The Effects of Intensity on Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia During a Knee Extension Exercise

University of Central Florida

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Other: Seated knee extension exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05561582

3

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary purpose of this study is to to compare immediate changes in pressure pain threshold at the exercising muscle (quadriceps) and a non-exercising muscle (upper trapezius) during low and high weight knee extension exercise. Participants will attend one session that consists of pain sensitivity testing, completion of pain-related psychological questionnaires, and random assignment to one of three interventions: 1) knee extension exercise with a high weight, 2) knee extension exercise with a low weight, or 3) quiet rest.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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, 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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 3 patient groups

High Intensity Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will complete a knee extension exercise with weight equivalent to 75% of their 1-repetition maximum for 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

Treatment:

Other: Seated knee extension exercise

Low Intensity Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will complete a knee extension exercise with weight equivalent to 30% of their 1-repetition maximum for 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

Treatment:

Other: Seated knee extension exercise

Quiet Rest

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants will sit quietly for two minutes, three times.