Isometric Exercise and Endogenous Pain Inhibition

Marquette University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Fibromyalgia

Treatments: Other: Isometric Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03778476

HR3035

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to identify the acute effects of isometric exercise on the inhibition of pain in individuals with fibromyalgia.

Full description

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain condition that is characterized by widespread pain which affects 5-8% of the general population. Past research has shown that people with FMS demonstrate enhanced pain facilitation and reduced pain inhibition in the central nervous system. Incorporating a biopsychosocial model of pain may help develop strategies to prevent the functional decline and alleviate the suffering that occurs in this population. Exercise is a mainstay of pain rehabilitation with multiple health benefits, one of which is decreasing pain; a phenomenon known as exercise induced hypoalgesia (EIH). Emerging evidence has shown that exercise decreases pain facilitation in healthy adults and in some individuals with FMS. However, it's unclear whether exercise improves pain inhibition in individuals with FMS. The purpose of this study is to investigate endogenous pain inhibition, measured by conditioned pain modulation (CPM), following isometric exercise of the quadriceps muscle in individuals with FMS. In addition, factors that might affect this response such as physical activity, body composition, and psychosocial issues will be examined. Understanding how exercise impacts pain and the contributing factors will help guide the prescription of exercise to optimize pain rehabilitation.

Enrollment: 43 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women aged 18-75 diagnosed with fibromyalgia or healthy controls will be included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• cardiovascular disease, cancer, pregnancy, arthritis, diabetes, claustrophobia, Reynaud's disease, osteoporosis, neuropathy.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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43 participants in 2 patient groups

Isometric Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will perform a submaximal voluntary contraction of the quadriceps muscle to task failure.

Treatment:

Other: Isometric Exercise

Quiet Rest

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants will sit quietly for a period of time that mimics the exercise.