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Effects of stressful training on human pain threshold
Author(s) -
Yamaguchi Keiji,
Toda Kazuo,
Hayashi Yoshihiko
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
stress and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1532-2998
pISSN - 1532-3005
DOI - 10.1002/smi.955
Subject(s) - threshold of pain , analgesic , sensation , medicine , dentistry , physical therapy , psychology , anesthesia , neuroscience
Abstract Pain sensation usually depends on psychological factors such as motivational and emotional state. The purpose of the present study was to reveal the effect of intensive training as rangers of Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF), which would be a strong stressor, on the pain threshold in human skin and tooth. Participants were seven uniformed members (aged 19–21 years old) who underwent ranger training in the 8th Division of the JGSDF. Before and after their hard training for 40 days, both skin and tooth pain threshold were measured. We selected five skin sites for pain test using a von Fray type filament. To measure tooth pain threshold, four teeth were selected and a conventional electric pulp tester was used. The threshold values in the skin were significantly increased after ranger training. However, the increase of tooth pain threshold was not clearly observed at each tooth tested. A close relationship between the changes in skin and tooth pain threshold was observed in two of the seven subjects. The present study indicates that intensive training can evoke analgesic effects which are thought to be stress‐induced analgesia. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.