Exercise Dosing for Pain in Healthy Participants

July 18, 2023 updated by: Benedict Kolber, Duquesne University

The Dosing of Aerobic Exercise Therapy on Experimentally-induced Pain in Healthy Female Participants.

In this study investigators will examine the effect of dose related to exercise therapy for pain in healthy adult humans. An acute pain model will be employed to study the effect of exercise dose on pain. Acute pain models are currently used to study pain (both acute and chronic) in human samples as there is currently no chronic pain model.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial with repeated measures. The effect of exercise dose on pain: subjects will be randomly assigned to one of four exercise groups: 1.) no exercise (control); 2.) low dose exercise (3x/week); 3.) moderate dose exercise (5x/week). 4.) high dose exercise (10x/week).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

41

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15282
        • Duquesne University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 40 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Between age 18-40
  2. Normal BMI (18.5-25.0)
  3. Heart Rate (HR) 60-100 bmp
  4. BP less than or equal to 140/90

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Age <18 or >40 years
  2. Cardiac, respiratory, neurological or musculoskeletal disease
  3. Acute pain
  4. Chronic pain condition
  5. Diabetes
  6. BMI ≥ 25.1 or ≤ 18.4
  7. Regular participation in high intensity athletic/sporting activities
  8. Sedentary
  9. Anxiety or depression disorders
  10. Tape allergy
  11. Currently pregnant

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Low Dose Exercise
The Low Dose Exercise group will perform treadmill walking exercise, three times per week for one week.
Exercise groups will perform moderate intensity treadmill walking at a speed of 3.5 mph at a 0% incline for 30 minutes.
Experimental: Moderate Dose Exercise
The Moderate Dose Exercise group will perform treadmill walking exercise, five times per week for one week.
Exercise groups will perform moderate intensity treadmill walking at a speed of 3.5 mph at a 0% incline for 30 minutes.
Experimental: High Dose Exercise
The High Dose Exercise group will perform treadmill walking exercise, ten times per week for one week.
Exercise groups will perform moderate intensity treadmill walking at a speed of 3.5 mph at a 0% incline for 30 minutes.
Sham Comparator: Control
The Control group will perform quiet rest, three times per week for one week.
The Control group will perform 30 minutes of quiet rest.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Intervention Effects on Mechanical Sensitivity Threshold
Time Frame: baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Subjects' cutaneous mechanical sensitivity threshold will be examined using standard monofilaments that apply a force of 0.008g, 0.02g, 0.04g, 0.07g, 0.16g, 0.4g, 0.6g and 1.0g to the forearm and calf. Percent Baseline to 24 hrs post-intervention will then be calculated (100*Value at 24 hours/Value at Baseline). A filament of different weight is applied to the skin to look at the threshold of response.
baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Intervention Effects on Constant Heat Pain Intensity
Time Frame: baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Subjects' constant heat pain intensity rating will be assessed using a (45 degree Celsius, 3cm x 5cm heating block applied to the forearm and calf for 3 seconds). Following the stimulus, subjects will rate the intensity of the pain associated with the stimulus using a visual analog scale numbered at 0 and 10, where "0" represents "no pain" and "10" represents "the worst pain imaginable" (0=minimum score, 10 maximum score). Percent baseline to 24 hrs post-intervention will then be calculated (100*Value at 24 hours/Value at Baseline).
baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Intervention Effects on Constant Heat Pain Unpleasantness
Time Frame: baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Subjects' constant heat pain unpleasantness rating will be assessed using a (45 degree Celsius, 3cm x 5cm heating block applied to the forearm and calf for 3 seconds). Following the stimulus, subjects will rate the unpleasantness of the pain associated with the stimulus using a visual analog scale numbered at 0 and 10, where "0" represents "not unpleasant" and "10" represents "the most unpleasant sensation imaginable" (0=minimum score, 10 maximum score). Percent baseline to 24 hrs post-intervention will then be calculated (100*Value at 24 hours/Value at Baseline).
baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Intervention Effects on Radiant Heat Sensitivity
Time Frame: baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Subjects' radiant heat sensitivity will be assessed using a temperature ramp from 30 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius over 60 seconds with participant defined cutoff in temperature (degrees Celsius) reading at their "sensitivity threshold" to the thermal stimulus (IITC Thermal Stimulus Apparatus with custom heated glass). This will be assessed on the forearm and calf. Percent baseline to 24 hrs post-intervention will then be calculated (100*Value at 24 hours/Value at Baseline).
baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Intervention Effects on Radiant Heat Pain
Time Frame: baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Subjects' radiant heat pain threshold will be assessed using a temperature ramp from 30 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius over 20 seconds with participant defined cutoff in temperature (degrees Celsius) reading at their "pain threshold" to the thermal stimulus (IITC Thermal Stimulus Apparatus with custom heated glass). This will be assessed on the forearm and calf. Percent baseline to 24 hrs post-intervention will then be calculated (100*Value at 24 hours/Value at Baseline).
baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Intervention Effects on Pressure Pain Threshold
Time Frame: baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Subjects' pressure pain threshold will be assessed using a pressure algometer (Wagner Instruments; 1cm round probe applied at constant ramping pressure until participant defined cutoff in kg at "pain threshold"). This will be assessed on the forearm and calf. Percent baseline to 24 hrs post-intervention will then be calculated (100*Value at 24 hours/Value at Baseline).
baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Intervention Effects on Constant Pressure Pain Intensity
Time Frame: baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Subjects' constant pressure pain intensity rating will be assessed using a pressure algometer (Wagner Instruments; 1cm round probe applied for 2 seconds at participant defined threshold). Following the stimulus, subjects will rate the intensity of the pain associated with the stimulus using a visual analog scale numbered at 0 and 10, where "0" represents "no pain" and "10" represents "the worst pain imaginable" (0=minimum score, 10 maximum score). This will be assessed on the forearm and calf. Percent baseline to 24 hrs post-intervention will then be calculated (100*Value at 24 hours/Value at Baseline).
baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Intervention Effects on Constant Pressure Pain Unpleasantness
Time Frame: baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session
Subjects' constant pressure pain unpleasantness rating will be assessed using a pressure algometer (Wagner Instruments; 1cm round probe applied for 2 seconds at participant defined threshold). Following the stimulus, subjects will rate the unpleasantness of the pain associated with the stimulus using a visual analog scale numbered at 0 and 10, where "0" represents "not unpleasant" and "10" represents "the most unpleasant sensation imaginable" (0=minimum score, 10 maximum score).This will be assessed on the forearm and calf. Percent change from baseline to 24 hrs post-intervention will then be calculated (100*Value at 24 hours/Value at Baseline).
baseline and 24 hrs-post final intervention session

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Heart Rate
Time Frame: days 1, 3, & 5 at start and end of each exercise session
Heart rate will be measured before and after each exercise session. Percent pre-exercise session in heart rate (bpm) from start to end of exercise session will be calculated (100*Value at end trial/Value at start of trial).
days 1, 3, & 5 at start and end of each exercise session
Borg Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
Time Frame: days 1, 3, & 5 at start and end of each exercise session
Subjects will indicate rate of perceived exertion before and after each exercise session. Percent of pre-exercise RPE from start to end of exercise session will be calculated (100* end of trial / start of trial).
days 1, 3, & 5 at start and end of each exercise session

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Kimberly A Szucs, PhD, Duquesne University
  • Principal Investigator: Amy L Phelps, PhD, Duquesne University
  • Principal Investigator: Matthew C Kostek, PhD, Duquesne University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 11, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 6, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

June 6, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 15, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 21, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

August 22, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 2, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 18, 2023

Last Verified

July 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2014-04-22
  • UL1TR001857 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

There is no plan to share. Raw data is available through the peer review publication.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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