Can I increase my pain tolerance?
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional. A person’s pain tolerance refers to how much pain they can reasonably handle. But some people have a much higher pain tolerance than others. The question is why? And can we somehow increase ours? 'Physical Suffering' during a 90-km ultra in the Alps How and why a person experiences pain can vary greatly, and the nature of how humans feel pain is complex. A number of factors influence an individual’s pain tolerance levels including genes, age, and gender, but the most widely held explanation is that the main differences are psychological, versus some type of physiological numbing of pain sensors. This could indicate that pain tolerance is trainable . So there is no reason to throw in the towel if you don't reach the finish line of your first ultra. If you are willing to work at it, there is reason for hope, as research indicates that seasoned endurance athletes have a remarkably higher tolerance for pain than oth...