title: Tolerance of exercise-induced pain at a fixed rating of perceived exertion predicts time trial cycling performance.
abstract: To compare the predictive capacity of experimental pain and exercised-induced pain (EIP) on exercise performance. Thirty-two recreationally active male (n = 23) and female (n = 9) participants were recruited. Participants completed measures of pain tolerance by cold pressor test (CPT), pain pressure threshold via algometry (PPT), and EIP tolerance using an RPE clamp trial. A VO2maxtest provided traditional predictors of performance [VO2max, gas-exchange threshold‎ (GET), peak power output (PPO)]. Finally, participants completed a 16.1-km cycling time trial (TT). No correlation was found between experimental pain measures (CPT, PPT) and TT performance. However, there was a significant correlation between EIP tolerance and TT performance (R = -0.83, P < 0.01). Regression analysis for pain and physiological predictor variables (mean pain in CPT, PPT, EIP tolerance, VO2max, PPO, GET) revealed that a significant model (P < 0.01) emerged when only PPO (Adjusted R2= 0.739) and EIP tolerance (ΔR2= 0.075) were used to predict TT performance. These findings suggest that EIP tolerance is an important factor in endurance performance. However, PPT and CPT have limited ability to assess this relationship, and so their use in EIP research should be treated with caution.
authors.affiliation: Endurance Research Group, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Kent, Chatham, UK.
authors.forename: A H Y
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Astokorki
authors.affiliation: Endurance Research Group, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Kent, Chatham, UK.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mauger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001642:Bicycling; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010146:Pain; D017288:Pain Threshold; D005082:Physical Exertion; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fatigue; exercise; pacing; perceived exertion