Study: Exercise and Marijuana May Have Similar Effect On Pain

(Photo: Jeff Drongowski/Flickr)

Scientists have brought new meaning to the term ‘runner’s high.’ New findings suggest that exercise can activate the same pain-relieving pathways as marijuana.

The euphoria and pain suppression that occur during high-intensity exercise were once believed to be the result of natural opioids called endorphins. But since the discovery of the endocannabinoid system in the mid-90s, evidence has pointed to natural marijuana-like molecules as the true explanation.

Published in the journal Neuropharmacology, new findings from Brazil confirm the role of the endocannabinoid system in exercise-induced pain relief.

“These results indicate that exercise could activate the endocannabinoid system, producing antinociception.”

In the study, rats that underwent high-intensity exercise showed greater tolerance for pain – caused by changes in CB1 receptors of the brain.

CB1 receptors are activated by compounds in marijuana as well as naturally-occurring cannabinoids such as anandamide. In either case, activity of CB1 receptors has been shown to interfere with pain signaling at both the brain and spinal cord level.

Interestingly, in areas of the rat brain involved with pain regulation, exercise appeared to increase both the activity and availability of these receptors. Blood levels of anandamide were also higher after exercise.

The results, the authors suggest, could be useful for treating pain in certain groups of patients.

“Our results demonstrated that moderate intensity exercise is effective at inducing antinociception, which can be of great importance for the treatment of several clinical pain conditions.”

Pain relief from exercise has been documented since the 1980s, but has yet to be properly explained, they add.

While more research needs to be done, previous studies involving human subjects have also shown higher endocannabinoid levels following exercise, suggesting that the same system might be at play in humans.

Source Leaf Science

Top 5 Reasons Why Athletes Prefer Marijuana

Record-holding NFL running back Ricky Williams used marijuana often during his career (Photo credit: Bob Rosato/SI)

Many world-class athletes have been penalized for smoking marijuana, but science suggests it could be the smarter choice.

Last week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that he might be open to allowing players to use medical marijuana in states where it is legal.

While the commissioner didn’t provide further details, many responded by saying the move was long overdue.

Indeed, a number of top athletes in the NFL, along with various other sports leagues, have been known to enjoy marijuana. And there are many good reasons why athletes should be allowed to use the substance without fear of consequences.

1. It’s a safer way of managing pain.

Marijuana’s potential to relieve pain has been noted by many in the NFL, and was also acknowledged by Goodell last week.

As former Denver Broncos player Nate Jackson explained to The Denver Post, NFL players “live in a great deal of pain on a daily basis, and marijuana helps with that.”

“Teams pass out opioid painkillers, which are highly addictive,” Jackson adds. “And that can affect a player long after they are done playing. Marijuana doesn’t have those types of effects.”

2. It doesn’t harm lung function…

One might wonder why athletes would be okay with smoking marijuana, considering the importance of lung health in professional sports.

But the largest study ever to investigate this effect, published in 2012, helps to explain why.

The 20-year-long study, which involved over 5,000 adults, concluded that regular marijuana smoking (a joint a day for 7 years or a joint a week for 20 years) had no negative impact on lung function.

3. …and may even improve it.

On the contrary, the study found evidence of slight improvements in lung capacity for those who smoked marijuana.

The researchers suggest that the traditional method of smoking cannabis, which involves deep inhales, could actually contribute to better lung function over time.

4. Unlike alcohol, it doesn’t cause hangovers or bodily harm.

Banning athletes from using marijuana forces many to turn to alcohol instead, which poses a number of disadvantages.

As former Seattle Seahawks player John Moffitt recently explained: “If you’re an athlete and you’re drinking (alcohol), you’re deteriorating your body far more than if you’re an athlete and you’re using marijuana.”

5. It aids recovery and performance.

There are many other reasons why cannabis is so popular among athletes. In fact, some researchers argue that it should remain banned as a performance enhancing drug, due to its long list of benefits.

Writing in Frontiers in Psychiatry, a pair of neuroscientists from Brazil’s University of Sao Paulo provided this summary:

“Cannabis smoking can be helpful for some activities such as extreme sports, as it improves muscle relaxation, reduces anxiety, and extincts fear memories (e.g., negative experiences) leading to enhanced performance. It is also worthwhile to note that cannabis smoking improves sleep time and recovery, which may favor performance when an athlete is facing multiple competitions in a short period of time.”

The debate on marijuana as a banned substance has led to recent changes in Olympic drug testing rules as well.

Source Leaf Science