Thank you to everyone who interacted with last week’s sports physiology poll…
“No pain, No gain”
Some of you may have found yourselves agreeing with the popular fitness culture slogan. But before we delve a little more into this statement, lets have a look at WHY this phrase became so popular!
- Catchy Slogan: Simply put, it’s a memorable phrase, which quickly became popularised in the fitness industry… it’s easy to remember, and easy to repeat meaning it’s become a common phrase amongst athletes.
- Perceived Toughness: The idea that you have to endure pain to achieve athletic performance can make people feel tougher and more dedicated to their gruelling workouts. (Mistaking training discomfort with pain means that people refer to training discomfort as ‘pain’)
- Historical Context: This phrase likely emerged at a time when athletes had to push their limits. The concept stuck, even when our understanding of fitness and training evolved.
- Immediate Feedback: Sometimes, pushing harder during a workout can lead to visible changes, such as sweating, increased heart rate, and muscle fatigue. This reinforces the belief that pain equals progress.
- Opponent Pressure: When athletes see their opponents embracing this mantra, they might feel pressure to conform to the idea that intense pain is necessary for athletic success.
- Misinterpretation: Some individuals may misinterpret the concept, thinking that pain is synonymous with challenge. They might believe that discomfort and pushing their limits are necessary for growth.
Yes, it might be a motivational phrase for some… but it can become detrimental to an athlete’s health if applied incorrectly. It’s essential to understand that physical pain is not the same as discomfort (often what we feel during a challenging training session). Coaches, athletes, and SPORTS SCIENTISTS! should encourage safe and balanced training, to avoid overtraining and injury.
Read more on this blog:
Blog: Why the 'No Pain, No Gain' approach is misleading - Function Jigsaw