02/11/2026
Did you know exercise can actually lower your sensitivity to pain?
Even better, the effect isn’t just where you feel pain. It can reduce pain sensitivity throughout the whole body.
That means walking more, lifting weights, cycling, or following a structured exercise plan can all play a role in calming your nervous system.
References
1. Wewege, M. A., & Jones, M. D. (2021). Exercise-induced hypoalgesia in healthy individuals and people with chronic musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Pain, 22(1), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2020.04.003
2. Tan, L., Cicuttini, F. M., Fairley, J., Romero, L., Estee, M., Hussain, S. M., & Urquhart, D. M. (2022). Does aerobic exercise affect pain sensitisation in individuals with musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 23, 113. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05038-9
3. Senarath, I. D., Chen, K. K., Weerasekara, I., & de Zoete, R. M. J. (2023). Exercise-induced hypoalgesic effects of different types of physical exercise in individuals with neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Practice, 23(1), 110–122. https://doi.org/10.1111/papr.13150
4. Ni, W., Kuang, X., & Zhu, Z. (2025). Pain Chronicity and Relief: From Molecular Basis to Exercise-Based Rehabilitation. Biology, 14(9), 1116. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14091116
