WALKING for just four hours a week can boost your pain tolerance, a study shows.
Increasing how much you exercise could reduce how much you rely on painkillers for issues like headaches and back pain, Norwegian researchers have suggested.
GettyIncreasing how much you exercise could reduce how much you rely on painkillers for issues like headaches and back pain, Norwegian researchers say[/caption]
Physical activity has a similar effect on the brain as drugs like morphine, although in smaller amounts, they said.
This could mean even things like childbirth could feel less painful for people who exercise more – although further research is needed.
Lead author Anders Arnes, of the University Hospital of North Norway, said: “Becoming or staying physically active over time can benefit your pain tolerance.
“Whatever you do, the most important thing is that you do something.”
Around 15.5million people in England have chronic pain, of which 5.5million are in so much agony they struggle to take part in daily activities.
The NHS recommends patients try to remain active to reduce their pain, with low-strain exercises like walking, swimming, dancing, yoga or pilates all good options.
The study, published in PLOS ONE, analysed data from 10,732 adults in two surveys from 2007 to 2008 and 2015 to 2016.
They were asked how much they exercise and had their pain tolerance tested by submerging their hands in cold water.
Exercise levels were split into four groups, including sedentary people, and light exercisers, who did four hours a week or more of walking or cycling.
Those who did things like tennis or heavy gardening for the same amount of time were classed as moderate exercisers.
Participants who did at least four hours a week of training or sport competitions were classed as vigorous exercisers.
All active groups had significantly higher tolerance compared to people living a sedentary lifestyles.
Participants who increased how much they exercised in 2015 to 2016 compared to 2007 to 2008 also saw higher levels of pain tolerance, although it was not statistically significant.
Researchers said boosting how much you exercise could help ease or stave off chronic pain.