Isometric Exercise and Endogenous Pain Inhibition

Isometric Exercise and Endogenous Pain Modulation

The purpose of this study is to identify the acute effects of isometric exercise on the inhibition of pain in individuals with fibromyalgia.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Fibromyalgia
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Isometric Exercise

Detailed Description

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain condition that is characterized by widespread pain which affects 5-8% of the general population. Past research has shown that people with FMS demonstrate enhanced pain facilitation and reduced pain inhibition in the central nervous system. Incorporating a biopsychosocial model of pain may help develop strategies to prevent the functional decline and alleviate the suffering that occurs in this population. Exercise is a mainstay of pain rehabilitation with multiple health benefits, one of which is decreasing pain; a phenomenon known as exercise induced hypoalgesia (EIH). Emerging evidence has shown that exercise decreases pain facilitation in healthy adults and in some individuals with FMS. However, it's unclear whether exercise improves pain inhibition in individuals with FMS. The purpose of this study is to investigate endogenous pain inhibition, measured by conditioned pain modulation (CPM), following isometric exercise of the quadriceps muscle in individuals with FMS. In addition, factors that might affect this response such as physical activity, body composition, and psychosocial issues will be examined. Understanding how exercise impacts pain and the contributing factors will help guide the prescription of exercise to optimize pain rehabilitation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 43
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Wisconsin
    • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53233
      • Marquette University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women aged 18-75 diagnosed with fibromyalgia or healthy controls will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• cardiovascular disease, cancer, pregnancy, arthritis, diabetes, claustrophobia, Reynaud's disease, osteoporosis, neuropathy.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Isometric Exercise; Participants will perform a submaximal voluntary contraction of the quadriceps muscle to task failure.	Other: Isometric Exercise; Participants will be asked to hold a submaximal voluntary contraction of the quadriceps muscle as long as they can (task failure).
No Intervention: Quiet Rest; Participants will sit quietly for a period of time that mimics the exercise.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Conditioned Pain Modulation	the change in pressure pain threshold (kPa) during or after the immersion of the foot in a cold water bath (approximately 6 degrees) compared with baseline (before foot submersion) constitutes the measure of conditioned pain modulation in this study.	baseline, immediately after exercise or quiet rest

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Vibration Perception Threshold	a biothesiometer will be used to measure sense of vibration (threshold) local and distal from the exercising muscle.	baseline, immediately after exercise or quiet rest

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)	in both sessions, pain intensity will be evaluated during ice water bath immersion (i.e. before and after exercise or quiet rest) and during exercise using an 11-point NPRS with 0 being no pain and 10 worst pain possible.	baseline, during exercise, and immediately after exercise or quiet rest

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Marquette University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Marie Hoeger Bement, PT, PhD, Marquette University; Study Director: Ali Alsouhibani, PT, MS, Marquette University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 25, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 29, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): October 29, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 12, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 17, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): December 19, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 24, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 23, 2021
• Last Verified: February 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; fibromyalgia; pain sensitivity
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Fibromyalgia; Myofascial Pain Syndromes
• Other Study ID Numbers: HR3035

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No