Triathlons: The Cure for Chronic Pain?

It’s no mystery that athletes who continually push the boundaries of fitness are stronger than the rest of us. But does this mean they are able to tolerate higher levels of pain overall? This question has pried at the minds of researches for quite some time, and recently a study was conducted to determine just this curiosity.

Pain is Relative

The study conducted included a mere 36 participants, and included triathletes and non-triathletes. Experimenting with cold and heat, the study found that those who consistently competed in triathlons were able to tolerate the higher and lower temperatures much longer than non-triathletes. They definitely felt the icy or hot pain at the same time, but were much more willing to endure the pain for a period of time. Additionally, psychological effects were taken into consideration. Participants were asked about their fear of pain, for example when thinking about a dental appointment or surgical procedure. It seemed that those who did not participate in triathlons were more prone to fear of pain, leading the researchers to believe that the mind plays an integral part in pain tolerance. Perhaps it’s all in our heads!

The Issue of Chronic Pain

For many individuals, fear of pain is irrelevant, and their bodies simply seemed destined to hurt. For those individuals, pain is an everyday routine. This pain comes on frequently, or merely never leaves. Those affected with this kind of disease become no longer afraid of pain the same way someone is afraid of a root canal. They have come to expect the pain. Recently, physical therapy has taken a different turn. The addition of more strenuous physical activity has been employed in individuals with chronic pain. Because this addition seems to be helping the issue, many wonder if working towards something like a triathlon could be a cure for this seemingly endless pain problem. Since triathlon participants are more likely to endure pain longer, perhaps the chronic pain one is experiencing could be tolerated easier, or even diminished. According to Dr. Ruth Defrin from the Tel Aviv University in Israel, “Triathletes appear to exhibit greater ability and/or motivation to endure pain in the experimental setup, and possibly, also in everyday life.” Her theory is that experiencing repetitive pain leads to an actual brain training of sorts.

Triathlon Test

With this in mind, perhaps chronic pain therapy should include training for athletic events such as the triathlon. One specific sufferer of chronic pain, Angela Durazo, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. When she found out that this chronic was the reason for her pain, she pressed on toward her triathlon training even harder. With counseling, physical therapy and an anti-inflammatory diet, she has been able work at her athlete training harder, completing seven triathlons in this season alone! For those suffering with chronic pain, working towards a goal like this may just be the answer to handling the consistent problems that occur. A check with your physician is ALWAYS suggested, however, as each individual is very different. For those who have the support of their doctors and therapists, perhaps a Hitch Fit routine is just the ticket! Get moving and start training!