University of Adelaide study finds exercise more effective than painkillers

A comprehensive study conducted by researchers at the University of Adelaide suggests that exercise can be significantly more effective than common painkillers for managing both acute and chronic pain. Published in the journal ‘PAIN Reports’, the research analyzed 157 systematic reviews, 2,736 randomized controlled trials, and a total of 221,279 participants.

The findings indicate that physical activity reduces pain scores by an average of 1.1 points on a 0 to 10 scale, which is approximately 60 percent greater than the relief reported for standard medications in separate chronic pain trials. The benefits were observed across various conditions, including musculoskeletal, neurological, inflammatory, and cancer-related disorders.

Lead investigator Ben Singh noted that exercise triggers the release of chemical messengers like endorphins and serotonin, which alter pain perception, increase tolerance, and improve mood. Interestingly, the data showed that shorter, less intense exercise regimens—including those involving less than two hours per week—often yielded superior pain reduction compared to high-intensity overexertion. Despite these findings, researchers highlighted that structured physical activity remains underutilized in clinical settings.