Efficacy of Stretching on Pain Sensitivity

NCT04919681 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UniversityCND3
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 26
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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.

Conditions

Pain Threshold

Keywords

Stretching; Pain sensitivity; Range of motion; Exercise adherence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Pain sensitivity

  The primary outcome is pain sensitivity expressed as regional and distant pressure pain thresholds measured by a handheld pressure algometer

  Baseline

• Pain sensitivity

  The primary outcome is pain sensitivity expressed as regional and distant pressure pain thresholds measured by a handheld pressure algometer

  6 weeks

• 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 Outcomes (6)

• Range of motion

  Baseline

• Range of motion

  6 weeks

• Range of motion

  10 weeks

• Passive resistive torque

  Baseline

• Passive resistive torque

  6 weeks

Other Outcomes (1)

• Adherence to the stretching protocol

  6 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Stretching

EXPERIMENTAL

Static stretching of the knee flexors

Other: Stretch exercises

Interventions

Stretch exercises OTHER

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.

Stretching

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University College of Northern Denmark: lead
• Bispebjerg Hospital: collaborator
• University of Copenhagen: collaborator
• Research Unit for General Practice in Aalborg: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University College of Northern Denmark

Aalborg, 9220, Denmark

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Stove MP, Thomsen JL, Magnusson SP, Riis A. The effect of six-week regular stretching exercises on regional and distant pain sensitivity: an experimental longitudinal study on healthy adults. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Sep 27;16(1):202. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00995-2.

  PMID: 39334218 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Plyometric Exercise

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Dorte Drachmann, Msc.

  Department of Physiotherapy, University College of Northern Denmark

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Participants are blinded to the results of the pressure pain threshold measurements. Participants and examiner are blinded to the results of the range of motion and passive resistive torque measurements.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Lecturer

Model Details: Single-blind longitudinal repeated measures study

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2021
• First Posted: June 9, 2021
• Study Start: November 4, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 25, 2022
• Study Completion: October 20, 2022
• Last Updated: April 20, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: Study protocol will be published
• Access Criteria: The study protocol will be published open access

Locations

DK (1)