolorimeter stylus was placed onto the distal dominant arm, equidistant between the distal radius and ulna, three times in a blinded manner to insure that the testing technician did not influence the subject’s responses. Conditioned pain modulation was measured immediately after the PPT measures by placing the non-dominant hand in a cool water bath maintained at 15°C. The same dolorimeter measurement was repeated two more times on the dominant arm while the non-dominant hand remained in the water. Data was analyzed with a paired t-test. Results: Pressure pain threshold was significantly decreased (p<0.05) at 25, 50 and 100 miles. Conditioned pain modulation was also significantly decreased (p<0.05) at 25, 50 and 100 miles of an ultra-marathon competition. Conclusions: Together these data suggest an increased peripheral and/or central pain sensitization starting at 25 miles and continuing throughout an ultra-marathon competition run in these conditions. This is the first study that provides evidence of a decreased peripheral pain threshold and decreased central pain inhibition from ultra-marathon running. Decreases in both the peripheral pain threshold and central inhibition may result from nociceptor plasticity, central sensitization or a combination of both. Implications: Based on previous research that has indicated a central sensitization resulting from inflammation and the well-documented inflammatory response to the rigors of ultra-marathon competition, we suggest the decreased peripheral pain threshold and decreased descending pain inhibition results from this inflammatory response of running an ultra-marathon.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Central and peripheral pain sensitization during an ultra-marathon competition ; volume:18 ; number:4 ; year:2018 ; pages:703-709 ; extent:7 ; Scandinavian journal of pain ; 18, Heft 4 (2018), 703-709 (gesamt 7)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Agnew, James W. ; Hammer, Steven B. ; Roy, Alexandre L. ; Rahmoune, Amina

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2018-0079
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2024022714484155432866
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:52 AM CEST