(276) Acute Exercise Decreases Situational Pain Catastrophizing of a Noxious Stimulus

Abstract

There is limited evidence regarding the variability in pain response following exercise, including the impact of pain catastrophizing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation of the pain response after exercise with pain catastrophizing levels in young healthy individuals. Fifty-seven participants (20.75±1.81 years, 29 women) completed two randomized sessions (exercise and quiet rest). Exercise consisted of sustained submaximal isometric contraction of the knee extensors, performed until task failure. Temporal summation (TS) was assessed before and after exercise and quiet rest, by applying a constant mechanical stimulus to the index finger for one minute after reported pain threshold. During the one minute, participants were asked to rate their pain every 15 seconds (0-10 Numerical Pain Rating Scale). TS was calculated as the last pain rating minus the first pain rating. Pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) was completed at the beginning of the first session. Situational catastrophizing (S-PCS) was completed after each TS protocol. Based on the change in pain following exercise, participants were divided into two groups, responders (hypoalgesia) and non-responders (no change or hyperalgesia). There was no difference in baseline PCS between groups (p=0.974). For S-PCS, there was a session x trial x group interaction (p