Hypoalgesic Effects of Exercise and Training of Different Modalities
- Conditions
- TrainingExerciseFatigueOcclusion
- Registration Number
- NCT07105410
- Lead Sponsor
- Faculdade de Motricidade Humana
- Brief Summary
Further research is needed to explore the analgesic effects of post-acute and chronic exercise and if effects are partially dependent on lower H-reflex/V-wave inhibition by group III and IV muscle afferents desensitization. In addition, it is important to note that the available research examining the interaction between exercise (acute and chronic) and pain did not compare the effect of different exercise modalities. Moreover, since discharge rate of III and IV afferents is highly dependent on specific task-metabolic requirements, it is relevant to determine if exercise modality differentially modulates the possible analgesic response via metaboreflex desensitization.
Therefore, with this project, the investigators aim at exploring the influence of experimentally induced metaboreflex activation (group III and IV afferents) (maintained submaximal isometric contraction followed by blood-flow occlusion - post-exercise circulatory occlusion (PECO)) Vs. a control condition (no isometric contraction nor blood flow occlusion), on H-reflex recruitment curve and V-wave excitability (aim #1). Since the activation of group III/IV afferents can inhibit the corticospinal pathway, the investigators hypothesize that the normalized maximal amplitude of H- and V-wave and the slope of the ascending limb of the H-recruitment curve will decrease with metaboreflex activation (during PECO). Additionally, the investigators intend to examine the acute impact of different lower-limb exercise regimens (aerobic, anaerobic and dynamic resistance) on pain sensitivity (by the application of a foot cold pain tolerance test, by determining pressure pain threshold of exercising and non-exercising muscles and through self-reported leg ischemic pain ratings (0-10 Cook scale) - during PECO) (aim #2). Participants are also asked to mark the intensity of cold pain sensation using a visual analogue scale (VAS) with a horizontal line of 100mm, every 30 s of testing.This will allow the investigators to investigate the analgesic role of different acute exercise paradigms through possible metaboreflex desensitization given by altered neuromuscular responses at post-exercise time point (attenuated inhibition of H-reflex and V-wave amplitude during PECO). Also, once past research has shown that muscle metaboreflex activation reduces the sensitivity of the baroreflex, the investigators will measure arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate variability (HRV) during cold test and AP during ischemic testing. Despite all exercise modalities could enhance reducing pain sensibility after exercise, the investigators hypothesize that resistance and anaerobic exercise stimuli will enhance pain threshold/tolerance and reduced pain ratings via metaboreflex desensitization compared to that seen with endurance exercise (attenuated increase of AP and sympathetic component of HRV during cold pressor test and attenuated increase of AP during ischemic pain test). Finally, the investigators intend to explore the impact of long-term aerobic, anaerobic and resistance training on pain sensibility, using the same tests of aim #2 (aim #3). The investigators hypothesize that chronic EIH will be of greater magnitude after anaerobic and resistance exercise training vs. endurance training. This will be related with attenuated inhibition of H-reflex and V-wave amplitude measured during PECO and attenuated increase of AP and sympathetic component of HRV during metaboreflex activation after those training modalities. Nevertheless, the investigators expect to see an increased motor performance in all training regimens via heightened H-reflex (aerobic and anaerobic groups) and V-wave (resistance group) excitability.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Male
- Target Recruitment
- 48
- 18 - 35 years males
- Healthy (health status determined from a health-screening questionnaire performed at study admission)
- Normal arterial blood pressure (ABP) (cut-off values for systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) of ≤ 120/80 mmHg)
- Neurologic disease
- Metabolic disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Respiratory disease
- Musculoskeletal issues in the 3 previous months limiting exercise performance
- Taking any chronic medications for the treatment of pain or had any pain related condition
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method H-reflex During PECO and No-PECO conditions (aim #1); Pre-post acute exercise during PECO (aim #2); Pre-post 6 weeks of training during PECO (aim #3) With soleus electromyographic recording electrode (Delsys) and electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve (Stimsola) the H-reflex recruitment curve parameters (spinal excitability) will be obtained in a 4-min protocol
V-wave During PECO and No-PECO conditions (aim #1); Pre-post acute exercise during PECO (aim #2); Pre-post 6 weeks of training during PECO (aim #3) With soleus electromyographic recording electrode (Delsys) and electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve (Stimsola) the V-wave parameters (spinal and supraspinal excitability) will be obtained
Ischemic pain ratings During PECO and No-PECO conditions (aim #1); Pre-post acute exercise during PECO (aim #2); Pre-post 6 weeks of training during PECO (aim #3) Participants will be asked to rate their leg pain intensity twice at the 4-min H-reflex protocol (at 2nd and 4th min of the procedure) using a Cook pain sale (0-10). In the scale, 0 represents no pain while 10 represents the worst possible pain
Arterial blood pressure During PECO and No-PECO conditions (aim #1); Pre-post acute exercise during PECO (aim #2); Pre-post 6 weeks of training during PECO (aim #3) Brachial arterial pressure will be measured twice at the 4-min H-reflex protocol (at 2nd and 4th min of the procedure) by an automated equiment (Tango SunTech Medical)
Pressure pain threshold Pre-post acute exercise (aim #2); Pre-post 6 weeks of training (aim #3) It will be assessed with an analogue algometer (FDK 60, Wagner Instruments) (in rectus femoris, upper-trapezius and biceps brachiis muscles). It measures the kg of force at the time participants report they are feeling pain intead of pressure
Cold pain tolerance Pre-post acute exercise (aim #2); Pre-post 6 weeks of training (aim #3) It will be assessed with participants immersing their right foot into a container with cold water between 0 and 2ºC. It measures the time participants can endure the cold painful stimuli
Cold pain ratings Pre-post acute exercise (aim #2); Pre-post 6 weeks of training (aim #3) While participants immerse their right foot into a container with cold water between 0 and 2ºC, they will beasked to rate the intensity of pain they perceived each minute by writing in a visual analogue scale (0-100mm) that pain intensity. 0 is considered no-pain and 100 the worst possible pain
Heart rate variability during cold pain testing Pre-post acute exercise (aim #2); Pre-post 6 weeks of training (aim #3) It will be measured continuosly during the time participants have their foot in cold water using a heart rate monitor (Polar H10)
Arterial blood pressure during cold pain testing Pre-post acute exercise (aim #2); Pre-post 6 weeks of training (aim #3) It will be measured each minute during the time participants have their foot in cold water using an automatic equipment (Tango SunTech Medical)
Maximal oxygen uptake Pre-post 6 weeks of training (aim #3) For the aerobic group, it will be determined in a treadmill graded exercise testing using a gas analyses system (Metamax, Cortex)
Peak power Pre-post 6 weeks of training (aim #3) For the anaerobic group, it will be determined with a 30-s Wingate all-out test (Monark cycloergometer)
Maximal voluntary isometric contraction Pre-post 6 weeks of training (aim #3) For the dynamic resistance group, it will be determined for the knee extensors muscles using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex)
H-reflex after training Pre-post 6 weeks of training (aim #3) With soleus electromyographic recording electrode (Delsys) and electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve (Stimsola) the H-reflex recruitment curve parameters (spinal excitability) will be obtained
V-wave after training Pre-post 6 weeks of training (aim #3) With soleus electromyographic recording electrode (Delsys) and electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve (Stimsola) the V-wave parameters (spinal and supraspinal excitability) will be obtained
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Faculdade de Motricidade Humana
🇵🇹Lisboa, Portugal
Faculdade de Motricidade Humana🇵🇹Lisboa, Portugal