Study Finds Elite Athletes Experience Chronic Pain Relief with Topical CBD
In a first of its kind, researchers conducted an open-label pilot study of the effect of CBD on pain due to acute lower extremity injuries experienced by former elite athletes. The researchers assessed pain levels and daily living activities during CBD consumption. The results showed a significant improvement in self-reported pain levels and quality of life.
The study participants were 20 former professional athletes who participated in football, basketball or track and field. They were all experiencing chronic pain (pain lasting more than three months) due to acute injuries in the lower extremity. Each athlete had been treated for the pain differently, including surgery, chiropractor services, massage therapy and/or exercises directed by athletic trainers. Medications taken included opioids and non-steroidal drugs.
The athletes used a topical CBD product twice a day for six weeks. The topical had a 10 mg CBD potency. Pain levels were measured using tools that included the pain disability index, tolerability, self-report questionnaire and a lower extremity functional scale. The research report said,
“It was determined that all subjects experienced significant improvements in both quality of life, as assessed by the PDI recorded at intake and exit, and relief of pain, as measured by the decrease in pain level over time recorded in the pain journals.”
Given the positive results, the researchers recommend further studies be conducted on the use of CBD to help manage joint pain. Choosing elite athletes for this study was intentional because athletes are trained to be aware of safety issues and are likely to detect, identify and report CBD tolerability and safety concerns.
The studies demonstrating the benefits of CBD are accumulating. This study adds to the growing evidence that CBD has a strong potential to provide many benefits, including reducing pain and minimizing the risk of opioid addiction. What is also interesting is the study participants said that the reduction in pain due to CBD led to an improved quality of life. Relieving pain is essential for millions of people whose lives are disrupted by chronic pain. This is an important study that connects CBD’s ability to reduce pain to positive changes in lifestyle.
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