Laughter helps against pain

Joint laughter reduces the sensation of pain

14/09/2011

Hearty laughter has long been considered extremely beneficial to health. Oxford University researchers have now shown in a comprehensive study that laughter also helps to reduce pain. In the British journal „Proceedings of the Royal Society B“ The researchers report that laughter significantly increases the threshold for physical pain.

Laughing has a variety of positive effects on the human body, such as the relaxation of tense muscles in the shoulders and neck, the promotion of blood circulation and a corresponding reduction in the risk of heart and circulatory problems, explain Robin Dunbar of „British Academy Centenary Research Project“ at Oxford University and colleagues. Relaxed communal laughter triggers feelings of „wellbeing“ According to British scientists, this is due to the release of endorphins in the brain. However, according to the experts, laughter is not only essential to interpersonal communication, it also plays a significant role in terms of health.

Laughter increases the threshold for physical pain
As part of their study, Oxford University researchers investigated the pain sensitivity of volunteers who either watched a fun video or an informative documentary and were simultaneously exposed to an increasing amount of pain. For example, the scientists were able to use cuffs for blood pressure measurement, which were pumped up more and more, to determine from which pressure the subjects felt the cuffs were unpleasant or painful. Robin Dunbar and colleagues found that study participants who watched funny videos together with others and laughed accordingly, had a much higher threshold for physical pain than those in the documentary group. Earlier, the study participants from the latter group found it unpleasant to inflate the cuff on their upper arms, the British scientists report.

Release of endorphins causes increased pain resistance
As a reason for the increased pain resistance in community laughter Robin Dunbar and colleagues call the increased release of endorphins. Endorphins, also known as happiness hormones, are particularly important for pain management and coping with physical and mental stress, researchers from the University of Oxford report. With increased distribution apparently the stimulus threshold is reduced and those affected are significantly more resistant to pain, so the statement of the experts. The British researchers suspect, „that the physical action of laughter initiates the activation of the endorphin system“ and so brings an increased pain tolerance with it. Comparable effects have already been demonstrated in the past with great physical stress, such as in endurance sports. The reason for the increased release of endorphin while laughing, the scientists see in the continued exhalation, without taking in between breath. This results in a tiring effect that ultimately results in the release of endorphins, said Robin Dunbar and colleagues. This phenomenon was particularly strong in the subjects, who watched the funny videos together with others. The reason for this is obvious: Together, funny things are just more funny and correspondingly more pronounced, the subjects laughed at the videos presented.

Laughter therapies help with numerous health problems
So-called laugh therapies have long been known in naturopathy and among psychotherapists and have been used in the past for the treatment of patients with emotional problems, massive mental stress and chronic loss of appetite. In the future, considering the current study results, laughing therapy could possibly be extended to another field of treatment. Thus, according to the experts, a use in the treatment of patients with chronic pain seems quite promising. (Fp)

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Picture: Rainer Sturm