Samantha M Meints, Robert R Edwards, Can Ozan Tan, Inana Dairi, Alicia J Whittington, Julius Dewayne Thomas, Heather DiGregorio, Cheyenne Brown, Claudia M Campbell, Elizabeth Nolan, Edgar Ross, Herman A Taylor, Adam S Tenforde, Meagan M Wasfy, Marc Weisskopf, Ross Zafonte, Aaron L Baggish, Rachel Grashow
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Abstract
Introduction: Chronic pain is highly prevalent yet heterogeneous among former American-style football (ASF) players. Pain sensitivity, which differs by age and race, contributes to individual differences in clinical pain in the general population but has not been examined among elite athletes.
Objectives: The aim of the current cross-sectional study was to (1) assess pain sensitivity using quantitative sensory testing (QST); (2) examine the impact of age and race on pain sensitivity; and (3) identify the extent to which pain sensitivity is associated with clinical pain intensity and whether this varies across age and race among former ASF players.
Methods: Former players (N = 110; NBlack = 59; NWhite = 51; Mage = 49) completed questionnaires and underwent QST.
Results: Results of Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher exact tests indicate age- and race-related differences in QST whereby older and Black players reported greater painful temporal summation aftersensations (Molder = 2.89; SDolder = 6.89; MBlack = 18.03; SDBlack = 20.85) than younger and White players (Myounger = 0.32; SDyounger = 1.16; P < 0.01; MWhite = 9.19; SDWhite = 12.70; P = 0.03), and Black players demonstrated a lower tolerance for cold pain (M = 105.79; SD = 68.95) than White players (M = 144.66; SD = 57.15; P < 0.01). Results of multivariate linear and logistic regression models indicate the relationship between QST and clinical pain intensity differed by age and race. Greater cold pain tolerance was associated with less clinical pain but only for older players. Race differences in the relationship between QST and clinical pain varied across pain modalities.
Conclusion: Results demonstrate that age- and race-related pain disparities persist among former ASF players. Moreover, age and race differences in pain sensitivity may be contributing to these disparities.
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