Efficacy of Stretching on Pain Sensitivity

Pain Threshold Clinical Trial

Official title:

Efficacy of a Stretching Protocol on Regional and Distant Pain Sensitivity:

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04919681
• Other study ID #: UniversityCND3
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 4, 2021
• Est. completion date: October 20, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: April 2023
• Source: University College of Northern Denmark
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The primary objective of this study is to determine the immediate efficiency of a six weeks regular stretching protocol on regional and distant pain sensitivity. It is hypothesised that regional and distant pain sensitivity will significantly decrease following six weeks of regular stretching. The secondary objective of the study is to determine the effect after four-week cessation of the stretching protocol on regional and distant pain sensitivity. If regional and distant pain sensitivity decrease following regular stretching, it is hypothesised that the analgesic effect will abate following four-week cessation.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 26
• Est. completion date: October 20, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: April 25, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy men and women aged 18-65 years are recruited. As part of the screening, volunteers will also be asked to indicate known medical issues or diseases. Participants are included if they have no known medical conditions such as
• cognitive impairments,
• neurological,
• orthopaedic,
• or neuromuscular problems that might affect the somatosensory system or preclude stretching exercises or range of motion testing at the knee.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who regularly engage in flexibility training (e.g., stretching, tai chi, pilates or yoga)
• or use any medication that might affect the somatosensory system, such as pain medication, are excluded.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hypersensitivity
• Pain Threshold

Intervention

Other:
• Stretch exercises
The intervention comprises of six weeks daily bi-lateral static stretching of the knee flexors. Stretches are performed seated on the ground. The participant sits upright on the floor with one leg straight. The sole of the other foot should be placed on the inside of the outstretched leg. The participant leans slightly forward, trying to touch their toes while maintaining full knee extension. Stretching is performed to the point of discomfort, and each stretch is held for 30-seconds for three repetitions.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Denmark	University College of Northern Denmark	Aalborg

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University College of Northern Denmark	Bispebjerg Hospital, Research Unit of General Practice, Aalborg, University of Copenhagen

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Denmark, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	Adherence to the stretching protocol	Adherence to the stretching protocol will be measured using self-reported data from an mHealth app.	6 weeks
Primary	Pain sensitivity	The primary outcome is pain sensitivity expressed as regional and distant pressure pain thresholds measured by a handheld pressure algometer	Baseline
Primary	Pain sensitivity	The primary outcome is pain sensitivity expressed as regional and distant pressure pain thresholds measured by a handheld pressure algometer	6 weeks
Primary	Pain sensitivity	The primary outcome is pain sensitivity expressed as regional and distant pressure pain thresholds measured by a handheld pressure algometer	10 weeks
Secondary	Range of motion	Passive knee extension range of motion measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	Baseline
Secondary	Range of motion	Passive knee extension range of motion measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	6 weeks
Secondary	Range of motion	Passive knee extension range of motion measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	10 weeks
Secondary	Passive resistive torque	Passive resistive torque measured in passive kne extension measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	Baseline
Secondary	Passive resistive torque	Passive resistive torque measured in passive kne extension measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	6 weeks
Secondary	Passive resistive torque	Passive resistive torque measured in passive kne extension measured by the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer	10 weeks