How variability in pain and pain coping relate to pain interference during multistage ultramarathons. Issue 1 (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alschuler, Kevin N.; Kratz, Anna L.; Lipman, Grant S.; Krabak, Brian J.; Pomeranz, Dave; Burns, Patrick; Bautz, Joshua; Nordeen, Claire; Irwin, Crystal; Jensen, Mark P.
• Is Part Of: Pain. Volume 160:Issue 1(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Pain -- Coping -- Ultramarathon -- Sports medicine; Pain -- Periodicals; Douleur -- Périodiques; Anesthésie -- Périodiques; Pain; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.0472
• DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001397
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3959

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: An important and substantial body of literature has established that maladaptive and adaptive coping strategies significantly impact pain-related outcomes. This literature, however, is based primarily on populations with painful injuries and illnesses. Little is known about coping in individuals who experience pain in other contexts and whether coping impacts outcomes in the same way. In an effort to better understand pain coping in such contexts, this study evaluated pain coping in ultramarathon runners, a population known to experience moderate levels of pain with minimal perceived negative effects. This study reports on pain coping in 204 entrants in 2016 RacingThePlanet multistage ultramarathon events. Participants provided data over 5 consecutive days on pain severity, pain interference, exertion, and coping. Results demonstrated that the study participants were more likely to use adaptive than maladaptive coping responses. However, maladaptive coping, but not adaptive coping, was positively associated with percent time spent thinking about pain and pain-related interference. Taken together, the study supports the idea that this high functioning group of individuals experiencing pain emphasizes the use of adaptive coping strategies over maladaptive strategies, reinforcing the perspective that such a pattern may be the most effective way to cope with pain. Within the group, however, results supported traditional patterns, such that greater use of maladaptive strategies was associated with greater pain-related interference, suggesting that optimizing pain coping may be critical to reducing factors that may interfere with ultramarathon performance. Abstract : This study reports that ultramarathon runners use more adaptive coping strategies relative to maladaptive coping strategies in the setting of pain. However, despite this favorable profile, it remains the case that greater use of maladaptive coping strategies is associated with higher levels of pain interference.