A Comparison of Neuropathic Pain Experiences Among Paralympic Versus Recreational Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury
Abstract Background Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) report high levels of neuropathic pain. Current treatment options are primarily pharmaceutical, despite their limited effectiveness. Exercise may reduce neuropathic pain among persons with SCI; however, the optimal dose of exercise requir...
| Autori principali: | , , , , , |
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| Natura: | Articolo |
| Lingua: | English |
| Pubblicazione: |
SpringerOpen
2023-12-01
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| Serie: | Sports Medicine - Open |
| Soggetti: | |
| Accesso online: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00645-w |
| _version_ | 1827590525404839936 |
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| author | Kendra R. Todd Kenedy Olsen Gail Hamamoto Trevor J. Hirschfield John L. K. Kramer Kathleen A. Martin Ginis |
| author_facet | Kendra R. Todd Kenedy Olsen Gail Hamamoto Trevor J. Hirschfield John L. K. Kramer Kathleen A. Martin Ginis |
| author_sort | Kendra R. Todd |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) report high levels of neuropathic pain. Current treatment options are primarily pharmaceutical, despite their limited effectiveness. Exercise may reduce neuropathic pain among persons with SCI; however, the optimal dose of exercise required to elicit analgesic effects remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare neuropathic pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, use of coping strategies, and positive affect and well-being among Paralympic versus recreational athletes with SCI who experience chronic neuropathic pain. Forty-seven athletes with SCI (25 Paralympic, 27 recreational) completed the International SCI Pain Basic Data Set, Douleur Neuropathique-4, coping strategies questionnaire, pain catastrophizing scale, and SCI-quality of life assessment. Results Paralympic athletes reported significantly greater neuropathic pain (p = 0.032) and positive affect and well-being (p = 0.047) than recreational athletes. No other comparisons were significant (ps > 0.09). Significant, medium-sized positive correlations were observed between neuropathic pain and total minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (r = 0.335, p = 0.023) and average minutes per day of moderate-intensity exercise (r = 0.375, p = 0.010) over the past week. Conclusions The results suggest that frequent moderate- to high-intensity exercise may exacerbate neuropathic pain sensations for persons with SCI. Research should investigate psychosocial and physiological mechanisms by which exercise may influence neuropathic pain to explain how Paralympic athletes with SCI are able to continue exercising while maintaining positive affect despite neuropathic pain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:19:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e1fe732cb2744f84b8defd250cc931c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2198-9761 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:19:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sports Medicine - Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-e1fe732cb2744f84b8defd250cc931c92023-12-10T12:20:21ZengSpringerOpenSports Medicine - Open2198-97612023-12-019111010.1186/s40798-023-00645-wA Comparison of Neuropathic Pain Experiences Among Paralympic Versus Recreational Athletes with Spinal Cord InjuryKendra R. Todd0Kenedy Olsen1Gail Hamamoto2Trevor J. Hirschfield3John L. K. Kramer4Kathleen A. Martin Ginis5School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British ColumbiaSchool of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British ColumbiaBritish Columbia Wheelchair Sports AssociationBritish Columbia Wheelchair Sports AssociationInternational Collaboration On Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Blusson Spinal Cord Centre (BSCC), University of British ColumbiaSchool of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British ColumbiaAbstract Background Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) report high levels of neuropathic pain. Current treatment options are primarily pharmaceutical, despite their limited effectiveness. Exercise may reduce neuropathic pain among persons with SCI; however, the optimal dose of exercise required to elicit analgesic effects remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare neuropathic pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, use of coping strategies, and positive affect and well-being among Paralympic versus recreational athletes with SCI who experience chronic neuropathic pain. Forty-seven athletes with SCI (25 Paralympic, 27 recreational) completed the International SCI Pain Basic Data Set, Douleur Neuropathique-4, coping strategies questionnaire, pain catastrophizing scale, and SCI-quality of life assessment. Results Paralympic athletes reported significantly greater neuropathic pain (p = 0.032) and positive affect and well-being (p = 0.047) than recreational athletes. No other comparisons were significant (ps > 0.09). Significant, medium-sized positive correlations were observed between neuropathic pain and total minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (r = 0.335, p = 0.023) and average minutes per day of moderate-intensity exercise (r = 0.375, p = 0.010) over the past week. Conclusions The results suggest that frequent moderate- to high-intensity exercise may exacerbate neuropathic pain sensations for persons with SCI. Research should investigate psychosocial and physiological mechanisms by which exercise may influence neuropathic pain to explain how Paralympic athletes with SCI are able to continue exercising while maintaining positive affect despite neuropathic pain.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00645-wChronic painParalympic sportExerciseDisabilitySpinal cord injury |
| spellingShingle | Kendra R. Todd Kenedy Olsen Gail Hamamoto Trevor J. Hirschfield John L. K. Kramer Kathleen A. Martin Ginis A Comparison of Neuropathic Pain Experiences Among Paralympic Versus Recreational Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury Sports Medicine - Open Chronic pain Paralympic sport Exercise Disability Spinal cord injury |
| title | A Comparison of Neuropathic Pain Experiences Among Paralympic Versus Recreational Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury |
| title_full | A Comparison of Neuropathic Pain Experiences Among Paralympic Versus Recreational Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury |
| title_fullStr | A Comparison of Neuropathic Pain Experiences Among Paralympic Versus Recreational Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comparison of Neuropathic Pain Experiences Among Paralympic Versus Recreational Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury |
| title_short | A Comparison of Neuropathic Pain Experiences Among Paralympic Versus Recreational Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury |
| title_sort | comparison of neuropathic pain experiences among paralympic versus recreational athletes with spinal cord injury |
| topic | Chronic pain Paralympic sport Exercise Disability Spinal cord injury |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00645-w |
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