Endogenous Modulation of Pain and Stretch Tolerance

Endogenous Modulation of Pain - the Tolerance to Stretch

This study investigates the role of two endogenous inhibitory mechanisms; exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) and a conditioning painful stimulus (CPM) on passive joint range of motion, passive resistive torque and pain sensitivity. The study is a randomized, repeated-measures cross-over study.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pain Threshold
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise induced hypoalgesia (EIH); Other: Static stretch (SS); Other: Rest; Other: Conditioned pain modulation (CPM)

Detailed Description

The increase in range of motion following stretching is related to changes in the tolerance to stretch. The mechanistic relationships behind these changes in subject sensation are however unknown but could be related to endogenous modulation of pain.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 19
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Denmark
  • Aalborg, Denmark, 9220
    • University College of Northern Denmark

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligibility for participation included the absence of any pain or other conditions that might affect the somatosensory system.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Substance abuse, History of neurological or mental disabilities, Lack of ability to comply with instructions, Delayed onset of muscle soreness.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH); Exercise-induced hypoalgesia - isometric muscle contractions of the hand flexors	Other: Exercise induced hypoalgesia (EIH); An EIH response was induced by a 3-minute isometric contraction of the hand flexor muscles at 25% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC).
Active Comparator: Static stretch (SS); A static stretch of the knee flexors	Other: Static stretch (SS); Two bouts of 30 seconds of static stretching (SS) of the knee flexors.
Sham Comparator: Rest; No intervention	Other: Rest; The participants rested in a seated position for 10 minutes
Experimental: Conditioning painful stimulus (CPM); Conditioned pain modulation - cold pressure test	Other: Conditioned pain modulation (CPM); A CPM response was induced by way of the cold pressor test.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knee extension range of motion	Passively induced knee extension range of motion was measured using the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	Passive knee extension range of motion was measured as a baseline just prior to the induction of exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH), Static stretch (SS), Rest and a conditioning painful stimulus (CPM)
Knee extension range of motion	Passively induced knee extension range of motion was measured using the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	Passive knee extension range of motion was measured 30 seconds after the induction of EIH, SS, Rest and CPM
Knee extension range of motion	Passively induced knee extension range of motion was measured using the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	Passive knee extension range of motion was measured 10 minutes after the induction of EIH, SS, Rest and CPM

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Passive resistive torque	Passive resistive torque during the passive knee extension motion was measured using the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer.	Passive resistive torque was measured as a baseline just prior to the induction of EIH, SS, Rest and CPM
Passive resistive torque	Passive resistive torque during the passive knee extension motion was measured using the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer.	Passive resistive torque was measured 30 seconds after the induction of EIH, SS, Rest and CPM
Passive resistive torque	Passive resistive torque during the passive knee extension motion was measured using the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer.	Passive resistive torque was measured 10 minutes after the induction of EIH, SS, Rest and CPM
Pressure pain thresholds	Pressure pain thresholds was measures using a handheld pressure algometer (Somedic AB, Hörby, Sweden.	Pressure pain thresholds were measured as a baseline just prior to the induction of EIH, SS, Rest and CPM
Pressure pain thresholds	Pressure pain thresholds was measures using a handheld pressure algometer (Somedic AB, Hörby, Sweden.	Pressure pain thresholds were measured 30 seconds after the induction of EIH, SS, Rest and CPM
Pressure pain thresholds	PRessure pain thresholds was measures using a handheld pressure algometer (Somedic AB, Hörby, Sweden.	Pressure pain thresholds were measured 10 minutes after the induction of EIH, SS, Rest and CPM

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University College of Northern Denmark
• Investigators: Study Director: Dorte Drachman, Msc., University College of Northern Denmark, Department of Physiotherapy

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Stove MP, Hirata RP, Palsson TS. The tolerance to stretch is linked with endogenous modulation of pain. Scand J Pain. 2021 Jan 11;21(2):355-363. doi: 10.1515/sjpain-2020-0010. Print 2021 Apr 27.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 30, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): December 30, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): March 22, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 26, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 22, 2019
• Last Verified: March 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Stretching Exercises; Exercise induced hypoalgesia; Stretch tolerance
• Other Study ID Numbers: UniversityCND1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

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