Pain and beliefs: association is not cause
· 1 min read
First published:
Research through: 21 August 2026
An article published online on 20 August compared questionnaire responses from injured and uninjured adult runners. It measures reported experience, not experimental pain thresholds.
Selected research available by this Friday; older studies are background, not weekly discoveries. Assessed in October 2026; screening was not exhaustive.
Topics: mind
Finding
Runners classified as injured reported greater pain sensitivity than uninjured respondents.
Limitations: This was questionnaire sensitivity, not a laboratory pain threshold.
Evidence level: Moderate evidence
Finding
The injured group also reported higher pain catastrophizing and fear-avoidance scores.
Limitations: A group association does not mean the injury was caused by thinking.
Evidence level: Moderate evidence
Finding
Rumination and fear-avoidance were associated with reported pain sensitivity in adjusted analyses.
Limitations: Adjustment does not establish causation or show that a treatment works.
Evidence level: Moderate evidence
Interpretation
Pain is real. These associations do not show that beliefs caused an injury or that changing beliefs treats it. A survey cannot diagnose a runner or decide whether continuing is safe.
Further reading: current guides
Update history
- · Historical edition researched, translated and assessed in October 2026; Friday publication date retained.
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