Whether it is the ability to excel in sport or to complete activities of daily living, pain can be a limiting factor for many. Sufferers often consume over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen to alleviate pain. Researchers are designing studies to determine if caffeine, a widely consumed substance, has pain-blocking effects. In some cases, simply drinking a cup of coffee may result in a reduction of pain.
Caffeine and Pain Relief
In a November 2008 article from ABC News, Russell Portenoy, M.D., states that many studies have confirmed the mild pain-relieving effects of caffeine. Specifically, caffeine is commonly combined with other over-the-counter or prescription medications to relieve pain, most commonly headache pain. In most cases, caffeine is added to acetaminophen or aspirin for additive pain relief.
Caffeine and Pain Perception During Intense Exercise
Researchers in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University wanted to determine the effects of caffeine on pain perception during high-intensity exercise. In a February 2011 article in the "International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism," T.A. Astorino and colleagues asked 15 male subjects to perform leg extensions with and without caffeine intake. During the exercise, participants were asked to report how much pain they felt. The researchers found no difference in pain perception with caffeine ingestion, but various muscle function variables improved. Caffeine may not reduce pain but may improve muscle function during exercise.
Caffeine and Muscle Pain in Hot Environments
As reported in an article in the March 2011 issue of "Physiology and Behavior," M.S. Ganio and colleagues designed a study to determine the effects of caffeine ingestion on muscle pain during exercise in hot environments. They asked 11 male cyclists to cycle for 90 minutes in either a hot or cold environment. In each environment, cyclists performed with or without taking a caffeine supplement and reported how much pain they felt with exercise. Researchers found that caffeine reduced pain only in hot environments by 27 percent. Taking caffeine before exercise in hot environments may be beneficial.
Side Effects of Caffeine
While effective in reducing pain, caffeine may increase anxiety and cause difficulty sleeping when consumed in large amounts, Portenoy notes. Drugs.com states that the most common side effects include dizziness, irritability, nausea and nervousness. Seek emergency medical treatment if you begin to have an allergic reaction to caffeine, which causes swelling of the face, tightness in the chest or shakiness. Similar side effects can occur when you combine caffeine with pain medications.
References
- ABC News; Why Do Some Over-the-counter Pain Killers Contain Caffeine; Is That Good?; Russell Portenoy, M.D.; November 2008
- "International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism"; Effect of Caffeine Intake on Pain Perception During High-intensity Exercise; T.A. Astorino, et al., February 2011
- "Physiology and Behavior"; Caffeine Lowers Muscle Pain During Exercise in Hot but Not Cool Environments; M.S. Ganio, et al.; March 2011
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