Exercise and Pain Sensitivity

Knee Pain Clinical Trial

Official title:

Exercise and Alterations in Pain Sensitivity

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Terminated

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01351558
• Other study ID #: 101.01
• Secondary ID: 10-093704
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• First received: May 9, 2011
• Last updated: October 4, 2012
• Start date: May 2011
• Est. completion date: March 2012

Study information

• Verified date: October 2012
• Source: Frederiksberg University Hospital
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Denmark: The Capital Region of Denmark
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

There is ample evidence that exercise therapy is beneficial with respect to pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. However, the pain relieving mechanisms are unknown. To enhance the efficacy of exercise therapy a deeper understanding of the involved mechanisms is needed.

Different exercise types may affect the pain sensitivity differently. It is hypothesized that non-specific exercises (i.e. exercises that does not involve the knee) reduces the processing of pain in the central nervous system (central sensitivity) to knee joint pain in healthy subjects. It is also hypothesized that exercises that involve the knee (i.e. specific knee exercises) reduce the sensitivity of pain receptors in the knee (peripheral sensitivity) in healthy subjects.

Healthy volunteers are recruited and randomised to one of four interventions: 1: Muscle strengthening exercises involving the thigh muscles; 2: Muscle strengthening exercises involving the shoulder muscles; 3: Cardio-vascular fitness exercises; or 4: Control (no exercises). The active interventions include exercises three times per week for 12 weeks. Pain sensitivity and a range of explanatory variables is measured before the interventions, after 4 weeks and after 12 weeks.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Terminated
• Enrollment: 33
• Est. completion date: March 2012
• Est. primary completion date: March 2012
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 35 years

• Untrained (i.e. less than 2 hours of organised exercise per week in the last 6 months
• physical activity related to transportation (e.g. bicycling) is not included)

• Generally healthy according a medical exam at screening, history

• Willing and able to participate in all measurements

• Willing and able to attend all training sessions

• Willing to keep the habitual activity and amount of training constant (ie screening activity and training volume).

• 20 = body mass index (BMI) = 28 kg/m2

• Speak, read and write Danish

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding

• Current or previous symptoms of autoimmune disease (eg, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)

• Planned surgery during the study period

• Current or former musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses, including but not confined to:

• Ligament Injuries

• Meniscus Injuries

• Osteoarthritis

• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

• Backache

• Neck pain

• tendinopathy

• Current or past diagnosis, signs or symptoms of significant cardiovascular disease, including but not limited to:

• Ischemic heart disease

• Arteriosclerosis

• Medical conditions that contraindicate exercise, including but not limited to:

• Chronic or congenital heart disease

• Asthma

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• Past or current diagnosis, signs or symptoms of significant neurological disease, in-incl. but not limited to:

• Blood clot in brain

• Stroke

• Clinically significant head trauma within the last year

• Peripheral neuropathy

• Epilepsy or seizures

• Impaired balance

• Alcohol or drug abuse within the past 5 years

• Past or current diagnosis, signs or symptoms of major psychiatric disorder

• Regional pain syndromes like fibromyalgia

• Regional pain caused by lumbar nerve root or cervical radiculopathy with or at risk for developing it

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Basic Science

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Knee Pain

Intervention

Other:
• Knee muscle strengthening exercises
Muscle strengthening exercises of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles will be performed based on a standard muscle strengthening exercise paradigm: 3 sets with 6-8 repetitions (corresponding to approximately 80% repetition maximum (RM)) will be performed. The training load will be progressed by means of weekly estimates of muscle strength to ensure a constant load of 80% RM. The exercises will be supervised
• Upper extremity strengthening exercises
Muscle strengthening exercises of the upper amrs and shoulder girdle will be performed based on a standard muscle strengthening exercise paradigm: 3 sets with 6-8 repetitions (corresponding to approximately 80% repetition maximum (RM)) will be performed. The training load will be progressed by means of weekly estimates of muscle strength to ensure a constant load of 80% RM. The exercises will be supervised
• Cardiovascular fitness exercises
Cardiovascular fitness exercises encompass circuit training including exercises on (but not limited to): ergometer cycles, treadmills (running), and cross-trainers. The exercise intensity is aiming at exercises within 60-85% of maximum heart rate (defined as 220 - age). The heart rate is monitored using a standard heart rate monitor. The exercises will be supervised

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Denmark	The Parker Institute, Frederiksberg University Hospital	Copenhagen

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Henning Bliddal

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Denmark, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in pressure pain sensitivity		Baseline, and after 12 weeks of exercise	No
Secondary	Change in muscle strength	Muscle strength is measured in knee extension and flexion and in arm extension and flexion (bench press and pull)	baseline and after 12 weeks	No
Secondary	Change in cardiovascular fitness	Watt max test is performed on a bicycle ergometer to estimate the maximal oxygen uptake velocity	baseline after 4 weeks and after 12 weeks	No
Secondary	Change in baroreflex sensitivity	Heart rate and blood pressure variability is measured during rest and during quiet standing.	baseline after 4 weeks and after 12 weeks	No