August 14, 2023

THC, CBD, & Exercise Recovery: A New Study Sheds Light

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Key Takeaways

A study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research found that a significant majority of cannabis users who exercise regularly report that CBD (93%) and THC (87%) aid in their workout recovery.
CBD and THC interact with the endocannabinoid system in the body, which regulates critical functions like sleep and pain perception, potentially explaining their benefits for recovery through anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and sleep-promoting effects.
Research from multiple studies suggests that CBD and THC may reduce muscle damage, inflammation, and pain perception, supporting their role in enhancing post-exercise recovery despite previous regulatory and social challenges around cannabis research.

Cannabis and exercise go hand in hand more than one would think. According to a study by the University of Colorado Boulder, about 80% of cannabis enthusiasts include it in their routine. But is there any scientific merit to using Delta-9 THC and CBD for workout recovery, or is this practice just a fad?

On August 5, 2023, the Journal of Cannabis Research published its findings to shed light on this. Read on to discover how, and if, cannabis can enhance your fitness regimen.

The Importance of Exercise Recovery

Man exhaling, winded after a rigorous workout

Getting up, out, and active is just one part of your fitness journey. But what does recovery have to do with it?

According to Michigan State University, during recovery, your body can adapt to exercise-related stress, replenish energy storage, and repair tissue. In short, giving your body time to recuperate is important for going harder the next time you work out.

Everyone's needs when it comes to rest and recovery are different. However, one effective tool you can start implementing is creating a training log, which will help you track how your body feels before and after a workout to assist you in determining your recovery needs better.

THC & CBD: Factors to Consider

Scientist gloves inspecting an indoor grown cannabis plant

Cannabis plants contain a universe of natural compounds: flavonoids, terpenes, and, of course, cannabinoids. There are about 113 known cannabinoids, with Delta-9 THC and cannabidiol (CBD) being the most popular and abundant. On a surface level, the main distinction between them is that THC is psychoactive and CBD is not, which has to do with how they interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS is a network of chemical messengers and receptors in the human body. It regulates various critical functions, such as sleep and pain perception, to maintain stable internal conditions. The ECS employs neurotransmitters known as "endocannabinoids" to do this.

Which brings us back to cannabis. CBD and THC, which are "phytocannabinoids," can interact with this system because their chemical structures strikingly resemble endocannabinoids.

CBD has a minimal binding affinity to CB1 and CB2 receptors but influences the ECS more indirectly. THC, on the other hand, will bind strongly to your CB1 receptors (concentrated primarily in the brain, producing mind-focused effects) and less strongly to your CB2 receptors (an interaction which produces more body-focused effects).

Some enthusiasts claim an added benefit occurs when these two cannabinoids are consumed together, an experience referred to as "the entourage effect."

Findings on THC, CBD, and Exercise Recovery

Two young athletes stretching and hydrating after their workout

People, including professional athletes, are already utilizing cannabis for workout recovery, but what types of positive results, if any, are they experiencing?

To answer this question, researchers at the Journal of Cannabis Research launched an anonymous survey of 111 participants. Each participant was an individual who regularly partook in cannabis and regularly exercised.

85% of the participants reported that they regularly engaged in aerobic exercise (such as swimming, cycling, walking, rowing, running, and jump rope), and 85% of participants reported regularly engaging in resistance exercise (such as free weights, medicine balls, weight machines, and body weight exercises). A total of 72% of participants reported partaking in both. This is just to demonstrate the variety of exercises participants engaged in.

Regardless of the choice of physical activity, the survey found that
93% of participants felt that CBD had aided in exercise recovery
87% of participants felt that THC had helped in exercise recovery
So generally, people who participated in the study felt that cannabis products benefited their recovery.

But why might they experience such results? The background information gathered for this study may shed some light.

Potential Benefits of CBD and THC for Recovery

Why were researchers interested in CBD and Delta-9 THC's role in post-workout recovery? Within the background section, there are some interesting takeaways from previous studies on this topic:

One 2019 study found that CBD and THC may offer anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and sleep-promoting properties, which could benefit post-workout recovery from aerobic and resistance exercises.
A study done in 2020 demonstrated that THC and CBD can assist in reducing subjective perceptions of pain intensity.
In 2021, researchers found that CBD helped reduce muscle damage following resistance exercises.
Findings from 2022 suggest that CBD and THC can potentially reduce the signal protein responsible for inflammation responses.

Summary

It's not too uncommon for cannabis enthusiasts to incorporate the plant into their workout routine. For decades, there has been a lot of red tape surrounding cannabis research in general and the plant's potential benefits due to prohibitionist legislation and public perception.

However, as the stigma starts to shed, more and more fascinating insights about people's experiences with exercise, cannabis, and why it may prove beneficial are coming to light.