Efficacy of Stretching on Pain Sensitivity

Efficacy of a Stretching Protocol on Regional and Distant Pain Sensitivity:

The primary objective of this study is to determine the immediate efficiency of a six weeks regular stretching protocol on regional and distant pain sensitivity. It is hypothesised that regional and distant pain sensitivity will significantly decrease following six weeks of regular stretching.

The secondary objective of the study is to determine the effect after four-week cessation of the stretching protocol on regional and distant pain sensitivity. If regional and distant pain sensitivity decrease following regular stretching, it is hypothesised that the analgesic effect will abate following four-week cessation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pain Threshold
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Stretch exercises

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 26
• 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 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy men and women aged 18-65 years are recruited. As part of the screening, volunteers will also be asked to indicate known medical issues or diseases. Participants are included if they have no known medical conditions such as
• cognitive impairments,
• neurological,
• orthopaedic,
• or neuromuscular problems that might affect the somatosensory system or preclude stretching exercises or range of motion testing at the knee.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who regularly engage in flexibility training (e.g., stretching, tai chi, pilates or yoga)
• or use any medication that might affect the somatosensory system, such as pain medication, are excluded.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Stretching; Static stretching of the knee flexors

Other: Stretch exercises; The intervention comprises of six weeks daily bi-lateral static stretching of the knee flexors. Stretches are performed seated on the ground. The participant sits upright on the floor with one leg straight. The sole of the other foot should be placed on the inside of the outstretched leg. The participant leans slightly forward, trying to touch their toes while maintaining full knee extension. Stretching is performed to the point of discomfort, and each stretch is held for 30-seconds for three repetitions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain sensitivity	The primary outcome is pain sensitivity expressed as regional and distant pressure pain thresholds measured by a handheld pressure algometer	Baseline
Pain sensitivity	The primary outcome is pain sensitivity expressed as regional and distant pressure pain thresholds measured by a handheld pressure algometer	6 weeks
Pain sensitivity	The primary outcome is pain sensitivity expressed as regional and distant pressure pain thresholds measured by a handheld pressure algometer	10 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Range of motion	Passive knee extension range of motion measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	Baseline
Range of motion	Passive knee extension range of motion measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	6 weeks
Range of motion	Passive knee extension range of motion measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	10 weeks
Passive resistive torque	Passive resistive torque measured in passive kne extension measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	Baseline
Passive resistive torque	Passive resistive torque measured in passive kne extension measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	6 weeks
Passive resistive torque	Passive resistive torque measured in passive kne extension measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	10 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Adherence to the stretching protocol	Adherence to the stretching protocol will be measured using self-reported data from an mHealth app.	6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University College of Northern Denmark
• Collaborators: University of Copenhagen; Bispebjerg Hospital; Research Unit of General Practice, Aalborg
• Investigators: Study Director: Dorte Drachmann, Msc., Department of physiotherapy, University College of Northern Denmark

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 4, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 25, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): October 20, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 8, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): June 9, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 20, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 19, 2023
• Last Verified: April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Range of motion; Stretching; Exercise adherence; Pain sensitivity
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Hypersensitivity
• Other Study ID Numbers: UniversityCND3

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Data is made available upon request.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Study protocol will be published
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: The study protocol will be published open access
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

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