COMPETITION ALTERS THE PERCEPTION OF NOXIOUS STIMULI IN MALE AND FEMALE ATHLETES

The ability of athletes to continue to compete despite sustaining pain ful injury is often interpreted as evidence for the activation of endo genous analgesia mechanisms. However, alterations in perception of nox ious stimuli during competition have not yet been systematically inves tigated. This experiment evaluated experimental pain sensitivity in ma le and female athletes 2 days before, immediately following, and 2 day s after competition. Non-athlete controls were evaluated at the same i ntervals. Competition dramatically reduced pain report on the cold-pre sser test in all athletes. Withdrawal latencies to noxious heat also w ere altered by competition, with finger withdrawal latency decreasing and arm withdrawal latency increasing in most athletes. No changes in pain report were observed across time in nonathlete controls. Competit ion induces both hyperalgesic and analgesic states that are dependent on the body region tested and pain assessment methodology used. (C) 19 98 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsev ier Science B.V.