Pain Modulatory Profiles in Stretching

Pain Modulatory Profiles in Stretching in Healthy Participants

The purpose of this study is to characterize immediate changes in pain sensitivity during stretching to the point of pain, stretching in a pain free range, and a cold water immersion task. Participants will attend three sessions during which they will undergo pain sensitivity assessment and complete the assigned intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Cold Water Immersion; Other: Pain Inducing Stretch; Other: Pain Free Stretch

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Orlando, Florida, United States, 32765
      • University of Central Florida

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pain Free

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-English speaking
• Regular use of prescription pain medications
• Current or history of chronic pain condition
• Currently taking blood-thinning medication
• Any blood clotting disorder, such as hemophilia
• Systemic medical condition known to affect sensation, such as uncontrolled diabetes or neurological conditions
• Any contraindication to the application of ice, such as: uncontrolled hypertension, cold urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, circulatory compromise
• Not physically ready to exercise without a medical exam as indicated by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire Plus (PAR-Q+)
• Surgery, injury, or fracture to the neck or upper extremity within the past 6 months
• Unable to perform the stretch
• Unable to attend all three sessions

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Cold Water Immersion; Participants will complete a cold water immersion task to the hand for one minute, four times. Change in Pressure Pain Threshold will be measured between each one-minute interval on the web space of the foot between the first and second toes.	Other: Cold Water Immersion; Cold Water Immersion task of hand
Experimental: Pain Inducing Stretch; Participants will be seated in a chair and asked to complete an upper trapezius stretch. They will feel a gentle stretch in the area between the top of their shoulder and the base of their neck. Participants will be asked to stretch until the point of pain. They will hold this stretch for 1 minute, 4 times. Change in Pressure Pain Threshold will be examined on the web space of their foot between each one minute interval of the stretch. Participants will be notified that they may stop the stretch at any point if needed.	Other: Pain Inducing Stretch; Moderately painful stretch of the neck
Active Comparator: Pain Free Stretch; Participants will be seated in a chair and asked to complete an upper trapezius stretch. They will feel a gentle stretch in the area between the top of their shoulder and the base of their neck. Participants will be asked to stretch in a pain free range. They will hold this stretch for 1 minute, 4 times. Change in Pressure Pain Threshold will be examined on the web space of their foot between each one minute interval of the stretch. Participants will be notified that they may stop the stretch at any point if needed.	Other: Pain Free Stretch; Pain free stretch of the neck

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Pressure Pain Threshold	A pressure algometer will be applied between the first and second toe until the pressure sensation first becomes painful. Pressure pain threshold is applied between each one minute interval of the intervention.	Change in PPT is applied between minutes 1 and 4

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Central Florida

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 20, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 27, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): September 27, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 22, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 5, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): June 6, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 31, 2024
• Last Verified: October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 4

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

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