Endurance Performance is Influenced by Perceptions of Pain and Temperature: Theory, Applications and Safety Considerations

• Published in: Sports medicine (Auckland) Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 525 - 537
• Main Authors: Stevens, Christopher John, Mauger, Alexis R., Hassmèn, Peter, Taylor, Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-03-2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetaminophen; Analgesics; Athletes; Beverages; Cooling; Direct current; Durability; Electrical stimulation of the brain; Electrical stimuli; Endurance; ESB; Fitness training programs; Heat; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Menthol; Pain; Perceptions; Physiology; Review Article; Sports Medicine; Stimulation; Temperature effects; Temperature perception
• ISSN: 0112-1642; 1179-2035
• DOI: 10.1007/s40279-017-0852-6

Models of endurance performance now recognise input from the brain, including an athlete’s ability to cope with various non-pleasurable perceptions during exercise, such as pain and temperature. Exercise training can reduce perceptions of both pain and temperature over time, partly explaining why athletes generally have a higher pain tolerance, despite a similar pain threshold, compared with active controls. Several strategies with varying efficacy may ameliorate the perceptions of pain (e.g. acetaminophen, transcranial direct current stimulation and transcutaneous electrical stimulation) and temperature (e.g. menthol beverages, topical menthol products and other cooling strategies, especially those targeting the head) during exercise to improve athletic performance. This review describes both the theory and practical applications of these interventions in the endurance sport setting, as well as the potentially harmful health consequences of their use.