The Role of Fatigue Associated With Strength Training in Exercise-induced Hypoalgesia
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-45
SponsorUniversidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche
About this trial
Strength exercise is an active and dynamic activity that involves applying force against a resistance. This produces fatigue, seen as a reduced ability to apply force during and after the exercise, and perceived effort, which is a person's subjective feeling of how hard they are working.
Strength exercise can also be used for therapy, as it has many benefits for different parts of the body. One of these is changing how the individual feels pain. It has been shown that doing strength exercises can reduce pain perception, a phenomenon called exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH), although the exact physical reasons and the amount of exercise needed to cause this effect are not yet known.
One of the most studied exercises in this area is the leg extension machine. This is a specific exercise where the legs move freely (open kinetic chain) and the machine guides the movement, which helps keep things stable and limits the effect of other factors. It is usually used to strengthen and grow the muscles in the front of the thigh, especially the quadriceps, but it can also be used to study the effects on EIH.
The main goal of this study is to see if fatigue and perceived effort during strength exercise are important for EIH to happen in healthy people. Participants will complete 3 sessions, at least 7 days apart. These will include a control session and 2 sessions designed to show different levels of fatigue. Before, during, and after the sessions, the investigators will measure pain sensitivity, isometric strength, and perceived effort. Also, there will be a test to find the maximum weight for 10 repetitions and several questionnaires to collect basic info (sex, age, height...), weekly physical activity, experience with strength training, and other factors like sleep quality, stress, and mood. All this information will be completely anonymous when the study results are shared.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Healthy, asymptomatic subjects
Being physically active
Disqualifiers
Experiencing episodes of acute pain in any part of the body.
Having chronic pain or a recent history of chronic pain conditions considered resolved within the last 6 months.
Having a serious illness or inability to perform moderate or intense physical activity.
Having taken pain relievers, fever reducers, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, opioids, or similar medications in the 24 hours before a session.
Trial design
Design model
Crossover
Treatments tested in this trial
Seated leg extension machine: low fatigue
BehavioralSeated leg extension machine using 10RM external load for 6 sets of 5 repetitions with180 seconds rest between sets and a cadence of 1:2 second concentric:eccentric
Seated leg extension machine: high fatigue
BehavioralSeated leg extension machine using 10RM external load for 3 sets of 10 repetitions with 180 seconds rest between sets and a cadence of 1:2 second concentric:eccentric
Seated leg extension: control
BehavioralSeated leg extension machine using no external load for 6 sets of 5 repetitions with 180 seconds rest between sets and a cadence of 1:2 second concentric:eccentric
Treatment groups
27 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: ControlSham comparator 1 intervention
Group B: Low fatigueExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: High fatigueExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Pain pressure threshold
Pain pressure threshold measured with an analogic algometer (Baseline Dolorimeter, MVS In Motion SL, Belgium), in kilograms. These measurements will be taken at a local level (on one of the thighs, over the rectus femoris of the quadriceps, at the midpoint between the pelvic surface and the patella) and at a distance (on the neck over the belly of one of the upper trapezius muscles, at the midpoint between the surface of C7 and the acromion). The pressure will be applied at a rate of 1kg/s and the patient will be instructed to notify the first instance of pain.
Time frame
Baseline, immediately post-exercise, 30 minutes after exercise2
Pressure-evoked pain
Pain evoked by a 6kg pressure exerted with an analogic algometer (Baseline Dolorimeter, MVS In Motion SL, Belgium), at a rate of 1kg/s, measured with a numeric rating scale where zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain. These measurements will be taken at a local level (on one of the thighs, over the rectus femoris of the quadriceps, at the midpoint between the pelvic surface and the patella) and at a distance (on the neck over the belly of one of the upper trapezius muscles, at the midpoint between the surface of C7 and the acromion).
Time frame
Baseline, immediately post-exercise, 30 minutes after exercise3
RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion)
Perceived exertion was measured on OMNI-Resistance exercise Scale where 0 is equivalent to no effort and 10 indicates maximal exertion.
Time frame
Immediately after each set of the training session4
sRPE (Session rating of perceived exertion)
Session Perceived Exertion was measured on a scale where 0 is equivalent to no effort and 10 indicates maximal exertion.
Time frame
Monitoring will take place 30 minutes after the final set, ensuring that the exertion from the last set does not interfere with the overall session RPE.Secondary outcomes
1
Kinematic measures
Angular position (º), velocity(º/s) and acceleration(º/s\^2) of the machine's pad during the exercise will be recorded using an accelerometer (BWT901CL, WitMotion Shenzhen Co., Ltd).
Time frame
During each set of the exercise intervention in all 3 sessions (3 or 6 sets depending on each arm). Total measurement time approximately 3 minutes during a single experimental session (as the device will stop recording during rest periods between sets).2
Wellness
Data regarding fatigue, sleep quality, DOMS, stress levels and mood will be tracked every session using a Wellness questionnaire where 5 is the best outcome and 1 is the worst for each individual item.
Time frame
Prior to each exercise session.3
Fitness level
The subject's level of physical activity will be collected via the IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), which accounts for every physical activity performed throughout the week prior to taking the questionnare and converts them to METs (Metabolic Equivalent of a Task). Higher values indicate higher degree of fitness, and 0 being the floor (zero physical activity).
Time frame
Baseline (Day 1)Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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