Elite athlete must play with pain

By STEVE INFANTI
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Q. I often hear how NFL players "play with pain" throughout a season. Doesn't playing with an injury increase the chances of getting another injury?
A. Keep in mind that NFL players, like other athletes, spend their lives trying to earn a spot on a team; most aren't inclined to give up their starting spot because of an injury. Athletes who participate in contact sports have a greater tolerance for pain, thus potentially increasing their chances of serious injury, according to a recent study conducted by Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, assistant professor of psychology at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, W.Va. The study assessed pain threshold and tolerance among intercollegiate male athletes participating in a variety of contact and noncontact sports.
"Pain and injury are often a consequence of sports play," Raudenbush said. "In addition, the likelihood of experiencing pain and injury increases as physical contact among athletes increases.