The effect of acute intermittent exercise on pain threshold and tolerance in middle-aged tennis players

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study is to examine the alterations in pain threshold and tolerance of middle-aged persons those who regularly play tennis at rest and following acute voluntary exercise. Methods: Fifty-nine recreationally-active persons aged 30-60 years participated in this study. Women and men separately were divided into 10-years groups, with 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 years of age. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pain tolerance (PPT) measurements were recorded at rest and immediately following an acute exercise. PPT and PPTO values were measured from the biceps muscle of dominant arm by using a digital algometer. Singles tennis match was used as an acute voluntary exercise session, the duration of each tennis match (min) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded. Results: No statistical differences were found in exercise duration or RPE scores among groups. RPE scores showed that tennis match played by participants was corresponded a strenuous exercise session. In all age groups, no statistical differences were found in baseline PPT or PPTO results in women or men. PPT and PPTO values were increased following exercise both in women and men. Although post-exercise PPT results were similar among age groups of women and men, PPTO values of men were found to be higher in all age groups of men in comparison with the same age groups of women. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study revealed that one bout of voluntary exercise session resulted in gender-dependent differences in pain tolerance in middle-aged participants, and those middle-aged men were tolerated of pain at higher pressure levels following exercise in comparison with women at the same age.