Giving the ‘middle finger’ helps to reduce pain, study shows

GIVING a one-fingered salute helps to reduce pain, a study shows.

The gesture, also known as flipping the bird, cuts discomfort by around a tenth.

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Giving the ‘middle finger’ helps to reduce pain a study has shown[/caption]

Flicking the Vs may also help, experts believe, and swearing has a similar effect, they confirmed.

In the study, participants put one hand into icy water and repeatedly gave a one-fingered salute, or made a non-offensive gesture, with the other.

In other tests they shouted f**k or said “flat” after submerging a hand.

The rude gesture group withstood pain for 125 seconds on average, 12 more than those not being rude.

They also lasted longer than the swearers who outdid the “flat” group.

The researchers said flipping the bird may help beat pain as we unconsciously think “f**k” while doing it.

It may make people more confident or distracted, helping them ignore discomfort.

Professor Autumn Hostetter, who led the study at Kalamazoo University in Michigan, US, said: “This is the first research to show a taboo gesture has a pain-lowering effect similar to that produced by a taboo word.”