The Effect of an Acute Bout of Exercise on Pain Sensitivity and Clinical Pain in Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis

NCT05605444 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: H-02-K-076-0722-770
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this interventional study is to investigate the effectiveness of an acute bout of exercises on pain sensitivity and clinical pain among adults with knee osteoarthritis. The following question will be answered in this research Q1: Is acute bout of exercise effective in reducing pain sensitivity and intensity among adult with knee osteoarthritis? Participants who agree to participate and sign the informed consent will be randomised to one of three groups: Group 1: Isometric exercise with neutral language and no verbal suggestion consisting of 1 rep of wall squat, 3 min or to volitional fatigue at 100° knee angle;(n=30). Group 2: Isometric exercise with neutral language and no verbal suggestion consisting of 3 reps of wall squat, 3 min or to volitional fatigue at 100°degree knee angle, 30 sec rest between rep, ;(n=30). Group 3 (Control group): true control (do nothing);(n=30).

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee

Keywords

acute bout of exercise; Pain sensitivity; Clinical pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain pressure threshold

  The pain will be measured using digital pressure algometer, FDX®️ (Wagner instrument, Greenwich, USA). All trials will be conducted on forearm, lumbar spine and calf sites. There will be at least 20 sec rest before an individual site is tested again. Two trials will be performed at each site. The raw values of each test will be recorded. Because we are testing repeated times, we will use a marker to mark the location of each test site to ensure consistency in location. Algometer must be positioned perpendicular to the measurement site for all trials.

  Change from pre-intervention (baseline) compared to post-intervention (immediately after session)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Pain intensity

  Change from pre-intervention (baseline) compared to post-intervention (immediately after session)

Study Arms (3)

Isometric exercise-one repetition

EXPERIMENTAL

Isometric exercise consisting of 1 session only. The session will last for around 5 minutes which will include asking the patient to do 1 repetition of wall squat for 3 min or to volitional fatigue at 100° knee angle.

Other: Single bout of exercise

Isometric exercise-three repetitions

EXPERIMENTAL

Isometric exercise consisting of 1 session only. The session will last for around 10 minutes which will include asking the patient to perform 3 repetition of wall squat (each time the exercise will be performed for 3 min or to volitional fatigue at 100°degree knee angle); patient will be given 30 sec rest between repetitions.

Other: Single bout of exercise

Control (no intervention)

NO INTERVENTION

Will not receive any intervention

Interventions

Single bout of exercise OTHER

isometric wall squat at a knee joint angle of 100 degrees. Instruct participant to place their back against the wall with feet positioned parallel and spaced shoulder-width apart. Lower themselves down until they reached a knee joint angle of 100 degrees. Measure knee joint angle by placing a goniometer on the lateral epicondyle of the knee, in line with the femur whilst the anchor arm was in line with the lateral malleolus.

Isometric exercise-one repetition; Isometric exercise-three repetitions

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18 years or older.
• Diagnosed by surgeon using radiological imaging and clinical decision with unilateral or bilateral symptomatic knee OA.
• Have chronic knee pain for three months and more (with average VAS in the last week \>= 3/10).
• Able to perform physical therapy exercise.

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy.
• Severe musculoskeletal or neuromuscular disorders or any disease that prevent performing exercises.
• Uncontrolled diabetes.
• Knee or lower limb surgery.
• Sensations problems.
• Orthopedic impairment (e.g., sever deformities, ligament injuries, balance problems and fractures in lower limb in the last 6 months).
• Any contraindication to exercise preventing them from performing exercises as per the "American College of Sports Medicine" guidelines.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Taif University: lead

Study Sites (1)

King AbdulAziz Hospital and King Faisal Hospital

Mecca, Mecca Region, Saudi Arabia

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Zabarmawi J, Miller CT, Owen PJ, Mundell NL, Meny A, Aldhafri S, Banjar R, Alzahrani H. Efficacy of an acute bout of isometric wall squat exercise on pain sensitivity and clinical pain intensity in adults with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial in outpatient physiotherapy clinics in Saudi Arabia. BMJ Open. 2025 Dec 11;15(12):e103756. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-103756.

  PMID: 41381113 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Osteoarthritis; Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases

Study Officials

• Hosam Alzahrani, PhD

  Taif University, College of Applied Medical Science, Physical Therapy Department, TAIF, SAUDI ARABIA

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 16, 2022
• First Posted: November 4, 2022
• Study Start: November 15, 2022
• Primary Completion: April 25, 2023
• Study Completion: May 20, 2023
• Last Updated: August 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL

Locations

SA (1)