Topical CBD Helps Athletes with Chronic Pain: New Study Offers Insights

Introduction For athletes, especially those who have performed at elite levels, chronic pain is a common issue, particularly in the lower extremities due to years of intense physical activity. As CBD (cannabidiol) continues to gain popularity for its potential therapeutic benefits, a new study investigates whether topical CBD can effectively and safely manage this pain in former professional athletes.

The Study in a Nutshell This pilot study focused on 20 former elite athletes, including those from American football, track and field, and basketball, who were dealing with chronic pain in their lower extremities. The participants applied a topical CBD cream (10 mg twice daily) over a six-week period to assess its tolerability and effectiveness in reducing pain and improving daily function.

Key Findings

1. Tolerability of CBD: The study found that 70% of participants completed the six-week trial, with half reporting minor side effects like skin dryness or rash. Importantly, none of these side effects were severe enough to require medical attention, indicating that topical CBD was generally well tolerated.

2. Pain Reduction: Participants reported a significant decrease in their pain levels over the course of the study. On a pain scale from 0 to 5, where 5 indicated the worst pain, the average pain score dropped from 3.5 at the start to 1.7 by the end of the study.

3. Improved Daily Function: The study also measured the impact of pain on daily activities like walking, running, and recreational activities. All participants noted improvements in their ability to carry out these activities with less pain, leading to a better quality of life.

4. Minor Adverse Effects: While some participants experienced skin dryness and rash, these issues were resolved quickly and did not interfere with the study. Interestingly, the skin reactions were more common in female participants, with all female participants reporting some form of skin irritation.

What This Means for Athletes This study is one of the first to explore the use of CBD in elite athletes, a group that is both highly sensitive to physical changes and particularly prone to chronic pain. The findings suggest that topical CBD is not only safe but also potentially effective in managing pain without significant side effects. For athletes looking for pain relief, especially those cautious about systemic treatments, topical CBD could be a promising option.

Conclusion Topical CBD appears to be a well-tolerated and effective option for managing chronic pain in elite athletes, with minimal side effects. While this pilot study offers promising results, larger and more rigorous studies are needed to confirm these findings. For now, athletes struggling with chronic pain might consider discussing the use of topical CBD with their healthcare providers as part of their pain management strategy.