Sporting Pain and Medical Cannabis

Increasing numbers of professional athletes are turning to medical cannabis to help treat chronic pain that comes from years of training and performing in high-intensity environments. Whether they are competing in contact, non-contact, team, or individual sports, athletes spend years putting their bodies through extreme stress. It’s no surprise that many suffer from ongoing injury and pain, even after retirement.

Medical cannabis was legalised in the UK in 2018. Since then, increasing numbers of patients — both professional athletes and ordinary, everyday people — have used the prescribed drug to help treat physical and mental conditions.

With greater numbers of professional athletes speaking out about the benefits of taking medical cannabis, could this see an increase in the number of patients seeking assistance from medical cannabis specialists?

What is medical cannabis?

Medical cannabis, also known as cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs), is a prescribed medication that is extracted from the cannabis plant. While the cannabis plant contains more than 100 different cannabinoids, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the main two used in medicine.

In addition to THC and CBD, medical cannabis can also contain other cannabinoids and plant compounds. Unlike cannabis that you might buy on the street, medical cannabis is grown under extremely strict conditions and is a highly regulated product.

How does medical cannabis work?

Medical cannabis works on the endocannabinoid system, which is a complex cell-signalling system that helps keep balance within your body. Activating or inhibiting this system has an effect on many body functions, including cognition, inflammation, blood pressure, and digestion.

Professional athletes and CBPMs

Professional athletes put their bodies under enormous pressure over their relatively short careers. Injuries are often treated with the aim of getting athletes back on the track or field as soon as possible, rather than looking at the long-term impact or a particular break, strain, or tear. As a result, chronic pain is a common complaint and not particularly easy to treat.

At least that was the case, until the legalisation of medical cannabis. Scientists and researchers believe that the cannabinoid THC acts at our CB₁ and CB₂ receptors, inhibiting the release of glutamate. This causes a reduction in pain signals to the brain and reduces the release of proinflammatory substances.

One of the main applications of CBPMs is to help treat chronic pain. However, it can also be prescribed to help treat psychological conditions, including anxiety and insomnia. While retired athletes certainly have to contend with physical pain, transitioning from the life of a full-time sports star is often difficult. It is not uncommon for athletes to be diagnosed with a range of psychological conditions that stem from dealing with this shift (alongside ongoing pain). Medical cannabis can therefore be recommended for a number of reasons, helping retired athletes to contend with both physical and mental disorders.

For retired athletes and non-athletes alike, it is important to note that medical cannabis can only be prescribed if the patient has tried a number of other therapies without success. If you believe you could benefit from this form of treatment, speak to a medical cannabis specialist today.