Studies Show Posture Affects Pain Tolerance and Hormone Levels

August 5, 2011 12:12 PM

"According to a study by Scott Wiltermuth, assistant professor of management organization at the USC Marshall School of Business, and Vanessa K. Bohns, postdoctoral fellow at the J.L. Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, adopting dominant versus submissive postures actually decreases your sensitivity to pain. "

Full study in Word format; previous research regarding posture and hormone levels by Carney, Cuddy and Yap (pdf).

posted by uniq (9 comments total)

But is this also true for snarky posturing in comments?
posted by Hairy Lobster at 12:22 PM on August 5, 2011

I'm not a medical professional, but it seems like it'd be easier to breathe deeply in the dominant poses, and deep breaths = relaxation = better mood. This is why every meditation practice teaches good posture, and why it's important to control your breath in stressful or painful situations. The change in hormone levels is interesting, though, but I don't see in the study how or when they measured that. Couldn't the application of painful stimuli increase hormone levels regardless of the posture adopted during the administration?
posted by desjardins at 12:26 PM on August 5, 2011 [1 favorite]

Pain was measured in the current study, hormones in the previous study.
posted by uniq at 12:32 PM on August 5, 2011

Who the hell publishes their research papers in Word?! Oh wait, business school people.
posted by kmz at 12:34 PM on August 5, 2011

As a datapoint, I've always found it's easier to take a bar stool to the face standing up. Sitting down sucks, laying down I don't remember.
posted by Nattie at 12:48 PM on August 5, 2011 [1 favorite]

That's why I gave birth on a horse, in full battle array
posted by Mchelly at 1:57 PM on August 5, 2011 [6 favorites]

Isn't this basically true by definition of "dominant pose"?
posted by grog at 2:19 PM on August 5, 2011

Wow, there's such a thing as a postdoc in management now?
posted by kickingtheground at 3:34 PM on August 5, 2011

contemplate that on the Tree of Woe
posted by exlotuseater at 9:12 AM on August 7, 2011