The Effects of Fatigue on Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia During a Dynamic Resistance Exercise

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Other: Quiet Rest; Other: Knee Extension Exercise

• Registration Number: NCT05525403
• Lead Sponsor: University of Central Florida

Brief Summary

The primary purpose of this study is to compare immediate changes in pain sensitivity (pressure pain threshold) during quiet rest, low fatigue exercise, and high fatigue exercise.

Detailed Description

Participants will attend three sessions. Participants will fill out questionnaires, undergo pain sensitivity testing, and be randomly assigned to complete a high and low fatigue exercise on either the second or third session. During the exercise, participants will complete three sets of a single leg knee extension exercise with weight equivalent to 50% of their 1 repetition maximum until they report either a high or low fatigue level. Immediately before and after each set, the research team will examine immediate changes in sensitivity to pressure (pressure pain threshold).

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-08-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-08-30
• Study First Posted: 2022-09-01
• Study Start: 2022-10-28
• Status Verified: 2023-04
• Primary Completion: 2023-04-20
• Study Completion: 2023-04-20
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-04-20
• Last Update Posted: 2023-04-24

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 31

Inclusion Criteria

• Pain-free
• 18-60 years old
• Participant can appropriately perform the knee extension exercise (assessed during screening)

Exclusion Criteria

• Non-English speaking
• Regular use of prescription pain medications
• Current or history of chronic pain condition
• Currently taking blood-thinning medication
• 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 (blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg), cold urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, circulatory compromise
• Known presence of cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disease
• Current use of tobacco products
• 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 lower back or lower extremity within the past 6 months

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Quiet Rest	Quiet Rest	Participants will rest quietly for two minutes, three sets.
Low Fatigue Exercise	Knee Extension Exercise	Participants will complete a single leg knee extension exercise with weight until they report a fatigue level = 3/10 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion. Participants will complete three sets.
High Fatigue Exercise	Knee Extension Exercise	Participants will complete a single leg knee extension exercise with weight until they report a fatigue level = 8/10 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion. Participants will complete three sets.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Pressure Pain Threshold	Change from baseline immediately after exercise	A digital pressure algometer will be applied to the quadriceps and upper trapezius for two trials each. Participants are instructed to say "stop" or "pain" so the stimulus can be terminated "when the sensation first transitions from pressure to pain" (pain threshold). Participants will rate the pain experienced during the threshold testing using a 101-point numeric pain rate scale (NPRS) anchored with 0= no pain to 100= the most intense pain sensation imaginable immediately following each testing time.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form	Baseline, pre exercise	This is a self-report measure of physical activity that provides data regarding health-related physical activity.
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index	Baseline, pre exercise	This is a 10-item questionnaire in which individuals respond to statements regarding sleep quality. A higher score indicates a worse sleep quality.
Brief Resilience Scale	Baseline, pre exercise	This is a 6-item questionnaire in which individuals respond to a statement on a five point scale from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater resilience.
Heat Pain Threshold	Baseline, pre exercise	A thermode will gradually increase temperature. Participants will state when the sensation first becomes painful.
Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale	Baseline, pre exercise	This is a 20-item questionnaire in which individuals respond to a statement on a six point scale from 0 to 5. Higher scores indicate higher pain-related anxiety.
Fear of Pain Questionnaire 9	Baseline, pre exercise	This is a 9-item questionnaire in which individuals respond to a statement on a five point scale from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate higher fear of pain.
Preference for and Tolerance of the Intensity of Exercise Questionnaire	Baseline, pre exercise	This is a 16-item questionnaire in which individuals respond to a statement on a five point scale from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate lower tolerance for the intensity of exercise.
Temporal Summation	Baseline, pre exercise	Participants will rate a train of 10 heat pulses using the 101-point numerical pain rating scale
Conditioned Pain Modulation	Baseline, pre exercise	Pressure pain threshold after an ice water immersion task will be measured.
Pain Catastrophizing Scale	Baseline, pre exercise	This is a 13-item questionnaire in which individuals respond to a statement on a five point scale from 0 to 4. Higher scores indicate higher pain catastrophizing levels.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Central Florida; 🇺🇸 Orlando, Florida, United States