Sleep and Delayed-onset Muscle Soreness

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Delayed-onset Muscle Soreness; Sleep; Pain

• Registration Number: NCT06699186
• Lead Sponsor: Selcuk University

Brief Summary

There is a need for further experimental research in order to gain a more in-depth understanding of this vicious cycle of pain and sleep disorders. Although the effects of chronic pain and its impact on sleep have been extensively researched, the influence of sleep on acute pain has been addressed in only a limited number of studies. A more comprehensive grasp of the manner in which sleep influences the pain sensory profile subsequent to an acute injury may offer insight into the significance of sleep during recovery stage. In this respect, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of sleep on pain perception, pain sensitivity and range of motion following the induction of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) through eccentric loading, specifically through the performance of squat exercises.

Detailed Description

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) represents a phenomenon characterised by a range of symptoms, encompassing varying degrees of muscle stiffness and pain, from mild to severe, with the potential to cause considerable functional impairment. This may be attributed to muscle damage and subsequent inflammation resulting from eccentric contractions or activities of an unusually intense nature. In accordance with these principles, exercise-induced DOMS typically manifests following an abrupt increase in exercise intensity, the execution of unconventional exercise movements, and most notably, following the performance of exercises that necessitate eccentric muscle actions . DOMS frequently results in a reduction in muscle function, including a decline in strength, a narrowing of the range of motion, increased pain sensitivity, and a decrease in the intensity of proprioception sensations within a period of 24 to 72 hours, with the potential for these effects to persist for several days. The processes underlying of DOMS comprise overstretching of sarcomeres, mechanical stresses in muscle structures, overlaps and disruption of filaments, and reactions of biochemical that affect contractile structures of muscle. Furthermore, inflammatory processes linked to oxidative stress and an increased pain receptors sensitivity is additional factors contributing to the development of DOMS .

One of the most significant factors affecting pain is sleep. Those suffering from persistent pain consistently indicate inferior sleep quality in comparison to controls , and a direct correlation has been observed between the quality of sleep and the severity of pain experienced by individuals. It is established in the literature that the sensitisation of pain mechanisms is raised in both intervention models of acute pain and chronic pain. Furthermore, individuals who experience primary insomnia without pain report heightened sensitivity to pain and an increased frequency of spontaneous pain episodes compared to control subjects. The findings of experimental studies indicate that sleep disruption in healthy individuals is linked to a considerable rise in pain sensitivity, potentially associated with elevated serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, even in the absence of tissue damage. This results in a vicious cycle of pain and sleep disorders, with each condition precipitating the other, thereby rendering the problem challenging to comprehend.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-04-10
• Primary Completion: 2024-05-25
• Study Completion: 2024-05-25
• Status Verified: 2024-11
• Study First Submitted: 2024-11-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-11-19
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-11-19
• Study First Posted: 2024-11-21
• Last Update Posted: 2024-11-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 56

Inclusion Criteria

• Asymptomatic individuals
• Aged 18-25 years

Exclusion Criteria

• Those who have functional exercise restrictions,
• Those with chronic cardiac or pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, interstitial lung disease and heart failure that may affect respiratory muscle strength and respiratory functions,
• Those with orthopedic problems, persistent neck and back pain and/or radiculopathy that prevent them from participating in the study,
• Those with diagnosed psychiatric disorders,
• Participants with cooperation problems that may prevent evaluations and treatment will not be included in the study.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The pressure pain thresholds	2 days	The pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were recorded at two pre-defined locations (tibialis anterior and quadriceps) using an electronic digital display algometer (Commander Echo® Algometer, JTECH Medical) with a 1-cm² probe. The tibialis region was measured by positioning the tibialis anterior muscle at a distance of 8 cm from the tibial tuberosity along a line extending from the tibial tuberosity to the lateral malleolus. For the quadriceps region, the measurement was made on the rectus femoris muscle at the point between the base of the patella and the anterior superior iliac spine.
Numeric pain rating scale	2 days	The presence of DOMS was evaluated using a numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) with a range of 0 to 10. The participants were informed of the scale, which ranged from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extreme pain), and were subsequently asked to report the corresponding pain sensation.
Range of motion evaluation	2 days	Range of motion evaluations were conducted through the assessment of knee and hip flexion using a universal goniometer
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index	2 days	The sleep status of the participants was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and routine sleep duration

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Selcuk University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation; 🇹🇷 Konya, Selcuklu, Turkey