Master of Science (Exercise and Sport Studies)

Study Design: A single blind control experimental research, with repeated measures, on the difference in the experimentally induced mechanical pain threshold and tolerance between contact and non-contact sports male athletes.

Summary of Background data: In the past decade, there have been numerous investigations of pain in the athletic environment. Pain tolerance has been contended to be the most critical differentiator between successful and unsuccessful athletes in endurance sports. Athletes have been known to have better pain tolerance and threshold when compared to non-athletes. Contact sport athletes are particularly more prone to injuries that often cause acute and chronic pain. They are hence postulated to have higher pain tolerance. However, there is a lack of studies to support this concept. The empirical data from this current research will allow sport doctors, physiotherapists, sport psychologists, trainers and coaches to better manage injured athletes.

Aims: 1. To determine whether competitive male contact sport athletes have higher pain threshold and tolerance than non-contact sports male athletes, which might be associated with better pain management. 2. To determine the difference in mechanical pain threshold and tolerance between male athletes and non-athletes (as controls). 3. To determine the relationship between the “Visual Analog Pain Scale” (Pain-VAS) and pressure pain algometer.

Methodology: Participants: 15 male competitive contact sport athletes; 15 male noncontact sport athletes; and 15 male controls (non-athletes) were recruited.

Intervention: Participants were subjected to a mechanical pain pressure applicator (pressure algometer) till the onset of pain threshold and tolerance. Pain-VAS was also obtained.

Statistical Analysis: Data was analysed with the SPSS version 15 for Windows. ANOVA was used to evaluate the effects of contact and non-contact sports. Pearson product-moment of coefficient was used to evaluate the correlations of pain-VAS and pressure applicator.

Result: ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference in the contact sport athletes’ pain tolerance and threshold when compared to non-contacts sport athletes. Non-contact sport athletes had significantly higher pain tolerance level (p = 0.044) than non-athletes. Pain-VAS was only correlated to pressure algometer on pain threshold measurement (r = 0.376, p = 0.011).

Conclusion: Data from this current study does not support the wide belief that contact sport athletes have higher pain tolerance. More pain studies using different sport types are needed so as to examine the effect of sports on pain tolerance.